A limit citation network for identification of core technologies: a case of extreme ultraviolet lithography technology

ABSTRACT

The identification of core technologies is a basic and important task in technology planning practice. We propose a limit citation network based on social network analysis and use the core–periphery structure to identify core patents. Then a case study is used to verify the feasibility of the methods. The results are: We obtain 994*994 co-citation matrix to identify core technologies in the EUVL and its network has an apparent core/periphery structure. The EUVL technology network has 123 core patens and 871 periphery patents. Seven core technologies are identified through the core network visualisation of connections between core patents. There are ten companies at a main position of the EUVL core technologies patentee network, of which AMAT has a strong presence, ASML and AGC play an important role. Most companies tend to pay attention to several technology domains, and one core technology area perhaps is the focus of many companies. The limit citation network improves the accuracy of network analysis results and could be used as a basis network model for analysis in some certain technology area. The identification of core technologies and main patentees on EUVL can help companies to accurately positioning the core technology and find the potential business partners.

KEYWORDS:

• Core technologies
• core/periphery structure
• social network analysis
• extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by 1. General project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China: ‘Research on the Mechanism, Path and Countermeasures of Cracking foreign Technology Lock in China's Patent-intensive Industry’ (72074019); 2. National Natural Fund emergency project ‘The Realistic basis and overall framework research of Chinese Economy from high-speed Growth to high-quality Development’ (71841018).

Notes on contributors

Wu Yang

Wu Yang (1961–), male, PhD, School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. Research direction: Technological innovation and intellectual property, Innovative Economic Management.

Hongdan Xu

Hong dan Xu (1991–), PhD candidate, School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. Research direction: Innovative Economic Management..

Shuang Wang

Shuang Wang (1997–), Master, School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. Research direction: Innovative Management.