Technological competitiveness of the EU member states in the era of the fourth industrial revolution

• Authors: Weresa Marzenna Anna
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The aim of this paper is to investigate the implications of the fourth industrial revolution for technological competitiveness, its definition and measurement methods. An empirical part is aimed at identifying comparative advantages of the European Union in digital technologies. Recently new approaches have appeared to measure digital competitiveness, however they use a broad definition of competitiveness that encompasses not only technological factors but also the macroeconomic and institutional environment (IMD, 2017; WEF, 2018). There is still a limited number of studies focused on the technological dimension of competitiveness in digital technologies. This paper fills the gap by developing a conceptual framework based on patent indicators, i.e. Patent Share and Revealed Technological Advantage indices. It allows a consistent analysis of the comparative advantages of the EU member states in digital technologies to be conducted. The results confirm a huge diversity within the EU in terms of digital technologies, their global impact and comparative advantages.

Keywords

EN

technological competitiveness; digitalization; European Union; revealed; technological advantage

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Poznaniu
• Journal: Economics and Business Review
• Year: 2019
• Volume: 5 (19)
• Issue: 3

Dates

published

2019-10-01

Contributors

author

Weresa Marzenna Anna

• World Economy Research Institute, Collegium of World Economy, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, al. Niepodległości 162, 02-554 Warszawa, Poland, [e-mail]. pl. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3112-3460.

References

• Abbas A., Zhang, L., & Khan, S. U. (2014). A literature review on the state-of-the-art in patent analysis. World Patent Information, 37, 3-13.
• Aiginger, C., & Vogel, J. (2015). Competitiveness: From a misleading concept to a strategy supporting Beyond GDP goals. Competitiveness Review, 25(5), 497-523.
• Aiginger, K., Bärenthaler-Sieber, S., & Vogel, J. (2013, October). Competitiveness under new perspectives. (WWW for Europe Working Paper No. 44). Vienna: WIFO.
• Archambault, É. (2002). Methods for using patents in cross-country comparisons. Scientometrics, 54(1), 15-30.
• Archibugi, D., & Pianta, M. (1996). Measuring technological change through patents and innovation surveys. Technovation, 16(9), 451-468.
• Aschhoff, B., Crass, D., Cremers, K., Grimpe, Ch., & Rammer, Ch. (2010). European competitiveness in key enabling technologies. Centre for European Economic
• Research (ZEW). Retrieved from https://nanonet.pl/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ European-Competitiveness-in-Key-Enabling-Technologies.pdf
• BMBF. (2013). Zukunftsbild Industrie 4.0. Berlin: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung.
• Chiappini, R. (2014). Persistence vs. mobility in industrial and technological specialisations: evidence from 11 Euro area countries. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 24(1), 159-187.
• Choi, D., & Song, B. (2018). Exploring technological trends in logistics: Topic modeling- based patent analysis. Sustainability, 10(8), 1-26.
• Cockburn, I., Henderson R., & Stern S. (2018). The impact of artificial intelligence on innovation. (NBER Working Paper, No. 24449). National Bureau of Economic Research. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3386/w24449
• Delgado, M., Ketels, Ch., Porter, M. E., & Stern, S. (2012). The determinants of national competitiveness. (NBER Working Paper No. 18249).
• Dernis, H., Guellec, D. & van Pottelsberghe, B. (2002). Using patent counts for crosscountry comparisons of technology output. STI Review, 27, 129-146. Special Issue on New Science and Technology.
• Dziallas, M., & Blindt, K. (2019). Innovation indicators throughout the innovation process: An extensive literature analysis. Technovation, 80-81, 3-29.
• EC. (2010). Europe’s digital competitiveness report 2010. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
• EC. (2015). Monitoring the digital economy & society 2016-2021. Brussels: European Commission, DG Communications Networks, Content & Technology.
• EC. (2018). Digital transformation scoreboard 2018. EU businesses go digital: Opportunities, outcomes and uptake internal market. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
• Ernst, H., & Omland, N. (2011). The Patent Asset Index: A new approach to benchmark patent portfolios. World Patent Information, 33, 34-41
• Fagerberg, J. (1996, September). Technology and competitiveness. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 12(3), 39-51. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/12.3.39
• Ferraro, S., Dutt, P. K., & Kerikmäe, T. (2017). Using patent development, education policy and research and development expenditure policy to increase technological competitiveness of small European Union member states. Croatian International Relations Review, 23(78), 97-126.
• Grossman, G. E., & Helpman, E. (1989). Comparative advantage and long-run growth. (NBER Working Papers 2809). National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
• Guellec, D., & Paunov, C. (2018). Innovation policy in the digital age. OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Papers, 59.
• Haskel, J., & Westlake S. (2017). Capitalism without capital: The rise of the intangible economy. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• Hemais, C. A., Barros, H. M., & Rosa, E. O. R. (2005, July). Technology competitiveness in emerging markets: The case of the Brazilian polymer industry. Journal of Technology Transfer, 30(3), 303-314.
• Howells, J., & Michie, J. (1998). Technological competitiveness in an international arena. International Journal of the Economics of Business, 5(3), 279-293.
• Huang, M.-H., Chen, D.-Z., Shen, D., Wang, M. S., & Ye, F. Y. (2015). Measuring technological performance of assignees using trace metrics in three fields. Scientometrics, 104, 61-86.
• IMD. (2017). IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2017. Lausanne: The IMD World Competitiveness Center. Retrieved from www.imd.org/wcc
• IMD (2018). IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2018. Lausanne: The IMD World Competitiveness Center. Retrieved from www.imd.org/wcc
• Kagermann, H., Helbig, J., Hellinger, A., & Wahlster, W. (2013). Recommendations for implementing the strategic initiative INDUSTRIE 4.0: Securing the future of German manufacturing industry. Final report of the Industrie 4.0 working group, Forschungsunion.
• Kim, J., & Lee, S. (2015). Patent databases for innovation studies: A comparative analysis of USPTO, EPO, JPO and KIPO. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 92(C), 332-345
• Kowalski, A. M., Michorowska, B. (2014). Methods for measuring innovation. In M. A. Weresa (Ed.), Innovation, human capital and trade competitiveness. how are they connected and why do they matter? (pp. 74-78). Heidelberg, New York, London: Springer.
• Lee, Y.-G. (2009). What affects a patent’s value? An analysis of variables that affect technological, direct economic, and indirect economic value: An exploratory conceptual approach. Scientometrics, 79(3), 623-633.
• Makhoba, X., & Pouris, A. (2019). A patentometric assessment of selected R&D priority areas in South Africa: A comparison with other BRICS countries. World Patent Information, 56, 20-28.
• Marinova, D., & McAleer, M. (2003). Nanotechnology strength indicators: International rankings based on US Patents. Nanotechnology, 14(1), R1-R7(7).
• Mehrotra, D., Sabitha, S., Nagpal, R., & Mattas, N. (2016). Landscape analysis of patent dataset. Journal of Intellectual Property Rights, 21, 211-225.
• Meniere, Y., Rudyk, I., & Valdes, J. (2017). Patents and the fourth industrial revolution. The inventions behind digital transformation. Munich: European Patent Office.
• Monaco, L., Bell, J. & Nyamwena, J. (2019, February 28). Understanding technological competitiveness and supply chain deepening in plastic auto components in Thailand:
• Possible lessons for South Africa. (CCRED Working Paper No. 1/2019). Retrieved from https://ssrn.com/abstract=3384027 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3384027
• Montresor, S., & Quatraro, F. (2017). Regional branching and key enabling technologies: Evidence from European patent data. Economic Geography, 93(4), 367-396.doi: 10.1080/00130095.2017.1326810
• Morrar, R., Arman, H., & Mousa, S. (2017). The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0): A social innovation perspective. Technology Innovation Management Review.
• Retrieved from file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/bkam/Pulpit/Morrar_et_al_TIMReview_November2017.pdf,17.02.2019.
• Narula, R., & Wakelin, K. (1998, September). Technological competitiveness, trade and foreign direct investment. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 9(3), 373-387.
• OECD. (2009). Patent Statistics Manual. Paris: OECD Publishing.
• OECD. (2017). OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2017: The digital transformation. Paris: OECD Publishing. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264268821-en
• OECD. (2019). Digital innovation: Seizing policy opportunities. Paris: OECD Publishing. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1787/a298dc87-en
• Pantano, E., Priporas, K.-V., & Stylos, N. (2018). Knowledge Push Curve (KPC) in retailing: Evidence from patented innovations analysis affecting retailers’ competitiveness. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 44, 150-160.
• Patel, P., & Pavitt, K. (1991). Europe’s technological performance. In C. Freeman, M. Sharp, & W. Walker (Eds.), Technology and the future of Europe (pp. 35-58). London: Pinter.
• Planes-Satorra, S., & Paunov, C. (2019, May). The digital innovation policy landscape in 2019. OECD Science and Innovation Policy Papers, 71.
• Popp, D. (2005). Lessons from patents: Using patents to measure technological change in environmental models. Ecological Economics, 54(2-3), 209-226.
• Porter, M. E. (2008). On Competition. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing.
• Porter, M. E., & Heppelmann, J. E. (2014, November). How smart, connected products are transforming competition. Harvard Business Review, 92(11), 64-88.
• Prud’homme, D. (2016). Dynamics of China’s provincial-level specialization in strategic emerging industries. Research Policy, 45(8), 1586-1603
• Radman, G., & Belin, A. (2017). Competitiveness in technology and innovation: How to keep on?. International Journal of Digital Technology & Economy, 2(1), 45-56.
• Rassenfosse, G. de, Dernis, H., Guellec, D., Picci, L., & van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie, B. (2013). The worldwide count of priority patents: A new indicator of inventive activity. Research Policy, 42(3), 720-737.
• Santos, C., Mehrsai, A., Barros, A. C. Araújo, M., & Ares, E. (2017). Towards Industry 4.0.: An overview of European strategic roadmaps. Procedia Manufacturing, 13, 972-979.
• Schwab, K. (2016). The fourth industrial revolution. Geneva: World Economic Forum.
• Scotchmer, S. (2005). Innovation and incentives. Cambridge: MIT Press.
• Tijssen, R. & Winnink, J. (2018). Capturing ‘R&D excellence’: Indicators, international statistics, and innovative universities. Scientometrics, 114(2), 687-699.
• Uchida, Y., & Cook, P. (2005). The effects of competition on technological and trade competitiveness. Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 45(2-3), 258-283.
• Ungerman, O., Dedkova, J. & Gurinova, K. (2018). The impact of marketing innovation on the competitiveness of enterprises in the context of Industry 4.0. Journal of Competitiveness, 10(2), 132-148.
• van Ark, B., Hao, J. X., Corrado, C., & Hulten, Ch. (2009). Measuring intangible capital and its contribution to economic growth in Europe. European Investment Bank, 14(1), 62-93.
• van Raan, A. F. J. (2017). Patent citations analysis and its value in research evaluation: A review and a new approach to map technology-relevant research. Journal of Data and Information Science, 2(1), 13-50.
• Wallusch, J. (2015). (Un)finished transition. Stock of knowledge in Poland, 1924-2012. Economics and Business Review, 15(1), 89-102. doi: 10.18559/ebr.2015.1.7
• WEF. (2018). The Global Competitiveness Report 2018. Geneva: World Economic Forum.
• Weresa, M. A. (2010). Intellectual property rights and competitiveness: evidence from Poland. International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 6(4), 233-247.
• Weresa, M. A. (2019). Stan i bariery rozwoju Przemysłu 4.0 w Polsce. In A. M. Kowalski, M. A. Weresa (Eds.), Konkurencyjność międzynarodowa Polski w kontekście czwartej rewolucji przemysłowej i Przemysłu 4.0. Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza SGH (forthcoming).
• Wisla, R., & Sierotowicz, T. (2016). Medical technological specializations of central and eastern European regions. Economics and Sociology, 9(3), 195-209. doi: 10.14254/2071-789X.2016/9-3/17
• Zamora-Torres, A. (2014). Countries competitiveness on innovation and technology. Global Journal of Business Research, 8(5), 73-83.

Identifiers

DOI

10.18559/ebr.2019.3.4