Scientometric Mapping as a Strategic Intelligence Tool for the Governance of Emerging Technologies.

43 Pages Posted: 7 Mar 2016

See all articles by Daniele Rotolo

Daniele Rotolo

SPRU (Science Policy Research Unit), University of Sussex

Ismael Rafols

Ingenio (CSIC-UPV), Universitat Politècnica de València; Leiden University - Centre for Science and Technology Studies; SPRU (Science Policy Research Unit), University of Sussex

Michael M. Hopkins

University of Sussex

Loet Leydesdorff

University of Amsterdam - Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR)

Date Written: June 19, 2014

Abstract

How can scientometric mapping function as a tool of ’strategic intelligence’ to aid the governance of emerging technologies? The present paper aims to address this question by focusing on a set of recently developed scientometric techniques, namely overlay mapping. We examine the potential these techniques have to inform, in a timely manner, analysts and decision-makers about relevant dynamics of technical emergence. We investigate the capability of overlay mapping in generating informed perspectives about emergence across three spaces: geographical, social, and cognitive. Our analysis relies on three empirical studies of emerging technologies in the biomedical domain: RNA interference (RNAi), Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing technologies for cervical cancer, and Thiopurine Methyltransferase (TPMT) genetic testing. The case-studies are analysed and mapped longitudinally by using publication and patent data. Results show the variety of ’intelligence’ inputs overlay mapping can produce for the governance of emerging technologies. Overlay mapping also confers to the investigation of emergence flexibility and granularity in terms of adaptability to different sources of data and selection of the levels of the analysis, respectively. These features make possible the integration and comparison of results from different contexts and cases, thus providing possibilities for a potentially more ’distributed’ strategic intelligence.The generated perspectives allow triangulation of findings, which is important given the complexity featuring in technical emergence and the limitations associated with the use of single scientometric approaches.

Suggested Citation

Rotolo, Daniele and Rafols, Ismael and Hopkins, Michael M. and Leydesdorff, Loet, Scientometric Mapping as a Strategic Intelligence Tool for the Governance of Emerging Technologies. (June 19, 2014). SWPS 2014-10, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2742125 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2742125

Daniele Rotolo (Contact Author)

SPRU (Science Policy Research Unit), University of Sussex ( email )

Jubilee Building - Room 383
Brighton, Sussex BN19SL
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.danielerotolo.com

Ismael Rafols

Ingenio (CSIC-UPV), Universitat Politècnica de València ( email )

Camí de Vera s/n, Edif.8E, Univ.Politec.Valencia
València, País Valencià 46022
Spain

Leiden University - Centre for Science and Technology Studies ( email )

Leiden
Netherlands

SPRU (Science Policy Research Unit), University of Sussex ( email )

Brighton
United Kingdom

Michael M. Hopkins

University of Sussex ( email )

Sussex House
Falmer
Brighton, Sussex BNI 9RH
United Kingdom

Loet Leydesdorff

University of Amsterdam - Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) ( email )

PO Box 15793
Amsterdam, 1001 NG
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://www.leydesdorff.net

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