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

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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