Integration of Competitive and Technological Intelligence, Gartner’s Hype Cycle and Panel Data

Abstract

The implementation or not of a specific technology is an important decision for a company. Adopting a technology too early can produce big risks and high costs. On the other hand, when adopting too late, the competitive potential decreases. The proposed methodology integrates Competitive and Technological Intelligence, Gartner’s Hype Cycle and Panel Data models with the intention of contributing and supporting business decision for Research and Development (R&D) activities. Competitive and Technological Intelligence methodology as a process of research and analysis of information to generate relevant knowledge for decision making. Gartner’s Hype Cycle model as a procedure to determine the development stage in which a technology is located, will make it possible to identify its implementation risks. While Panel Data model evaluates the patenting dynamics which leads to the identification of the trends of the technology. The methodology of this thesis uses research papers and patents as an information data for the analysis. To test the proposed methodology a case study was applied, specifically Additive Manufacturing in pharmaceutical applications. For the Hype Cycle analysis, the focus is on products of Drug Delivery Systems. The results of this analysis revealed that the T intrauterine device is in stage 5 of Trough of Disillusionment phase; while tablets, capsules, vaginal rings, wound dressings and microneedles are located in stage 4 and oral films, suppositories and facemasks in stage 3, both stages belong to Peak if Inflated Expectations phase. The Panel Data analysis results show that one trend of products made by additive manufacturing (IPC-B33Y80/00) is materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing (IPC-B33Y70/00). When focusing this analysis to the human necessities category, the trend IPCs are porous or cellular materials (A61L27/56) and biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances (A61L27/54).