TransCubating Technology: A Novel Approach to Identify a Core Technology Using Patent Transfer History

The identification of core technologies has long been considered as a prominent task for governments and firms. Patent-based approach has been common for identifying core technologies, with the use of numerous patent indicators. This study suggests a concept of TransCubating technology which considers both patent-based indicators: transfer power and incubating power. The transfer power refers to the number of patent transfer associated with a given patent, while incubating power denotes the capability of a patent to foster follow-on innovation by new assignees. By mapping patents onto a two-dimensional matrix based on these two indicators, we visualize and analyze the distribution of TransCubating technology patents. This analysis uncovers diverse patterns of patent transfer, suggesting that such transfers function not only as mechanisms for knowledge diffusion but also as strategic instruments leveraged by firms to pursue various business objectives. Ultimately, the findings of this study contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of patent transfer by extending the discussion beyond the purely technological domain.