Patent Quality with Open Innovation Breadth in Clean Technology Firms: Field Study
Keywords:
Open Innovation, Patent Quality, Clean Technology, Knowledge Recombination, Field StudyAbstract
The transition toward a sustainable global economy relies heavily on the rapid development and deployment of clean technologies. Due to the inherent complexity and interdisciplinary nature of these technologies, firms frequently engage in open innovation practices to source knowledge externally. This paper investigates the relationship between open innovation breadth and patent quality within the clean technology sector. Using a comprehensive field study involving archival patent data and in-depth survey metrics from a cross-section of clean technology enterprises, this research explores how the diversity of external knowledge sources impacts the technological value of resulting patents. The findings reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship, suggesting that while initial increases in open innovation breadth enhance patent quality by providing diverse recombinant materials, excessive breadth leads to integration challenges and cognitive overload that ultimately degrade patent quality. The study contributes to the literature on innovation management by providing empirical evidence from a critical, fast-growing sector and offers actionable insights for research and development managers aiming to optimize their external search strategies. The paper concludes by discussing the theoretical implications for recombinant search theory and outlines potential avenues for future research in open innovation dynamics.References
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