Assessing the quest of SMEs in pivoting for new technological ventures: comparing the patenting indexes of seven developed cities

Scientometrics. 2023. Vol. 128. P. 4029–4064.

Wong C., Sheu J., Lee K.

The role of science and patenting is often viewed as the focus of SMEs in post catch-up conditions, as they seek to pivot from performing low value-added activities to new technological ventures in searching for new niches. SMEs—particularly those in city areas—are incentivized to commit to research that is linked to scientific knowledge and patenting activities. This study is interested to explore whether these SMEs upgrade, file patents and commit to long term upgrading. Their performances are benchmarked to SMEs of San Jose—the largest city in Silicon Valley (the highly cited Marshallian industrial cluster). We have configured an extraction process for bulk patenting data and architected a sorting procedure to derive a list of relevant indexes from patents assigned to the bottom 40 (and 60) percent of the total assignees of a region. We discovered that SMEs in Taipei, Seoul, Singapore, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong and Dublin had indeed upgraded to adopt emerging (science-based) technologies and appropriate them—not only to supply for existing market needs, but also to build their competitive edge for future endeavours. While many cities are found to be relatively ahead in producing technologies that are classified as long cycle and science-based, Taipei saw a rising number of SMEs committed to science amid the majority which invested in non-science technologies. Taipei nonetheless stands out as the city which bears many characteristics of what a Marshallian cluster is like. This study sheds new light on the technological pursuit of SMEs in post catch-up conditions.

Keywords: SMEs, Catch-up, Patenting indexes

Publication based on the results of: Study of the possibilities of adaptation of the innovation actors to changes in the external environment: institutional, personnel and social aspects (2023)