How do disruptive innovations start? Industry drawing from global science

A European Lag in Disruptive Innovation

Major economic powers compete to drive disruptive innovation and establish their technological leadership. However, multiple studies confirm that France and Europe are lagging in the emergence of disruptive technologies, particularly compared to the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Yet, our research laboratories produce significant breakthroughs. So, where does the problem lie? Are the results of our laboratories primarily exploited by foreign industries? Or is it a matter of insufficient public investment?

Understanding the Path from Knowledge to Disruptive Innovation

This publication addresses these questions by analyzing the links between scientific article publications and patents. It reveals that the journey from academic research to disruptive patents is long and constrained by a narrow bottleneck. By definition, disruptive patents relate to technologies capable of reshaping economic activities. They represent only a small fraction of patents overall but are deeply connected to cutting-edge research.

Global shares of key countries at successive stages of the innovation process reveal different participation strategies. The United States produces academic research of such quality and attractiveness that it becomes an essential reference for patent applicants. Moreover, the U.S. stands among the leaders in the later stages of the process, particularly in patent filings, thanks to its unique ability to capture and leverage the best available science, regardless of its origin.

Japan and South Korea, despite relying on a relatively smaller national scientific base, have steadily increased their global presence as they move toward market-ready applications, ultimately reaching the stage of disruptive patent filings. Meanwhile, European countries appear weakened across the entire chain, from research to the commercialization of disruptive innovation.

A Global Innovation Landscape

Far from simplistic narratives opposing “naïve” countries to “predatory” ones, this study highlights a more nuanced reality. All countries exchange knowledge and leverage foreign innovations. The key to success lies in the ability to integrate this knowledge into a high-performing industrial ecosystem. A country’s position in the global ranking of disruptive technologies is primarily correlated with the technological intensity of its industrial sector, which in turn depends on the scale of its industrial activity and its commitment to high-tech advancements.

It is also linked to the extent of its national research effort and its ability to publish high-impact scientific articles. France lags on all these fronts, suffering from both a weakened research landscape and an industrial sector that lacks resilience.

This report is aimed at policymakers, business leaders, researchers, and students seeking to understand how research outcomes support the competitiveness of the most innovative companies, both today and in the future.

The report How do disruptive innovations start? Industry drawing from global science follows the previous publication Is disruptive innovation only for start-ups? It explores where disruptive innovations emerge today—across continents and within different types of institutions—offering a unique analysis of patent data across 12 technological fields, including eight that contribute to the ecological transition.