METHODOLOGICAL PROPOSAL FOR THE USE OF PATENTS IN RESEARCH OF INTERORGANIZATIONAL COLLABORATION NETWORKS FOR INNOVATION

The application of Social Network Analysis (SNA) techniques to investigate interorganizational networks for the development of innovations has attracted growing scientific and empirical interest. In this sense, patents are recognized as an important measure of innovation with valuable information, which are publicly available worldwide, allowing them to be applied to investigate these collaborative innovation networks. However, the information on patents made available by patent authorities in different countries varies in format, which could compromise the application of SNA and the interpretation of analyses. To solve this problem, this study aims to select, develop and present techniques for organizing and preparing a large amount of patent data, allowing data enrichment and enabling the construction and analysis of these networks. This study contributes to the dissemination of studies and applications of SNA in interorganizational innovation networks, supporting researchers and professionals.