DEMATEL을 활용한 특허분석 기반의 기술융합 분석 연구

Recently, technology fusion is becoming a mainstream phenomenon which leads to breakthrough functions by providing a definite path to innovation. There have been many attempts to generate practical R&D initiatives by merging several technologies beyond industrial boundary. As national R&D based on technology fusion which can blur technological boundaries becomes more important, it is required to analyze the trends of technology fusion to establish R&D strategies and directions. Since technology fusion is fundamentally generated by technological knowledge flow between different technology classes, to analyze the trends of technology fusion a systematic methodology is imperative which examines the extent of technological knowledge flow. Therefore, this paper presents a procedural method to analyze the trends of technology fusion in national R&D programs by exploring technological knowledge flow based on patent co-classification analysis and DEMATEL. We introduce a concept of impact-causality map and divide the map into three dimensions. Based on the meanings of the map, we draw technological implications of each dimension. Using the map with technological implications helps identify role of each industry in the perspective of technology fusion and moreover draw R&D strategies in the R&D planning processes. To show the applicability of the presented method, we conduct an empirical study using Korean national R&D patents granted between 2008 and 2011. This paper is expected to contribute to offering an alternative to identify the phenomena of dynamic technology fusion. Moreover, it holds the potential to become a useful tool in the national R&D planning processes since it can help provide future R&D directions corresponding to features of technology fusion of each industry sector.