Spatial Technology Transfer

The data are the basis for the following research:

Emerging technologies often garner attention for enhancing sustainable development globally, accelerated by technology transfer across various modes including horizontal (influencing other technological areas), spatial (spreading technologies geographically) and vertical (to other related businesses within an industry). This study analyses how genome editing applied in crop production as an emerging technology illustrates global technology transfer in the bioeconomy. Using data on patents, publications and companies that have invested in the technology we construct a visualization of spatial networks of collaboration across countries and institutions around the world and show the evolution of networks in terms of vertical technology transfer. Although we primarily see major clusters around China and the US the network appears to be expanding globally, at least with respect to scientific knowledge, while vertical transfer into businesses is still mostly limited to the northern hemisphere. By analyzing the role of digital technologies, we also assess the impact on the horizontal transfer dimension. Taken together, we determine that genome editing can be defined as an emerging technology as our research reveals that it fulfills the criteria of radical novelty, rapid growth and prominent impact, demonstrated by growing collaborations throughout the scientific community, patenting and business endeavors from 2015 onwards. We find that north–north transfer occurred first, particularly with respect to business collaborations, followed by emerging north–south and south–south collaborations. Overall, this study provides a clear visualization of the spatial and vertical development of a technology and, in terms of its potential for sustainable development, shows a need to strengthen technology transfer and scientific collaborations globally, especially in north–south and south–south directions.