Evaluating the Competitiveness of Asian Construction Companies through Patent Analysis

Abstract

In evaluating the competitiveness of construction companies and their development strategies, patents are a useful andobjective source of technical information. In this study, the cutting-edge technologies of construction industries of China,Japan, and South Korea were investigated based on the data of patent applications filed by a total of 15 constructioncompanies (five companies from each country). The related technologies were classified into six core technology groupsbased on their keywords. After that, we used four patent analysis methods: time series analysis, IP (Intellectual Property)emergence level analysis, spiral module analysis, and OS (Object-Solution) Matrix analysis, to identify the promisingtechnologies/vacant technologies for global construction companies in China, Japan, and South Korea, and to analyze thetechnical competitiveness of the three countries. The findings of this study showed that each country can claim a relativetechnological advantage over the others. Overall, 3D printing and offsite construction technology, data acquisitiontechnology, AR and VR technology are expected to be promising in the Asian region. The present study contributes tothe body of knowledge by expanding our understanding of technological innovation for the competitiveness of companiesand the technology development strategies pursued by the construction industries of China, Japan, and South Korea.