Dynamics of global co-patenting networks in ICT: Is China on the way to pass the US?

The purpose of this study is to identify and characterize the structure and dynamics of global R&D networks in ICT by analyzing cross-country co-inventions, with a special focus on the role of China and the US. We employ a Social Network Analysis Perspective (SNA), using information on more than 77 thousand co-patents from 2001-2015. These co-patents are disaggregated by three time periods and four ICT subsectors. Global measures for the network as a whole as well as local measures on the positioning of countries in the networks are interpreted. The empirical results are highly interesting. First, international R&D networks in ICT become larger in magnitude (more countries but also more inter-linkages), less centralized and more densely connected, though with varying degree across ICT subsectors. Second, the powerful position of the US weakens relatively compared to other, increasingly connected countries. While China has already surpassed the US in total patenting in ICT in 2015, China is also catching up from a network perspective shown by its growing central position over the observed time period. However, despite China’s first rank in ICT patenting in general, the catching up to the US in terms of networking is still ongoing, though clearly on track.