Exploring the topology and dynamic growth properties of co-invention networks and technology fields

This study investigates the topology and dynamics of collaboration networks that exist between inventors and their patent co-authors for patents granted by the USPTO from 2007–2019 (2,241,201 patents and 1,879,037 inventors). We study changes in the configurations of different technology fields via the power-law, small-world, preferential attachment, shrinking diameter, densification law, and gelling point hypotheses. Similar to the existing literature, we obtain mixed results. Based on network statistics, we argue that the sudden rise of large networks in six technology sectors can be understood as a phase transition in which small, isolated networks form one giant component. In two other technology sectors, such a transition occurred much later and much less dramatically. The examination of inventor networks over time reveals the increased complexity of all technology sectors, regardless of the individual characteristics of the network. Therefore, we introduce ideas associated with the technological diversification of inventors to complement our analysis, and we find evidence that inventors tend to diversify into new fields that are less mature. This behavior appears to be correlated with the compliance of some of the expected network rules and has implications for the emerging patterns among the different collaboration networks under consideration here.

Does the Technological Diversification and R&D Internationalization of eMNCs Promote Enterprise Innovation?

Under the background of digital economy, technological diversification and R&D internationalization are important strategic choices for eMNCs, represented by China, to seek advanced technological resources and create competitive advantages. This paper takes China's listed MNCs from 2009 to 2019 as the research object and applies a non-equilibrium panel negative binomial fixed effect regression to investigate the impact mechanism of technological diversification of China's MNCs on enterprise innovation performance and the moderating effect of overseas R&D networks. Results show that the related technological diversification of MNCs has a significant positive impact, and the unrelated technological diversification and their innovation performance are in inverted U-shaped relationship; overseas R&D networks have significant moderating effect while the breadth and depth of the moderating effect are not the same; significant differences exist in the moderating effect of overseas R&D networks due to the heterogeneity of institutional development levels among regions in China.

The modern concept of special economic zones in Ukraine

The article deals with special economic zones as a tool of state policy of countries seeking to attract foreign investment and ensure economic growth. The aim of the article is to substantiate the new concept of special economic zones of Ukraine as stimulating regulatory regimes aimed at attracting innovative investments and developing new industries based on the smart specialisation of regions and trends in the world economy. The regime is presented as a system of incentives and benefits, mandatory conditions and restrictions, and seeks to increase the investment attractiveness and technological diversification of the economy of the regions and the country as a whole. Each component of the regime has been classified, taking into account best practices of other countries and the strategic goals of Ukraine regarding the need to ensure sustainable and innovative development and to enter the world markets as a manufacturer of high-tech innovative products.

RESEARCH OF THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE INFLUENCE OF MACROECONOMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS ON THE INTENSIFICATION OF INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY

Целью статьи является исследование теоретико-методологических аспектов влияния макроэкономических и институциональных факторов на интенсификацию инновационного развития страны. Рассматривается влияние процессов коэволюции технологической диверсификации и внешнеэкономической конъюнктуры на интенсивность макроинновационного развития страны. Автором предлагается методология двухмодульного анализа, основанная на международной патентной статистике и макроэкономических индикаторах за период 1976-2018 гг. Исследуются модели коэволюции и характеристики внешнеэкономической диверсификации. В попытке объяснить наблюдаемые автором закономерности используется ряд эконометрических методов. Эмпирические результаты показывают, что существует ассиметричная причинно-следственная связь между технологической диверсификацией и инновациями. Этот результат является устойчивым в разные периоды времени и в разных группах стран. Кроме того, установлено, что внешнеэкономическая диверсификация, т. е. уровень глобализации национальной экономики страны, положительно влияет на интенсивность инноваций в стране, в то время как технологическая диверсификация оказывает негативное влияние. The aim of this article is to research the theoretical and methodological aspects of the impact of macroeconomic and institutional factors on the intensification of innovative development of the country. In particular, the article examines the impact of the processes of co-evolution of technological diversification and foreign economic conditions on the intensity of country's macro-innovative development. We propose a methodology for two-module analysis based on international patent statistics and macroeconomic indicators for the period 1976-2018. First, we study the models of coevolution and the characteristics of foreign economic diversification. In an attempt to explain the patterns we use a number of econometric methods. Our empirical results show that there is an asymmetric causal relationship between technological diversification and innovation. This result is consistent across time periods and across country groups. In addition, it is established that foreign economic diversification, i.e. The level of globalization of a country's national economy has a positive impact on the intensity of innovation in the country, while technological diversification has a negative impact.

Effects of geographical and technological diversification on the development of spatially disaggregated wind and solar power market values

<p><strong>Keywords</strong>: Market value, Technological diversification, Geographical diversification, Spatial value factor distribution</p><p>Ambitious climate and energy targets require environmentally compatible energy generation with a high utilisation of renewable energy sources. However, due to the intermittent appearance of wind and PV feed-in, variable renewable energy (VRE) reveals significantly lower market values than conventional dispatchable power (Joskow, 2011). Additionally, with higher VRE shares a significant market value drop of wind and solar power has been observed in recent years as a result of the merit order effect (Hirth, 2013). Moreover, results by Engelhorn and Müsgens (2018) and Becker and Thrän (2018) have indicated regional disparities in empirical market values for Germany.  This poses interest on what exactly drives and how to quantify the development and spatial distribution of VRE market values.</p><p>Against this background, an electricity market model is applied to trace the development of spatial market values based on model-endogenous electricity prices. A special feature of the model is the inclusion of highly regionally disaggregated weather data which allows to investigate effects of different geographical and technological VRE diversification strategies in Germany until 2035 (Eising et al., 2020). The results of this research are threefold:</p><ul><li>Technological diversity: results show a significant decrease in PV and onshore wind value factors as VRE shares increase. Replacing onshore wind energy by offshore wind energy reduces the volatility and counteracts the value drop of onshore wind, offshore wind and PV.</li> <li>Geographical diversity: results indicate that geographical diversification does not necessarily mitigate decreasing VRE value factors. Under specific circumstances, a higher concentration at sites with lower full-load hours and corresponding higher feed-in volatility potentially mitigates positive effects from more spatially distributed generation.</li> <li>Spatial distribution of value factors: for all mitigation strategies and for wind and PV the spatial value factor distribution shows future increases in regional disparities. However, regional value factor disparities are most distinct in case of onshore wind. The analysis reveals two significant drivers: first, a negative relationship between the regional wind capacity density and their regional value factors can be observed. Second, results indicate a negative relationship between site-specific wind feed-in volatility and the value factor.</li> </ul><p> Summarising, the analysis highlights the importance of considering spatial market values in efficiently designing future electricity markets.  </p><p> </p><p><strong>References</strong></p><p>Becker, R., Thrän, D., 2018. Optimal Siting of Wind Farms in Wind Energy Dominated Power Systems. Energies 11, 978. https://doi.org/10.3390/en11040978</p><p>Eising, M., Hobbie, H., Möst, D., 2020. Future wind and solar power market values in Germany — Evidence of spatial and technological dependencies? Energy Econ. 86, 104638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2019.104638</p><p>Engelhorn, T., Müsgens, F., 2018. How to estimate wind-turbine infeed with incomplete stock data: A general framework with an application to turbine-specific market values in Germany. Energy Econ. 72, 542–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2018.04.022</p><p>Hirth, L., 2013. The market value of variable renewables: The effect of solar wind power variability on their relative price. Energy Econ. 38, 218–236.</p><p>Joskow, P.L., 2011. Comparing the Costs of Intermittent and Dispatchable Electricity Generating Technologies. Am. Econ. Rev. 101, 238–241.</p>

Optimizing the Norwegian power grid to meet European climate targets

<p>The energy provided by sun or wind changes with time and cannot be regulated. This creates problems currently because society demands energy when it needs it, largely ignoring availability. Transmission grid or energy storage capacity expansion and demand management are proposed strategies to deal with this. They can be used in a mix or can at least partially substitute for one another. By 2050, large amounts of wind and solar power capacity is expected to be deployed in an effort to meet the goals of the EU’s “Green Deal” . Norway is in a position to contribute to a stable European grid due to its hydropower resources as well as excellent wind resources allowing for spatial diversification with wind in the rest of Europe and technological diversification with solar in the South of Europe. Spreading out wind over a larger area or combining it with other technologies can reduce the variability. Yet, a conflict of interest is possible from the Norwegian perspective, as increased interconnection might lead to higher power prices in the country.</p><p>Previous research has taken transmission capacity expansion into account. A frequent conclusion was that improved transmission capacity requires less energy storage. Yet to our knowledge, no study has examined the optimal level of Norwegian transmission capacities to reach Europe’s climate goals in a model that embeds Norway into a representation of the whole European system. Also, the above mentioned tension between the European and the Norwegian perspective has not been discussed.</p><p>This work closes the gap by improving the representation of Norway in the MIT licensed European investment and dispatch power system model (highRES-Europe).</p><p>Using it, we study the cost-optimal transmission grid in Norway and interconnection to neighbouring countries to meet European Climate targets. This novel approach, allows investigating spatial diversification  and technological diversification effects over a large geographical area. The process includes power generation estimates from reanalysis weather data and demand estimates based on historic electricity demand statistics. Being an optimization model, highRES then takes these inputs to design a power system that satisfies the demand at least cost.</p><p>The cost-optimal amount of transmission grid expansion to reach European Climate targets is the main expected conclusion.</p><p>When looking at the development of system costs in different countries, conclusions about the benefits from grid expansion are expected. Here we also compare the Norwegian perspective to the European perspective to identify possible target conflicts. </p><p>It is anticipated that the larger spatial coverage of the model leads to a lower need for storage expansion and that investment into interconnection between Norway and its neighbours are proposed to allow for import and storage of renewable overproduction in other countries.</p><p>Further insights into the amount and duration of electricity stored in Norway, supporting the deployment of renewable energy in Europe, are expected.</p>