Collaboration spotting for dental science

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Dental Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Identifying key players and collaborations in emerging scientific fields is crucial for research advancement.
• Visualizing technological relationships aids in understanding research landscapes.
• Dental Science research requires tools to navigate complex publication and patent data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an automated system, Collaboration Spotting, for collecting and visualizing publication and patent information.
• To identify key players, collaborations, and related technologies within a specific scientific domain.
• To apply the system to Dental Science, focusing on technologies related to bone regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a keyword-based logical filter to extract publications from the Web of Science™ database.
• Expert validation of extracted publication lists.
• Automatic generation of interactive Sociograms (player collaborations) and Technograms (technology relations) using a dedicated database and software system.

Main Results:

• The system successfully generated Sociograms for technologies related to bone regeneration in oro-maxillo-facial defects.
• Specific focus was placed on Porous HydroxyApatite (HA) as a bone substitute and scaffold for Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
• The generated interactive maps are accessible online, illustrating player and technology networks.

Conclusions:

• The Collaboration Spotting system provides an automated method for mapping the state-of-the-art in specific technologies.
• The generated interactive maps serve as valuable tools for researchers and research organizations.
• The system's applicability to Dental Science was demonstrated, with plans to expand its scope for broader utility.