The effect of multi/interdisciplinary research and collaboration on the technological patent value of biofuel patents

This exploratory study uses citation analysis to address: (1) the effect of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research on the technological patent values of biofuel patents, and (2) to determine the currency of the collaborative research that is being used. Both research objectives were addressed by analyzing the biofuel patents that were granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, between 1975 and 2002. Two key propositions were used to address each objective. The first proposition looked that the possibility of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research adding to technological patent value, while the second look a potential emphasis on the usage of cutting edge collaborative research. Both propositions were found not to be conclusively supported. Even though this research does not generate any conclusive results, it does provide insight into how multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research is being used within the biofuels discipline.