Identification of technological capabilities based on patents. The case of Nemak

Abstract

Based on the International Patent Classification (ipc), indicators of network centrality (degree, eigenvector centrality and intermediation) are developed for a global company in the Mexican automotive
industry. It has been verified that these indicators can be organized into main components, which can
then be clustered to identify and classify the most relevant technological areas of inventive activity
within the company. This provides empirical evidence of the company’s innovative activity and contributes to the literature on technological capabilities at a company level in Mexico, particularly within the
automotive industry. Relevant areas identified include the development of casting technologies (moulding), the modification of the physical structure of non-ferrous metals and alloys, the engineering of
combustion machine components (cylinders, pistons and casings), the sealing of combustion machines
and the casting of metals and other substances.