The Knowledge Base of (Multi-technology) Industries

Understanding the knowledge base of industries is of paramount importance for analyzing the dynamics of industries’ evolution and competition. This is particularly relevant for multitechnology industries that encompass an evolving variety of technical fields. Focusing on the automotive industry, we propose a methodological approach that identifies, as a starting point, the key actors that engage in the industries’ knowledge generation and then reconstructs their patent portfolio over time. We argue that this approach enables to map the process of accumulation of the competences that correspond to the industry’s technological core while uncovering the emerging technological trends that animate the industry’s development.