Ramani S, de Looze Marie-Angele "Using Patent Statistics as Knowledge Base Indicators in the Biotechnology Sectors: An application to France, Germany and the U.K." Scientometrics, vol. 54, no. 3, 319-346, (2002)

[Eugene Garfield]

Shyama Ramani :
shyamar at grenoble.inra.fr

Marie-Angele deLoose:
delooze at grenoble.inra.fr




TITLE     USING PATENT STATISTICS AS KNOWLEDGE BASE INDICATORS IN THE
          BIOTECHNOLOGY SECTORS: AN APPLICATION TO FRANCE,
          GERMANY AND THE U.K.


Source    Scientometrics, vol. 54, no. 3, 319-346, (2002)

Authors   Shyama V. Ramani* and Marie-Angèle de Looze*
          *Senior Researchers,
          Department of Economics and Social Sciences,
          Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA),
          Université Pierre Mendès France,
          BP 47, 38070 Grenoble cedex 9, France.
          Tel:33 4 7682 5439 ; Fax: 33 4 7682 5455;



ABSTRACT
In order to formulate firm, national or regional technology policy, it is
necessary to have indicators that can measure technological competence. This
paper develops a set of indicators using patent statistics to compare the
"knowledge base" of individuals, laboratories, firms or nations. These
indicators are then applied to the patent applications in France, Germany
and the U.K. in the biotechnology sectors. The paper shows that France is
lagging behind Germany and the U.K. in technology stocks (or its patent
applications) in all biotechnology fields. However it is the leader in the
technology network supporting the foods industry. It has a comparative
advantage in terms of either technology stock counts or networks in genetic
engineering, pharmaceuticals, foods, chemicals, cell culture and
biocatalysis. Germany is leading in many sectors, but in all sectors in
which it is a leader, it is a specialized leader, i.e. its technology
networks need to be more extensive. It has a comparative advantage in terms
of either technology stock counts or networks in all sectors except genetic
engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and cell culture. The U.K. is the
leader in the important field of genetic engineering and in terms of the
entire technology networks in the biotechnology sectors. It has a
comparative advantage in terms of either technology stock counts or networks
in genetic engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and purification.

Corresponding author: Shyama V. Ramani, Department of Economics and Social
Sciences, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Universite
Pierre Mendes France, BP 47, 38070 Grenoble cedex 9, France. Tel: 33 4 76 82
54 39. Fax : 33 4 76 82 54 55.
email : shyamar at grenoble.inra.fr