Innovative Factors Affecting the Diffusion of the New Nanotechnology Paradigm, 1983–2013

By examining innovative factors that could influence the diffusion of the new nanotechnology paradigm (NNP) across countries, we identify several innovative variables that relate positively to high nanotechnology diffusion across countries. In accordance with the Poisson count regression model based on the proposed nanotechnology patent data of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, we find that the lag time of nanotechnology knowledge diffusion, the size of research teams, the invention scope of each nanotechnology patent, and technological cooperation seem to affect the NNP, with the first variable having a massive effect. Our objective is to use patent microdata to contribute to empirical research on nanotechnology diffusion.