A method based on patent analysis for the investigation of technological innovation strategies: the European medical prostheses industry

In this article, a methodology based on the analysis of granted patents useful to investigate strategies of technological innovation implemented by innovative firms is presented. This methodology adopts a conceptualization which considers technological innovation as an outcome of a change of either the technological components or a diverse combination of the components themselves. The methodology is applied to analyze the characters of the strategies of technological innovation pursued by 12 European firms in the human prosthesis industry. Undoubtly, the complexity of this industry offers interesting hints to study the implementation of technology strategies adopting the search concept. Furthermore, there is a lack of empirical studies that considered this industry. Even though the methodology and the study presented have still an explorative nature, the results of the empirical analysis suggest several reasons to carry on a further investigation for a deeper comprehension of the innovation process in high-tech industries.