Applying an IPC network to identify the bioenergy technological frontier

This paper proposes to identify the formation of technological frontier clusters. In the present study, we applied the method for bioenergy technologies. The first methodological step uses patents extracted from the Derwent Innovation Index, in which a data mining treatment is done. The second step is the construction of the IPC (International Patents Classification) network of patents from a co-occurrence matrix. Three clusters of technological knowledge are identified. The first and main cluster is the ethanol technologies, and two dusters in the training phase, one of which uses by-products and the other of technologies based on cellulosic material. The work shows how a general knowledge base is appropriate and favors the configuration of new frontier technologies that amplify the knowledge base of the bioenergy paradigm.