Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose an objective method for technology forecasting (TF). For the construction of the proposed model, the paper aims to consider new approaches to patent mapping and clustering. In addition, the paper aims to introduce a matrix map and K‐medoids clustering based on support vector clustering (KM‐SVC) for vacant TF.Design/methodology/approach – TF is an important research and development (R&D) policy issue for both companies and government. Vacant TF is one of the key technological planning methods for improving the competitive power of firms and governments. In general, a forecasting process is facilitated subjectively based on the researcher's knowledge, resulting in unstable TF performance. In this paper, the authors forecast the vacant technology areas in a given technology field by analyzing patent documents and employing the proposed matrix map and KM‐SVC to forecast vacant technology areas in the management of technology (MOT).Findings – The paper examines...

Technology forecasting using matrix map and patent clustering

Understanding TRIZ through the review of top cited publications

A systematic innovation process (SIP) derived from observations of business practices is proposed and exemplified. Time-wise, the SIP is a series of phases and stages which link the planned business processes from business opportunity identification to technology details to cross-industry application exploitation of newly developed technology/tools/products. Resource-wise, the SIP provides a platform to integrate heterogeneous resources and tools such as TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving), non-TRIZ tools, and more opportunity identification and problem solving techniques for systematic innovation. Unlike brain-storming type innovation activities which are often ad-hoc and highly dependent on luck, systematic innovation regards the systematic development of innovative problem solving and/or opportunity identification. The proposed SIP is based on the authors’ observations of industry practices and has not been described elsewhere before. The framework integrates the full phases of systematic innova...

A proposed process for systematic innovation

http://csmres.co.uk/cs.public.upd/article-downloads/DDT%20Q3%202011%20best%20article_a22986.pdf

Drug discovery in the next decade: innovation needed ASAP

Patent design around is an effective way to walk around competitive patents and avoid patent infringement. This paper proposes a TRIZ-based Trimming method for Patent design around. The 4 stages of Patent design around include design around target definition, design around problem identification, problem solving, and solution evaluation. In the 4 stages, Technical Features (TF) are identified to define design around target based on patent claim decomposition. In order to avoid literal infringement and doctrine of equivalents, the design around problem identification process of Trimming one or more patent Technical Features is developed. Then, the problem solving tools based on Modern TRIZ tools (such as Physical Contradiction resolution, and Function-Oriented Search) are introduced to solve the design around problem. Two Trimming scenarios of Core Ejector System is investigated to illustrate the method. The project successfully circumvents target patent and generates several new granted patents in China. Establish an integrated TRIZ-based framework for Trimming strategy to design around competitive patent.Present a step by step Trimming Technical Features process to generate Trimming scenarios and Trimming problems for innovation inspiration.Generate two Trimming scenarios for Core Ejector System improvement.

A TRIZ-based Trimming method for Patent design around

This paper surveys Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) integration into other creativity tools, methods and philosophies using a literature review of publications from 1995 to 2006. After explaining the motivation of the integrations, a categorical analysis is carried out on how TRIZ has been integrated with these tools based on publications of combining TRIZ with design problem-solving tools. The applications of the integrations in different industries are summarised, and possible future directions are presented. This paper can satisfy the needs of researchers and practitioners for easy reference of TRIZ and problem-solving tools, and hence promote the future development of TRIZ.

Jie Yang

Papers

Integration TRIZ with problem-solving tools: a literature review from 1995 to 2006