Finding research trend of convergence technology based on Korean R&D network

► We explores the convergence of technologies, focusing IT, BT, and NT in Korea by using a R&D network. ► The R&D network is a kind of social network between experts who participate in national R&D projects. ► We construct a weighted network by gathering data from three different sources and meta-data matching. ► We figure out 9 convergence technology groups and figure out leading people and research trend of each group. Traditionally, collaboration network or citation network is used to answer the old question how scientists or engineers interact with each other. This paper introduces a R&D network to make up the missing aspect of the traditional approaches about using multi-sources and to find out the trend of convergence technology R&D in Korea. We collect data about human resources and national R&D projects from Korean national R&D databases, and then construct a weighted network between experts by using meta-data mapping and the network folding technique. And we apply Newman’s grouping algorithm that is generalized to a weighted network for detecting the community structure of the network. Gathering data from multi-sources is useful to reveal the structure of network rather than to use only one database. Lastly, we perform a network analysis to examine important experts. The result shows significant information about research trend and core experts in Korea. We expect this study will be helpful in three ways: (1) how to make a network from heterogeneous multi-sources, (2) how to figure out the current situation of convergence technology R&D, (3) how to discover who are important people in Korean convergence technology R&D network. And this paper is just a cornerstone of the work to investigate the current situation of national R&D projects in Korea.