Huang Z , Chen HC , Li X , Roco MC "Connecting NSF funding to patent innovation in nanotechnology (2001-2004) " JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH 8 (6): 859-879 DEC 2006

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Addresses: zanhuang at psu.edu 

Title: Connecting NSF funding to patent innovation in nanotechnology (2001-
2004) 

Author(s): Huang Z (Huang, Zan), Chen HC (Chen, Hsinchun), Li X (Li, Xin), 
Roco MC (Roco, Mihail C.) 

Source: JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH 8 (6): 859-879 DEC 2006 

Document Type: Editorial Material 
Language: English 
Cited References: 15      Times Cited: 0        

Abstract: Nanotechnology research has experienced growth rapid in 
knowledge and innovations; it also attracted significant public funding in 
recent years. Several countries have recognized nanotechnology as a 
critical research domain that promises to revolutionize a wide range of 
fields of applications. In this paper, we present an analysis of the 
funding for nanoscale science and engineering (NSE) at the National 
Science Foundation (NSF) and its implications on technological innovation 
(number of patents) in this field from 2001 to 2004. Using a combination 
of basic bibliometric analysis and content visualization tools, we 
identify growth trends, research topic distribution, and the evolution in 
NSF funding and commercial patenting activities recorded at the United 
States Patent Office (USPTO). The patent citations are used to compare the 
impact of the NSF-funded research on nanotechnology development with 
research supported by other sources in the United States and abroad. The 
analysis shows that the NSF-funded researchers and patents authored by 
them have significantly higher impact based on patent citation measures in 
the four-year period than other comparison groups. The NSF-authored patent 
impact is growing faster with the lifetime of a patent, indicating the 
long-term importance of fundamental research. 

Author Keywords: patent citations; patent analysis; information 
visualization; self-organizing maps; nanoscale science and engineering; 
nanotechnology; research and development (R&D); technological innovation; 
government funding 

Addresses: Huang Z (reprint author), Penn State Univ, Smeal Coll Business, 
Dept Supply Chain & Informat Syst, University Pk, PA 16802 USA
Penn State Univ, Smeal Coll Business, Dept Supply Chain & Informat Syst, 
University Pk, PA 16802 USA
Univ Arizona, Eller Coll Management, Dept Management Informat Syst, 
Artificial Intelligence Lab, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
Natl Sci Fdn, Arlington, VA 22230 USA

E-mail Addresses: zanhuang at psu.edu 

Publisher: SPRINGER, VAN GODEWIJCKSTRAAT 30, 3311 GZ DORDRECHT, 
NETHERLANDS 

IDS Number: 109RS 

ISSN: 1388-0764

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