Network analysis of world scientific collaboration in the field of Intellectual Property Rights

This study analyzes the global network of scientific collaboration in IPR and identifies subject clusters of scientific outputs of IPR in the Web of Science database.
It is an applied research so the scientometrics methods such as co-occurrence analysis and network analysis are used. The 5752 scientific records that indexed in WOS database from 1982 to 2014 were analyzed.
Findings: The findings show that annual growth rate of scientific outputs of IPR during years is 63.3 percent. America is the high productive country in the field of IPR, and also this country have a most important role in the shaping, directing and leading the scientific network of IPR. The University of Berkeley has an important place in the scientific network of IPR. In terms of subject area, the scientific outputs of IPR formed in five thematic clusters on foreign direct investment, R&D activities, the company’s business and technology transfer.
As a result, it is to mention that American have a central role in shaping, leading and guiding the scientific flow of IPR. the IPR has an important place in international economy, so IPR is one of the most serious component for economic development.