@article{c9ddab002ea54371a8aef4b8572fde50,
title = "Connecting NSF funding to patent innovation in nanotechnology (2001-2004)",
abstract = "Nanotechnology research has experienced growth rapid in knowledge and innovations; it also attracted significant public funding in recent years. Several countries have recognized nanotechnology as a critical research domain that promises to revolutionize a wide range of fields of applications. In this paper we present an analysis of the funding for nanoscale science and engineering (NSE) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and its implications on technological innovation (number of patents) in this field from 2001 to 2004. Using a combination of basic bibliometric analysis and content visualization tools we identify growth trends research topic distribution and the evolution in NSF funding and commercial patenting activities recorded at the United States Patent Office (USPTO). The patent citations are used to compare the impact of the NSF-funded research on nanotechnology development with research supported by other sources in the United States and abroad. The analysis shows that the NSF-funded researchers and patents authored by them have significantly higher impact based on patent citation measures in the four-year period than other comparison groups. The NSF-authored patent impact is growing faster with the lifetime of a patent indicating the long-term importance of fundamental research.",
keywords = "Government funding, Information visualization, Nanoscale science and engineering, Nanotechnology, Patent analysis, Patent citations, Research and development (R&D), Self-organizing maps, Technological innovation",
author = "Zan Huang and Hsinchun Chen and Xin Li and Roco, {Mihail C.}",
note = "Funding Information: In this paper, we focus on nanotechnology research and development (R&D) in the interval 2001–2004 using the patents in the USPTO database and the funded awards from the NSF database. These are the first four years of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). After defining the NSF award and USPTO patent datasets used for the study, we assess the growth trends of the published patents and awards in the NSE field that reflect the research productivity and funding activity. The technology topic areas in NSE patents and awards are presented in topic maps that reveal topic distributions and the evolution of funded research and patents in the field. Statistical analyses are used to compare the patents and inventors funded by NSF awards with those supported by other resources based on the patent citation measures. Funding Information: The NSF funds science and engineering through research and education awards (grants, contracts, fellowships, and cooperative agreements). NSF accounts for about 20% of federal support to academic institutions for basic research (NSF, http://www.nsf.gov/home/grants.htm). In 2005, more than 5% of the NSF budget was dedicated to support NSE research. Funding Information: The NSE-related NSF award dataset was provided by the NSF. The dataset was created by matching the award title, program, and abstract ({\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}title-abstract{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} search) in the NSF{\textregistered}s award database using an NSE keyword list. Although this keyword list is slightly different from the one used for patent collection (Table 5), domain experts believe that they have similar coverage. To ensure the accuracy and coverage of our NSE award dataset, the large awards (over $0.5 million) were checked manually to ensure their relevance to the NSE field. We also added the awards that came from the Nanoscale Science and Engineering solicitations that were missed by the search. Funding Information: (ECS). The top 5 NSF Programs funding NSE research were: Major Research Instrumentation (Program 1189); Electronics, Photonics, and Device Technologies (Program 1517); Small Business Phase I (Program 5371), Condensed Matter Physics (Program 1710); and Polymers (Program 1773). Funding Information: In order to compare the impact of publicly funded research by NSF and the impact of other kinds of funding resources, we have formed nine comparison groups similar to Huang et al. (2003, 2004): Funding Information: Nanotechnology research has experienced growth rapid in knowledge and innovations; it also attracted significant public funding in recent years. Several countries have recognized nanotechnology as a critical research domain that promises to revolutionize a wide range of fields of applications. In this paper, we present an analysis of the funding for nanoscale science and engineering (NSE) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and its implications on technological innovation (number of patents) in this field from 2001 to 2004. Using a combination of basic bibliometric analysis and content visualization tools, we identify growth trends, research topic distribution, and the evolution in NSF funding and commercial patenting activities recorded at the United States Patent Office (USPTO). The patent citations are used to compare the impact of the NSF-funded research on nanotechnology development with research supported by other sources in the United States and abroad. The analysis shows that the NSF-funded researchers and patents authored by them have significantly higher impact based on patent citation measures in the four-year period than other comparison groups. The NSF-authored patent impact is growing faster with the lifetime of a patent, indicating the long-term importance of fundamental research. Funding Information: This research is supported by the following awards: NSF, {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}SGER: Intelligent Patent Analysis for Nanoscale Science and Engineering,{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} IIS-0311652, May 2003–April 2005, and {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}SGER: NanoMap: Mapping Nanotechnology Development,{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} DMI-0533749, August 2005–July 2007. The last co-author was supported by the Directorate for Engineering, NSF. We would like to thank the United States Patent and Trademark Office for their support during the research. Funding Information: DMR Division of Materials Research DMI DIV OF Design, Manufac & Industrial Innov CHE Division of Chemistry CTS Division of Chemical & Transport Systems ECS Division of Electrical & Communications Systems CMS Division of Civil & Mechanical Systems CCF Division of Computing and Communications Foundations OISE/INT Office of International Science and Engineering DMS Division of Mathematical Sciences BES Division of Bioengineering & Environmental Systems EEC Division of Engineering Education & Centers CCR DIV OF Computer-Communications Research PHY Division of Physics MCB Division of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences EAR Division of Earth Sciences DBI Division of Biological Infrastructure DUE Division of Undergraduate Education EIA Division of Experimental & Integ Activit EPS Office of Exper Prog to Stim Comp Rsch DGE Division of Graduate Education",
year = "2006",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1007/s11051-006-9147-9",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "8",
pages = "859--879",
journal = "Journal of Nanoparticle Research",
issn = "1388-0764",
publisher = "Springer Netherlands",
number = "6",
}