Authors:
Alireza Noruzi Faculty of Library and Information Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; anoruzi@gmail.com

Search for other papers by Alireza Noruzi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
and
Mohammadhiwa Abdekhoda Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Search for other papers by Mohammadhiwa Abdekhoda in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

Abstract

Patents are used as an indicator to assess the growth of science and technology in a given country or area. They are being examined to determine research potentials of research centers, universities, and inventors. The aim of this study is to map the past and current trends in patenting activities with a view to better understanding and tracking the changing nature of science and technology in Iran. The patenting activity in the Iran was investigated for the period 1976–2011, based on the USPTO, WIPO, and EPO (Esp@cenet). We analyzed the affiliation of inventers and collected patents which have at least an Iranian inventor. The collected data were analyzed applying Microsoft Excel. Analytical results demonstrate that between 1976 and 2011, 212 patents have been registered by Iranian inventors in the three above-mentioned databases. The average number of Iranian patents registered per year has increased significantly from 25 in 1976–1980 period to 119 in 2006–2011. It was noted that the highest number of registered patents (27 %) were in “chemistry, metallurgy” area of International Patent Classification (IPC), followed by “human necessities” (18 %), “electricity” (17 %), and “performing operations; transporting” (15 %). Overall, it can be concluded that patent-activities are highly country-specific, the results indicate that Iran is focused on “chemistry, metallurgy” technology.

  • Abbott, FM 2007 Intellectual property rights in world trade AT Guzman AO Sykes eds. Research handbook in international economic law Edward Elgar Publishing Northampton 444484.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Archibugi, D. Patenting as an indicator of technological innovation: a review. Science and Public Policy 1992 19 6 357368.

  • Archibugi, D, Pianta, M 1992 The technological specialization of advanced countries. Report to the EEC on international science and technology activities Kluwer Boston.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Basberg, BL. Patent statistics and the measurement of technological change: an assessment of the Norwegian patent data, 1840–1980. World Patent Information 1984 6 4 158164 .

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Bhattacharya, S. Delineating the patent data: a case study of prolific patenting institutions of India and China. DESIDOC Bulletin of Information Technology 2007 27 1 8795.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Braun, T., Glanzel, W., & Grupp, H. (1995). The scientometric weight of 50 nations in 27 science areas, 1989–1993. Part I. All fields combined, mathematics, engineering, chemistry and physics. Scientometrics, 33 (3), 263293; Part II. Life Sciences, Scientometrics, 34(2), 207237.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Bregonje, M. Patents: a unique source for scientific technical information in chemistry related industry?. World Patent Information 2005 27 4 309315 .

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Chen, D-Z, Chang, H-W, Huang, M-H, Fu, F-C. Core technologies and key industries in Taiwan from 1978 to 2002: a perspective from patent analysis. Scientometrics 2005 64 1 3153 .

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Comanor, WS, Scherer, FM. Patents statistics as a measure of technical change. Journal of Political Economy 1969 77 4 392398 .

  • European Commission (1997). European report on science and technology indicators (REIST) 1997. Retrieved September 29, 2011 from http://cordis.europa.eu/indicators/publications.htm.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • European Commission (2003). Third european report on science and technology indicators 2003. Retrieved September 29, 2011 from http://cordis.europa.eu/indicators/publications.htm.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Ganguli, P. Patents and patent information in 1979 and 2004: a perspective from India. World Patent Information 2004 26 1 6162 .

  • Griliches, Z. Patent statistics as economic indicators: a survey. Journal of Economic Literature 1990 28 4 16611707.

  • Grupp, H, Lacasa, ID, Schmoch, U. Tracing technological change over long periods in Germany in chemicals using patent statistics. Scientometrics 2003 57 2 175195 .

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Guan, J, He, Y. Patent-bibliometric analysis on the Chinese science—technology linkages. Scientometrics 2007 72 3 403425 .

  • Kung, M. H., & Lin, H. Y. (2003). The dynamics of innovation in Taiwan: the patent analysis respective. In: S. C. H. Paul (Chair), International Conference on Industrial Science and Technology Innovation: Policy Issues and Challenges in a Critical Era, Taipei, Taiwan, 2003.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Leydesdorff, L, Meyer, M. The decline of university patenting and the end of the Bayh–Dole effect. Scientometrics 2010 83 2 355362 .

  • List, J. An A to X of patent citations for searching. World Patent Information 2010 32 4 306312 .

  • Meyer, M. Tracing knowledge flows in innovation systems. Scientometrics 2002 54 2 193212 .

  • OECD (1994). The measurement of scientific and technological activities using patent data as science and technology indicator—patent manual. Paris: OECD.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Parent, A., Bertrand, F., Côté, G., & Archambault, E. (2003). Scientometric study on collaboration between India and Canada, 1990–2001: phase 1 of the 2004 Canada-India S and T mapping study. Prepared for: Departments of Foreign Affairs Canada, International Trade Canada, and Industry Canada. Science-Metrix 2003. Retrieved September 29, 2011 from http://www.science-metrix.com/pdf/Science-Metrix_Canada-India_Collaboration_Report.pdf.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Pavitt, K, Patel, P. The international distribution of determinants of technological activities. Oxford Review of Economic Policy 1988 4 4 3555 .

  • Ramani, SV M-A De Looze 2002 Country-specific characteristics of patent applications in France, Germany and the UK in the biotechnology sectors. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management 14 4 457480 .

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Ramani, SV M-A De Looze 2002 Using patent statistics as knowledge base indicators in the biotechnology sectors: an application to France, Germany and the UK. Scientometrics 54 3 319346 .

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Schmookler, J. Economic sources of inventive activity. The Journal of Economic History 1962 22 1 120.

  • Schmookler, J 1966 Invention and economic growth Harvard University Press Cambridge.

  • Schmookler, J 1972 Patents, invention and economic change Harvard University Press Cambridge.

  • Van Zeebroeck, N., Van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie, B., & Han, W. (2005). Issues in measuring the degree of technological specialisation with patent data. No. 05–016. RS, Working Papers CEB from ULB—Universite Libre de Bruxelles, April 2005. Retrieved September 29, 2011 from http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/solwpaper/05-016.htm.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • WIPO (2011). International Patent Classification (version 2011)—guide. Guide to the IPC (2011). Retrieved September 29, 2011 from http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/classifications/ipc/en/guide/guide_ipc.doc.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Wu, Y-CJ, Liu, H-P. Technological innovation assessment of business-to-business electronic marketplaces. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 2006 57 8 10931104 .

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Collapse
  • Expand

To see the editorial board, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Manuscript submission: http://www.editorialmanager.com/scim/

For subscription options, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Scientometrics
Language English
Size B5
Year of
Foundation
1978
Volumes
per Year
1
Issues
per Year
12
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address
H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's
Address
H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible
Publisher
Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0138-9130 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2861 (Online)