Interactive Technology Maps for Strategic Planning and Research Directions Based on Textual and Citation Analysis of Patents

AbstractInnovation management and research direction planning are challenged by the understanding of the technology space in which a research entity is placed. In order to succeed in the market, a given institution has to understand the relationships of its patent portfolio with the respect to competitors.Patent databases provide useful information for exploring a given technology area, but only when such details are being properly analyzed are they able to provide fruitful insights. The approach of technology trajectories can be extended toward a more intuitive technology map.This work presents an interactive approach to the exploration of technology space based on patents. Patents are analyzed using citation graphs, integrated with textual analysis. The technology map presents the technology topics on a landscape displaying the patent density, and the main actors in the area. The map is interactively displayed allowing the user to focus on specific patents or companies. Finally, a specific case study is provided presenting the application of this approach focusing on the area of medical, and virtual reality devices.