Unveiling mRNA Delivery Technology Competition between the US and China with Text Mining

Abstract

Background: mRNA delivery technology plays a pivotal role in advancing innovative vaccines and therapeutics. Understanding the technological characteristics and strategic development differences between China and the United States in this field is of great significance. This study aims to bridge the existing knowledge gap and provide valuable insights for future research and development strategies.

Methods:  This research employs patent analysis and text-mining techniques to examine 1,482 mRNA delivery invention patents from both countries. The Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model is applied to identify and rank 18 key technological topics, followed by an inductive analysis to prioritize their significance. Additionally, a detailed visual analysis of the cooperation network among patent applicants from both countries is conducted to explore collaborative innovation patterns.

Results: The study identifies and ranks 18 key technological topics, highlighting five critical areas relevant to mRNA delivery in both China and the United States. The visual analysis of the cooperation network reveals significant differences in technological innovation collaboration and network structures between the two countries.

Conclusions: In the field of mRNA delivery, the United States maintains a dominant position in innovation. While Chna has achieved rapid progress in specific areas since 2019, it still needs to enhance its technological capabilities and expand its scope of innovation to comprehensively catch up with the United States. This analysis offers a macro perspective on the technological trajectories and innovation focuses of both countries, providing a foundation for future strategic development.