TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring technological opportunities by mining the gaps between science and technology
T2 - Microalgal biofuels
AU - Wang, Ming Yeu
AU - Fang, Shih Chieh
AU - Chang, Yu Hsuan
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank two anonymous referees for their helpful comments on this article and thank the Biotechnology Business Section, Solvent and Chemical Business Division, CPC Corporation, Republic of China (Taiwan) for providing technology consultancy in biofuels. This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of China (Taiwan) . Grant number is NSC 102-2410-H-415-011 .
Funding Information:
Our results are supported by the 2010 National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap, published by the U.S. DOE (2010) . A major objective of the roadmap is to understand the status of algal biofuels in research, development, and deployment (RD&D) activities, and presents information that supports and guides RD&D investment. The roadmap summarizes three aspects of content for microalgal biofuel: technology, economy, and policy. The scientific and technological fields identified are consistent with the contents of technology described in the roadmap. The evolutionary history of algal biofuels introduced in the roadmap confirms the mean published year sequence derived for the scientific fields. Additionally, a report by International Energy Agency (IEA) stated that, “The production of liquid transportation fuels from algal biomass is technically feasible. However, there is a need for innovation in all elements of algal biofuels production to address technical inefficiencies” ( Darzins et al., 2010 ). The technological fields identified contain activities at the upstream and downstream ends of the production chain, which could be reflected in the statement of “technically feasible” in the IEA report.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2015/3/1
Y1 - 2015/3/1
N2 - The interaction between scientific and technological knowledge facilitates exploration of new technological opportunities; however, gaps between them typically impede exploration of these opportunities. Scientific papers and technological patents record modern and advanced knowledge in scientific discovery and technological development; therefore, comparing their statuses can identify the gaps and explore potential technological opportunities. Because microalgal biofuels are a promising alternative energy resource devoid of territorial land use problems, this study applies text mining and an algorithm that can cluster objects of high-dimensional data to microalgal biofuel papers and patents, and explores their potential technological opportunities. The results demonstrate that a text-based clustering approach is appropriate for identifying scientific and technological applications for microalgal biofuels. The results indicate that microalgal photosynthesis and light utilization have abundant scientific outcomes for technological engineers to potentially apply. Technological opportunities exist in synthesis, harvesting, extraction, and lipid conversion. Scientific knowledge underlying biofuels accompanying high-value co-products of production require sustained exploration and reporting through research. These needs represent potential technological opportunities.
AB - The interaction between scientific and technological knowledge facilitates exploration of new technological opportunities; however, gaps between them typically impede exploration of these opportunities. Scientific papers and technological patents record modern and advanced knowledge in scientific discovery and technological development; therefore, comparing their statuses can identify the gaps and explore potential technological opportunities. Because microalgal biofuels are a promising alternative energy resource devoid of territorial land use problems, this study applies text mining and an algorithm that can cluster objects of high-dimensional data to microalgal biofuel papers and patents, and explores their potential technological opportunities. The results demonstrate that a text-based clustering approach is appropriate for identifying scientific and technological applications for microalgal biofuels. The results indicate that microalgal photosynthesis and light utilization have abundant scientific outcomes for technological engineers to potentially apply. Technological opportunities exist in synthesis, harvesting, extraction, and lipid conversion. Scientific knowledge underlying biofuels accompanying high-value co-products of production require sustained exploration and reporting through research. These needs represent potential technological opportunities.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.techfore.2014.07.008
DO - 10.1016/j.techfore.2014.07.008
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84923247704
SN - 0040-1625
VL - 92
SP - 182
EP - 195
JO - Technological Forecasting and Social Change
JF - Technological Forecasting and Social Change
ER -