The Interplay Between Technology and Pre-Industry Convergence: An Analysis in the Technology Field of Smart Mobility

Abstract

Previous studies examine convergence by focusing on different individual levels such as the science, technology, market, and industry level. However, little is known about the concrete interaction between these levels. To fill this gap, this article deals with the transition between technology convergence and industry convergence at a very early stage (which we will be referring to as pre-industry convergence). We combine semantic and bibliographic analyses in a four-step approach in order to jointly measure both convergence levels by means of patents. We apply our method to the technology field of smart mobility as a promising test bed. Our results show that technology and pre-industry convergence occur simultaneously several times. However, we identify four conditions under which there is no connection at all or a time-lagged connection between both convergence levels. In particular, the connection is missing, if entering a technology field requires deep and specialized technical know-how or if there are high market entry barriers due to incumbent companies that started patenting in a technology field at an early stage. Additionally, if incumbent companies are small and specialized, they do not drive pre-industry convergence, as they do not enter distant markets. In general, it is more difficult for companies from distant industries to enter convergence processes in infrastructure-related technologies than in product-related technologies. Furthermore, there is a time-lagged connection, if pre-industry convergence follows technology convergence with a delay. This occurs if technology convergence is initially driven by application-oriented companies that exploit these technologies for their niche markets.