• 中国科学学与科技政策研究会
  • 中国科学院科技政策与管理科学研究所
  • 清华大学科学技术与社会研究中心
ISSN 1003-2053 CN 11-1805/G3

科学学研究 ›› 2021, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (5): 794-804.

• 科学学理论与方法 • 上一篇    下一篇

知识元素网络搜索与突破性技术发明形成

马荣康1,陶雪蕾2,2,李少敏2,3,王艺棠2,2   

  1. 1. 大连理工大学经济管理学院
    2.
    3. 大连理工大学
  • 收稿日期:2020-04-09 修回日期:2020-07-17 出版日期:2021-05-15 发布日期:2021-06-03
  • 通讯作者: 马荣康
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金

Network Search for Knowledge Elements and the Creation of Breakthrough Inventions: the Moderating Roles of Inventor Team Characteristics

  • Received:2020-04-09 Revised:2020-07-17 Online:2021-05-15 Published:2021-06-03

摘要: 突破性技术发明在企业参与全球技术和市场竞争中的作用已经得到广泛认可,但如何通过知识搜索和重组形成突破性技术发明仍是学术界和企业界关注的热点问题。本文基于知识搜索重组视角和社会网络理论,考察知识元素网络搜索与突破性技术发明形成的关系,并基于团队学习理论揭示发明人团队特征的调节作用。然后,利用美国专利商标局(USPTO)1995-2010年纳米技术领域6132条授权发明专利进行实证检验,结果发现:(1)知识元素的网络中心度越低,占据结构洞位置越少,突破性技术发明形成的概率越高。(2)与合作发明人相比,单独发明人搜索网络中心度较低和结构洞较少的知识元素创造产生突破性技术发明的概率更高。(3)发明人团队技术经验越丰富,搜索网络中心度较低和结构洞较少的知识元素创造产生突破性技术发明的概率越高。本研究从知识元素网络和发明人团队视角系统揭示了突破性技术发明的形成机制,对企业面向突破性技术发明的发明人团队构建及知识组合战略实施具有重要启示。

Abstract: The role of breakthrough technology invention in the participation of enterprises in global technology and market competition has been widely recognized, but how to search and recombine the knowledge elements to create breakthrough inventions is still a hot issue in the academic and business circles. Based on the knowledge recombinant search perspective and social network theory, this paper investigates the relationship between knowledge element network search and the creation of breakthrough invention, and reveals the moderating effects of inventor team characteristics based on team learning theory. Then, the empirical test was conducted with 6,132 granted invention patents in the field of nanotechnology from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) during 1995-2010. The results show that first, the lower the network centrality of knowledge elements and the fewer the structural hole of knowledge elements, the higher the likelihood of forming the breakthrough inventions. Second, compared with the collaborative inventors, the lone inventor's search for knowledge elements with lower network centrality and fewer structural holes will have a higher likelihood of creating breakthrough inventions. Third, the richer the technology experience of the inventor team, the higher the likelihood that it creates breakthrough inventions by searching for knowledge elements with lower network centrality and fewer structural holes. This study reveals the formation mechanism of breakthrough inventions from the perspective of both knowledge elements and inventors, which has important implications for firms’ team building and knowledge combination strategy in the pursuit of breakthrough inventions.