Earticle

초록

영어

This study questions the long-standing practice in technology opportunity (white space) research of treating an empty region of the technology space as an opportunity in itself, and redefines the meaning of opportunity from the perspective of resource-constrained small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study decomposes 14,626 granted Korean cosmetics patents (2005-2026) into a subgroup grid of ingredients (IPC A61K8) and functions (IPC A61Q), and compute for each cell its application density, applicant concentration (HHI), and SME share. The analysis finds no significant relationship between application density and SME share (Spearman rho = -0.04), but a clear negative relationship between applicant concentration and SME share (rho = -0.42). In a 2x2 analysis crossing density and concentration, cells that were dispersed at a given density level consistently exhibited a higher SME share than cells that were dominated. By function, incumbents dominated high-value, functional areas such as whitening, color cosmetics, and deodorants, whereas SMEs were positioned in general-purpose areas such as scalp care, cleansing, and hair care. These results suggest that what divides the position of SMEs in cosmetics is not whether a technology is empty, but whether incumbents have locked it down, that is, its contestability.

목차

Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Background
2.1 Open Innovation and SME Innovation
2.2 Blue Ocean Strategy and Patent White Space
2.3 Competitive Structure, Entry Barriers, and Contestability
3. Methodology
3.1 Data
3.2 Classification of Applicant Types
3.3 Construction of the Ingredient-Function Grid
3.4 Cell Indicators
4. Results
4.1 Composition of the Sample
4.2 Density Structure of the Technology Space
4.3 Distribution of SMEs
4.4 Concentration Rather Than Density
4.5 Incumbent Areas and SME Areas
5. Conclusion
5.1 Research Conclusions
5.2 Academic Implications
5.3 Practical Implications
5.4 Limitations and Future Research
References

키워드

저자

• Hayul Kawk [ Ph.D. Department of Arts and Cultural Management, Graduate School, Chung-Ang University. Seoul, 06974, Korea ]

참고문헌

발행기관

간행물

표지보기 관심저널 등록

• 간행물명

  JITAM [Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management]

• 간기

  격월간

• pISSN

  1598-6284

• eISSN

  2508-1209

• 수록기간

  1999~2026

• 십진분류

  KDC 005 DDC 005