Capturing the TIS’s knowledge production function using patent data: A methodological framework applied to the Hydrogen storage technologies

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The knowledge production function is a key function of the “Technological innovation systems” (TIS) approach. It consists of studying and characterizing the knowledge base of the TIS and its evolution. Although the patent is frequently used in order to assess this function, the current methods for mobilizing this data suffer from several shortcomings. On the one hand, the scholars focus their analyses only a single knowledge base. On the other hand, they focus on the volume of the number of patents filed to gauge the level of knowledge production activities. In this article, we intend to contribute to overcome these limits by proposing a 4-steps method based on the splitting of the knowledge base into as many technological parts that make up the TIS studied and on the mobilization of three indicators (persistence, commitment and consistency) in order to determine for each distinguished party if there is a sufficient level of knowledge created to support the development of the studied TIS. The interest of this method is illustrated on the hydrogen storage TIS.