Knowledge and technology transfer via publications, patents, standards: Exploring the hydrogen technological innovation system

• Published in: Technological forecasting & social change Vol. 187; p. 122201
• Main Authors: Asna Ashari, Parsa, Blind, Knut, Koch, Claudia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.02.2023
• Subjects: Hydrogen safety; Knowledge and technology transfer; Technological innovation system; Patents; Technological innovation system; Hydrogen safety; Publications; Standards; Knowledge and technology transfer
• ISSN: 0040-1625; 1873-5509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2022.122201

Clean technologies play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the climate. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier and fuel that can be used in many applications. We explore the global hydrogen technological innovation system (TIS) by analyzing the three knowledge and technology transfer channels of publications, patents, and standards. Since the adoption of hydrogen technologies requires trust in their safety, this study specifically also focuses on hydrogen safety. Our results show that general and hydrogen safety research has increased significantly while patenting experienced stagnation. An analysis of the non-patent literature in safety patents shows little recognition of scientific publications. Similarly, publications are underrepresented in the analyzed 75 international hydrogen and fuel cell standards. This limited transfer of knowledge from published research to standards points to the necessity for greater involvement of researchers in standardization. We further derive implications for the hydrogen TIS and recommendations for a better and more impactful alignment of the three transfer channels. •We present a bibliometric analysis of publications, patents, and standards.•We find a weak link between the knowledge and technology transfer channels.•The innovation system necessitates an intensified interplay of the three channels.•The hydrogen technological innovation system is in its formative phase.•Safety research and patenting is lagging behind.