EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES ON THE BASIS OF PATENT DATA

The publication of patent applications by the patent offices is the first information available about new technologies. But patent statistics are often distorted due to the exceedingly great number of domestic applications field in Japan and the delayed publication of patent applications filed in the USA. These distortions can be eliminated to a great extent if only those patent applications are considered for which external applications are also included. Patent indicators allow for a differentiated observation of technological advances before the actual emergence of an innovation. Recent developments in superconductivity provide an example. © 1990 Akadémiai Kiadó.