Abstract:

Using patent data, a methodological framework is proposed to detect knowledge domains in which firms are investing and computational algorithms and procedures deriving from social network analysis are exploited in order to understand the structural cohesion and the connectivity of companies’ stock of knowledge. By converting the concepts of centrality provided by social network analysis, the instrument determines the role of each technological field on the overall innovation strategy carried out by companies. The longitudinal analysis performed on Apple’s patents proves that the methodology is valuable for investigating firms’ knowledge network and its evolution. Since the company launched various new products in the last decade, high shares of exploration were uncovered. Further, the dramatic increase of the number of technological fields owned by the firm proves its strong innovative capacity and high R&D efforts.