Conceptualization and operationalization of emerging technologies: A complementing approach

In view of the ever increasing recurrence and severity of renewal waves coupled with the need to understand the processes of (socio) technological `gestation´, over the years, the construct `emerging technologies´ is slowly filling in an important theoretical niche within the Technology and Innovation Management (TIM) field, namely that of the very early stages of (socio) technological evolution. In particular, this paper attempts to contribute to the extant literature on the conceptualization and operationalization of emerging technologies along three dimensions: (a) an approach to discern the differences and similarities of emerging technologies vis-à-vis other conceptual constructs through the analysis of the network of co-citations of cited references, (b) an extended characterization of the construct `emerging technologies´, and (c) the operationalization of such conceptualization focused on the knowledge base of emerging technologies for the particular case of MEMS/NEMS (Micro-/Nano ElectroMechanical Systems). With that purpose in mind, a heavy use of series of bibliometric approaches and network analyses based on publications was made.