The evolutionary growth estimation model of international cooperative patent networks

Over the past two decades, the number of international cooperative patents has grown significantly with the development of globalization. Although previous studies have almost exclusively used econometric methods, we argue that international cooperative patents change over time and that the relevant actors are dynamic, connected, and coexist to determine a country’s position in the international network of such patents. This study verified that different dimensions in the growth trajectory of the central patent international cooperative network curve form covariance structure perspectives using a latent growth curve model. Additionally, past studies have rarely examined whether technological concentration affects national technology innovation capacities; here, we integrated technological concentration with the estimation model. The results indicated that knowledge stock has a positive effect on the evolutionary growth rate of international cooperative patent network centrality. Moreover, technological concentration was found to strengthen the effect of knowledge stock on network centrality. An experimental map was produced to illustrate the interrelationships of the dimensions, which may be used as a reference by the government.