How does patent portfolio structure affect patent value in different technological environments? Evidence from Chinese high-tech industries

IF 12.9 1区管理学 Q1 BUSINESS

Technological Forecasting and Social Change Pub Date : 2025-04-07 DOI:10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124127

Lanhua Li , Daqi Xin , Xi Yang , Xiaodan Yu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

In recent decades, races for individual patents among firms have been shifting to strategic competition based on patent portfolios. This transition underscores the importance of understanding how individual patents can be coherently integrated into a patent portfolio to enhance their value. We argue that individual patent value is not only determined by inherent patent-level characteristics but also hinges on two characteristics of patent portfolio structure—technological advantage and relatedness. Based on the patent data of Chinese listed companies in high technology industries from 2007 to 2019, we employ patent survival analysis and find that technological advantage of a patent portfolio in a specific field can increase the value of patents in the field. In addition, technological relatedness across different fields also renders higher patent value. We further document the moderating effects of two external technological environment factors. Specifically, as external technological competition intensifies, the positive effects of portfolio advantage and portfolio relatedness on patent value become stronger. Conversely, external technological opportunity richness weakens the positive relationship between technological relatedness and patent value. Our findings yield strategic insights for firms seeking to refine their patent portfolio structures in sync with technology trends.

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不同技术环境下专利组合结构如何影响专利价值？来自中国高科技产业的证据

近几十年来，企业之间对个人专利的争夺已经转变为基于专利组合的战略竞争。这种转变强调了理解如何将单个专利连贯地整合到专利组合中以提高其价值的重要性。本文认为，个体专利价值不仅取决于其固有的专利水平特征，还取决于专利组合结构的两个特征——技术优势和关联性。基于2007 - 2019年中国高技术产业上市公司的专利数据，采用专利生存分析方法，发现专利组合在特定领域的技术优势可以提高该领域的专利价值。此外，不同领域的技术相关性也使得专利价值更高。我们进一步证明了两个外部技术环境因素的调节作用。具体而言，随着外部技术竞争的加剧，投资组合优势和投资组合相关性对专利价值的正向作用越来越强。相反，外部技术机会丰富性削弱了技术相关性与专利价值之间的正相关关系。我们的研究结果为寻求与技术趋势同步改进其专利组合结构的公司提供了战略见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Technological Forecasting and Social Change Multiple-

CiteScore

21.30

自引率

10.80%

发文量

813

期刊介绍： Technological Forecasting and Social Change is a prominent platform for individuals engaged in the methodology and application of technological forecasting and future studies as planning tools, exploring the interconnectedness of social, environmental, and technological factors. In addition to serving as a key forum for these discussions, we offer numerous benefits for authors, including complimentary PDFs, a generous copyright policy, exclusive discounts on Elsevier publications, and more.