Publication activity, citation impact and bi-directional links between publications and patents in biotechnology

• Published in: Scientometrics Vol. 86; no. 2; pp. 505 - 525
• Main Authors: Glänzel, Wolfgang, Zhou, Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2011; Springer
• Subjects: Bibliometrics; Bibliometrics. Scientometrics; Bibliometrics. Scientometrics. Evaluation; Biotechnology; Computer Science; Exact sciences and technology; Information and communication sciences; Information science. Documentation; Information Storage and Retrieval; International comparisons; Library and information science. General aspects; Library Science; Scholarly publishing; Sciences and techniques of general use; Science–technology linkage; Biotechnology; Publication activity; International collaboration; Patent citation; Citation impact; Information mapping; Patents; International cooperation; Citation analysis; Scientific Production; Scientific research; Bibliometric analysis
• ISSN: 0138-9130; 1588-2861
• DOI: 10.1007/s11192-010-0269-6

The study focuses on publication activity, citation impact and citation links between publications and patents in biotechnology. The European Union (EU), US, Japan and China are the most important global players. However, the landscape is changing since the EU and the US are losing ground because of challenges from a group of emerging economies. National profiles differ between the two groups of main players and upcoming countries; the focus on red biotechnology in the US and Europe is contrasted by propensity for white and green technology in Asia. Furthermore, the subject profile of biotechnology papers citing patents and cited by patents as well as the relationship between patent citations and citation impact in scientific literature is explored. Papers that cite patents tend to reflect propensity towards white biotechnology while patent-cited publications have a higher relative share in red biotechnology. No significant difference concerning the citation impact of publications ‘citing patents’ and ‘not citing patents’ can be found. This is contrasted by the observation that patent-cited papers perform distinctly better in terms of standard bibliometric indicators than comparable publications that are not linked to technology in this direction.