Managing technological knowledge for supporting R&D activities: scientometrics‐based approach

Recently, scientometrics, a representative quantitative method using explicit technological knowledge from large technological databases is highlighted to overcome the shortcomings of existing qualitative methods in knowledge management of science and technology. However, scientometrics has not been properly applied to technological knowledge due to a lack of recognition as to which one among a variety of methods should be employed in an analytic situation. Thus, this paper aims to propose a portfolio of scientometrics methodologies to provide a framework in analysing technological knowledge and enhance the utilization of scientometrics in conducting R&D activities by investigating practical cases thereof. For this, the definitions and types of technological knowledge for planning R&D activities are presented as a knowledge object, and a list of scientometrics methodologies on technological knowledge is compiled to grasp a complete set of possible methodologies through literature survey. In addition, a scientometrics portfolio is developed by aggregating the matching tables of methodologies, technological knowledge and application objectives of the practical cases that scientometrics are applied to examine R&D activities and implement S&T policies.