Working Paper Cnr-Ceris, N° 01/2011 

Evolutionary dynamics and scientific flows of nanotechnology research across geo-economic areas

Coccia Mario
CNR -- National Research Council of Italy
CERIS- CNR
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10024 Moncalieri (Torino) – Italy
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this paper is to analyze, by concentration measures, metrics of dispersion and heterogeneity, the dynamics of the production of scientific output in nanosciences and nanotechnologies across worldwide economic players. The main result is that the concentration ratio of the production of nanotechnology research across different macro subject areas has been reducing over time and space, because knowledge dynamics of nanotechnology research has been spreading among new research fields and different industries. In addition, South Korea and China show higher performance than other countries in nanotechnology scientific products per million people. This scientific analysis is important in order to understand the current knowledge dynamics and technological trajectories in nanotechnology that may support future patterns of economic growth.

Keywords: Nanotechnology; Technological System; Technological Trajectories; Concentration; Changeability, Knowledge Dynamics
JEL Codes: L6; O3; Q57

I thank Secondo Rolfo (Director Ceris-CNR), U. Finardi (University of Turin, Italy) and Ceris Staff for valuable suggestions to study these research topics, as well as Enrico Viarisio, Diego Margon and Silvana Zelli for excellent research assistance. I would like to thank two referees of the journal TASM for detailed comments. This paper is an extended and different version in comparison with the article submitted to TASM journal. I gratefully acknowledge financial support from the CNR - National Research Council of Italy. The usual disclaimer applies.

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