Determinants of Firms' Technology Portfolio Composition: Investigating Patents Strategy in 3GPP Standardization

This study examines the effects of patent ownership and knowledge accumulation on the standard-related technology portfolio composition. The research is positioned between standardization studies and innovation management studies. This topic falls within the scope of the firms' decisions regarding the technology portfolio management for standardization. Even it has strategic implications on the portfolio composition, this issue has been less explored. We carried on an experimental regression analysis on a sample of top 28 large-size firms engaged in 3GPP standardization. Results show a diversification tendency of the technology portfolio, in depth and width, related to patent ownership and knowledge accumulation. Results contribute to explaining the firms’ capability to leverage patent endowment in managing a standard-related technology portfolio.