Evolutionary trajectories of biomass energy: Strategic patent analytics through machine learning approaches

IF 2.4 Q2 INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE

World Patent Information Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-04 DOI:10.1016/j.wpi.2026.102432

Yigang Wei , Entong Gao , Xiaowei Fu , Yingbo Li , Zhiwen Wang , Haoxiang Tang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Against net-zero targets, policymakers view biomass as indispensable, but systematic foresight on its technology pathways and innovation niches is still scarce. Employing machine learning techniques, this study analyzes 26,865 patents (1970–2022) using topic modeling, document embeddings (Doc2Vec), social-network analysis, and deep neural network to identify technological themes, emerging innovations, and strategic patenting directions. Our analysis identifies 17 core technological themes, pinpointing five significant emerging areas: solid fuel production technologies, biomass drying technologies, biomass fermentation technologies, reactor design, and waste treatment technologies. The study introduces an innovative integrated analytical framework combining patent data analytics and policy semantics, alongside a dynamic four-stage technological lifecycle model, significantly enhancing the accuracy of technological forecasting. These concrete findings offer strategic guidance for policymakers and industry stakeholders, fostering targeted innovations and sustainable biomass energy development.

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生物质能的进化轨迹：通过机器学习方法进行战略性专利分析

针对净零目标，政策制定者认为生物质能是不可或缺的，但对其技术途径和创新利基的系统预见仍然缺乏。本研究采用机器学习技术，利用主题建模、文档嵌入（Doc2Vec）、社会网络分析和深度神经网络，分析了26,865项专利（1970-2022），以确定技术主题、新兴创新和战略专利方向。我们的分析确定了17个核心技术主题，确定了5个重要的新兴领域：固体燃料生产技术、生物质干燥技术、生物质发酵技术、反应器设计和废物处理技术。该研究引入了一个创新的集成分析框架，结合专利数据分析和政策语义，以及一个动态的四阶段技术生命周期模型，显著提高了技术预测的准确性。这些具体的发现为决策者和行业利益相关者提供了战略指导，促进了有针对性的创新和可持续的生物质能发展。

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

World Patent Information INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE-

CiteScore

3.50

自引率

18.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： The aim of World Patent Information is to provide a worldwide forum for the exchange of information between people working professionally in the field of Industrial Property information and documentation and to promote the widest possible use of the associated literature. Regular features include: papers concerned with all aspects of Industrial Property information and documentation; new regulations pertinent to Industrial Property information and documentation; short reports on relevant meetings and conferences; bibliographies, together with book and literature reviews.