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Additive Manufacturing of Functionally Graded Ceramic Materials by Stereolithography
Published on: January 25, 2019
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A bibliometric method for assessing technological maturity: the case of additive manufacturing
René Lezama-Nicolás1, Marisela Rodríguez-Salvador1, Rosa Río-Belver2
11Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849 Monterrey, N.L. Mexico.
Scientometrics
|December 15, 2018
Summary
This study introduces a Bibliometric Method for Assessing Technological Maturity (BIMATEM), a quantitative framework using literature and patent data to evaluate technology readiness levels (TRL). BIMATEM offers a repeatable, bias-free alternative to expert opinions for assessing technological maturity.
Area of Science:
- Technology Management
- Bibliometrics
- Innovation Studies
Background:
- Novel technologies present competitive potential but involve risks.
- Technology readiness level (TRL) is a common approach for assessing technological maturity.
- Current TRL assessment relies on expert opinions, which can be costly and biased.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a quantitative and repeatable framework for assessing technological maturity.
- To address the limitations of expert-based TRL assessments.
- To present the Bibliometric Method for Assessing Technological Maturity (BIMATEM).
Main Methods:
- BIMATEM quantitatively assesses maturity by matching technology life cycle stages to records in scientific literature, patents, and news databases.
- The method assumes mature technologies show logistic growth in scientific/patent records and hype-type behavior in news.
- Curve fitting of technology records to these behaviors determines the maturity level.
Main Results:
- BIMATEM was applied to additive manufacturing (AM) technologies.
- Material extrusion, material jetting, powder bed fusion, and vat photopolymerization showed high maturity (TRL 6-7).
- Directed energy deposition (TRL 4-5), binder jetting, and sheet lamination (TRL 1-2) demonstrated lower maturity.
Conclusions:
- BIMATEM provides a quantitative, repeatable, and bias-free method for assessing technological maturity.
- The framework is valuable for competitive intelligence, policymaking, and risk assessment of new technologies.
- Future research could explore the integration of altmetrics into the BIMATEM framework.
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