Computational patent mapping: Intelligent agents for nanotechnology

Patents are an important source of technological intelligence that companies can use to gain strategic advantage and computational patent mapping is a methodology for the development and application of a technology knowledgebase for technology and competitive intelligence. The primary deliverables of patent mapping is in the form of knowledge visualization through landscape and maps. This paper applied computational patent mapping techniques in the area of nanoagent and several dominant nanoagent themes have been identified by the visualization of a patent dataset presented in the form of a patent landscape for nanoagents. This study reveal insights into nanoagents patent technology S-curves, patenting activities of various nanoagent players over time, the development in nanoagent enabling technologies over time and selected patent with high QS-lndex.