How do new use environments influence a technology's knowledge trajectory? A patent citation network analysis of lithium-ion battery technology

It is important for policymakers and industry practitioners to understand the factors that influence evolution of a technology's knowledge base, i.e., its trajectory. The literature on technologies their underlying bases suggests technological innovation takes place in an incremental cumulative manner along certain trajectories. We extend this by not only focusing design hierarchy knowledge, but also emergence use environments. focus case lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology from 1970 2018. dataset 101,620 patent families identify analyze LIB industry's core Our results indicate new environments (in particular, those require different service characteristics as compared older environments) can serve mechanism increased generation at level product architecture, innovation, uncertainty, participation actors discuss implications policy makers interested understanding relative positions firms nations complex, multi-purpose technologies.