TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE IN A SMALL EUROPEAN COUNTRY: A PATENT- BASED ANALYSIS FOR GREECE

Year 2012, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 61 - 70, 01.12.2012

Maria Markatou

Abstract

The description of the development of the Greek technological change is the main
aim of this paper. The analysis is based on the examination and elaboration of
patent records and relies on the study of their technological content and their
economic direction. Results show that technological change focuses on producing
new technologies for the ‘agricultural sector’, ‘food’, ‘pharmaceuticals’, ‘metal
shaping-separation’, ‘rubber-plastic products’, ‘building-housing’, ‘instruments’
and ‘electricity’. These technological fields are related to the economic activities
of ‘food-beverages’, ‘chemicals’, ‘rubber-plastics’ and ‘metal products’,
‘machinery-equipment’, and ‘electronic-communication equipment’. Results also
show that technological change follows two different but clear patterns. Based on
the first pattern, technological change is directed to new economic sub- activities
but inside the existing firm’s production lines. Most firms of ‘food-beverages’,
‘chemicals’ and ‘electrical machinery-equipment’ are characterized by this
pattern. Based on the second pattern, technological change is directed to new
economic activities, outside the firm’s production lines. Half firms of ‘machineryequipment’
as well as several persistent Greek firm innovators follow this pattern.
Results may have important implications for public innovation policy regarding
targets, tools and particularly measures.

Keywords

Greece, New technology, Patents, Technological change

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