# A Study on Technology Competition of Graphene Biomedical Technology Based on Patent Analysis
## 2 Literature Review  
The technology roadmap (TRM) is regarded as a robust approach that is widely applicable at the institutional and industrial levels, helping stakeholders to strategize, design and carry out the evolving trend of a specific technological field. It provides a structured framework to map the dynamic relationships that integrate technological resources, organizational objectives and the changing environment [17]. From a methodological perspective, most of the research on the TRM focuses on qualitative methods (e.g., expert interview, Delphi, scenario planning, etc. ), which has a lack of validity and reliability in the TRM's construction and implementation [18; 19]. Patent information, an objective data source, can provide useful technical items on the evolution trends of technological trajectory, as well as the status quo of TC. Patent analysis is also an objective approach to identify TC, strategize and plan the future patent layout in a specific technological field by analyzing patent information [14]. Many patent analysis tools (e.g., cluster analysis, keyword analysis, citation analysis, etc.) have been developed to identify TC in emerging technologies, such as carbon capture and storage technology, solar photovoltaic technology, care robotics, and so on [20; 21; 22; 23]. With the rapid development of text and data processing, some visualization software, including CiteSpace, Gephi, and VOSviewer, are utilized for patent analysis [24; 25; 26]. Recently, patent documents as well as analysis approaches are widely used in the TRM, allowing us to identify potential technology opportunities in current and future markets [19; 27; 28]. With the combination of patent information and the TRM, the patent roadmap is considered as a new concept of roadmap and being made up of patent layer as well as technology layer [29]. The patent roadmap is developed with the purpose of strategizing patents to meet the requirements of technology planned on the TRM. It can also be defined as an effective tool that describes the current development of technology, forecasts the potential patents that will be filed, and plans the direction of prospective patents [29; 30]. Compared with the TRM, less research has been performed on patent roadmaps. A previous study related to the notion of patent roadmaps was conducted by the Institute for Information Technology Advancement in Korea. This study attempts to explore the development trajectory of the global system for mobile communication and proposes a useful counterplan for patent infringement. [PERSON] and [PERSON] suggested the concept and pattern of a patent roadmap based on the TRM and evolution trends of patent. Based on a case study of transparent display-related technology, this patent roadmap aimed to obtain a core patent, develop it to a business model and then encourage stakeholders to formulate patent strategic planning [29]. [PERSON] et al. proposed a new patent roadmap which aims to achieve patent forecasting and planning. This approach was helpful for exploring the potential patent vacuums in the development of emerging technologies and to foresee the content of a promising research area [31]. [PERSON] and [PERSON] proposed a new kind of patent roadmap, which indicates technology revolution in the target technological industry. Compared to previous research, the leading assignees, as well as their patent distribution, can be highlighted in this patent roadmap [32]. It is essential for this paper to demonstrate that a patent roadmap has distinct advantages compared to the existing TRM approach, which reveals that TC is much more credible and reliable. Graphene, a two-dimensional nano material, was discovered by [PERSON] and [PERSON] in the year 2004. Due to its unique and distinctive properties, such as high conductivity, flexibility, biocompatibility, physiological solubility and stability, graphene will be the most promising emerging material for use in biomedical applications.