Technology Intelligence Map: Nanotubes

This chapter develops and demonstrates a technology mapping process, which explores collaborative innovation mechanisms. The framework is applied to the case of nanotubes. Through the use of extensive patent analysis followed by expert interviews, this chapter maps the collaborations in real time. The results indicate that Asian organizations are leading the nanotube field by leveraging small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and the electronics industry. We found that mono-linkage collaborations are an effective model which considers development progress of both parties. Furthermore, firms in this sector seem to be at the initial stages of developing robust collaboration and innovation mechanisms, while they leverage new funding systems to work together with others right from the start of the collaboration.