The emergence of new knowledge: The case of zero-reference patents

T Chen (First Author), C Kim (Participant Author), KA Miceli (Participant Author)

科研成果: 期刊稿件期刊论文

4 引用 (Web of Science)

摘要

Knowledge-based theories have posited that new technologies are recombinations of prior technologies. To bring about new innovations, inventors usually use past known knowledge as a key ingredient. However, there exists a particular type of new technology that does not have any explicit prior technology predecessors. These pioneering technologies, also referred to as "zero-reference patents," not only reflect new knowledge but can also serve as the initial seed from which recombination can subsequently create more knowledge and technologies. We seek to understand the characteristics of the inventors who create these pioneering technologies. We find that having focused, specific expertise is more important than a broad knowledge base in the development of these pioneering technologies, and that prior inventive success can hinder their creation. We highlight a type of patents which have zero backward references, representing a form of pioneering knowledge. Unlike other types of knowledge, pioneering knowledge comes from inventors who have less successful but more focused experience. Although the zero-reference patents generally fail to show usefulness on their own, the patents which build upon zero-reference patents are more likely to become breakthrough patents and to generate a high number of forward citations. Zero-reference patents are the seeds for future breakthroughs. Given the importance of breakthroughs, we offer an alternative path toward creating such knowledge. Our analysis at the level of inventors also gives guidance on the type of talent who are more likely to generate pioneering knowledge.
源语言英语
页(从-至)49-72
页数24
期刊Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal
15
1
DOI
出版状态已出版 - 3月 2021

Corresponding author email

micelike@msu.edu

成果物的来源

  • ABDC-A
  • SSCI

指纹

探究 'The emergence of new knowledge: The case of zero-reference patents' 的科研主题。它们共同构成独一无二的指纹。

引用此