以社會網絡觀點探討LED產業廠商之競合關係

擁有技術研發的核心能耐一直都是科技產業的廠商所擁有最重要的資產，在目前競爭激烈的環境以及成長迅速的LED產業，廠商必須瞭解如何運用、創造及保護技術，來為公司創造價值、提升競爭力。然而為了獲取技術，廠商必須在與合作夥伴相互影響的過程中，透過技術轉移及傳遞的作用，擴大自己的技術含量，藉由廠商間及上下游供應鏈關係的知識交流，逐漸產生一種競爭又合作的關係。本研究以全球LED產業前五大廠商，飛利浦(Philips)、歐司朗(Osram)、Cree、日亞化(Nichia)及豐田合成(Toyoda Gosei)與上、下游有供應鏈關係的22家廠商在RBG基礎光源和白光技術之專利引證關係，藉由技術領域的專利引證網絡探討廠商之間的競爭與合作強度，22家廠商所擁有的777筆專利來建構訴訟網絡及轉讓網絡，搭配著產業報導以及2006年至2011年全球LED產業前五大廠商與上下游廠商的訴訟及授權關係圖，依照LED光源技術申請專利的趨勢分析，劃分為兩個時間段為1994至2007年的萌芽成長期及2008至2012年的成熟期，就專利引證網絡圖與實際發生的訴訟、授權及轉讓行為做驗證，來探索專利引證網絡中的指標變化相比對以了解其變化，歸納出特徵、角色定位及策略運作。本研究對於合作程度V.S.專利授權、轉讓關係及競爭程度V.S.專利訴訟關係的實證結果發現，當兩家廠商的競爭和合作強度極高或是極弱時，最容易同時出現既競爭又合作的行為，即可能互為競爭者、互補者或是供應商的多重角色；若是競爭與合作強度一高一低對應時，往往出現合作行為或是尚未有互動關係，可能扮演著互補者或是潛在合作者的角色。因此廠商在做競爭者的五力分析或是價值網(Value Net)分析時，不論是針對LED產業或是高技術含量的產業，可以透過專利引證網絡的指標測量，了解在早期研發的階段，廠商在策略運用上可以相其競爭與合作的對象或方式，辨識出其他廠商對於自身扮演的角色為何。

關鍵字

專利引證網絡；競合關係； LED產業

並列摘要

Holding the core competence of R&D is important for firm. Firms must know how to use, create and protect technology in LED industry. The location of firms in inter-firm networks is an important element of competition, since competition is more intense among actors who occupy a similar location relative to others but is mitigated if actors are tied to each other. This study intents to construct 22 firms patent citation network which has supply chain relationship with the Top 5 players in Global LED industry. Observing patent citation network in different stages and comparing its patent litigation and licensing among these firms. This study finds the technology flows. The location and centrality of firms in citation network affects possibility of competition and cooperation. By comparing the competition and cooperation intensity within the actual litigation and licensing activities to the estimated one. To apply firm’s strategy in different stages whether it is about cooperation or competition. This study finds that when intensity of competition and cooperation of two firms are both same high and low, it will appear a co-opetition behavior. It may appear some kind of roles such as competitors, complementors or suppliers. When intensity of competition and cooperation of a firm is high and the other one is low, it may appear a cooperation behavior. It may appear some kind of roles such as complementors or potential cooperators. When firms do the competitor analysis or value net analysis, patent citation network indicators can help to understand the strategy of competition and cooperation at an early stage of development.