The Patterns of Growth in Information and Communication Technologies:The Case of the Emerging Internet of Things

This chapter focuses on patenting activity within the context of IoT. After outlining the technological convergence that has been facilitated by the emergence of the IoT, the chapter focuses on identifying the most active patenting firms. The chapter shows how the most active patenting firms are manufacturing firms, and that rate of patenting activities has varied considerably over time. As the factors behind the changing rate of patenting activity are unclear, the chapter explores why this may be the case.