Purpose

This paper aims to better understand how codified knowledge that originates in organizations contributes to the generation of idiosyncratic knowledge embedded at a more expansive level, such as that of an ecosystem. In doing so, the authors introduce the concept of patent ecosystems – conceived as configurations of codified knowledge advancements protected via patents.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a patent co-classification method and introducing a novel validated software, the authors map and visualize the patent ecosystem of Singapore and examine 173,597 patents published from 1995 to 2020.

Findings

Results reveal the prominent growth of Singapore’s patenting activities, capturing a patent ecosystem shift, from a more diverse knowledge configuration to a more specialized one. The codified knowledge mainly generated deals with pharmaceuticals and high-tech knowledge domains; further, newly emerging technologies such as blockchain are also noted.

Research limitations/implications

The research investigates Singapore’s context, a country in which research directions and focus areas are influenced by government interventions and leadership. Thus, future studies might examine other patent ecosystems to draw comparisons with more laissez-faire policies or ecosystems with more pronounced organic development.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research is the introduction of the concept of a patent ecosystem for advancing a more fine-grained understanding of the aggregated knowledge generated at the ecosystem level and its specific features, composition and development. The authors consider patents as “carriers” of different codified pieces of knowledge and patent ecosystems represent the configuration that emerges from connections of these elements. The novel approach can aid both researchers, practitioners and policymakers with future examinations in the field.

中文翻译：

---

专利生态系统中的知识创造：来自新加坡的见解

目的

本文旨在更好地理解源自组织的编码知识如何有助于生成嵌入更广泛层面（例如生态系统）的特殊知识。在此过程中，作者引入了专利生态系统的概念——被认为是受专利保护的编码知识进步的配置。

设计/方法/方法

作者使用专利共同分类方法并引入了一种新的经过验证的软件，绘制并可视化了新加坡的专利生态系统，并检查了 1995 年至 2020 年发布的 173,597 项专利。

发现

结果揭示了新加坡专利活动的显着增长，捕捉了专利生态系统的转变，从更多样化的知识配置到更专业的知识配置。编纂的知识主要产生于制药和高科技知识领域；此外，还注意到区块链等新兴技术。

研究限制/影响

该研究调查了新加坡的背景，该国的研究方向和重点领域受到政府干预和领导力的影响。因此，未来的研究可能会检查其他专利生态系统，以与更自由放任的政策或具有更明显有机发展的生态系统进行比较。

原创性/价值

这项研究的新颖之处在于引入了专利生态系统的概念，以促进对生态系统层面产生的聚合知识及其具体特征、组成和发展的更细粒度的理解。作者将专利视为不同编码知识片段的“载体”，专利生态系统代表了从这些元素的联系中出现的配置。这种新颖的方法可以帮助研究人员、从业人员和政策制定者进行该领域的未来考试。