Centrality and Flow Vergence gradient based Path analysis of scientific literature: A case study of Biotechnology for Engineering

• Centrality and Path analyses revealed innovations and paradigm shifts in the network.
• Existence of Flow Vergence (FV) effect in citation networks is revealed.
• Introduced Flow Vergence gradient, a new metric, reflects FV effect.
• FV gradient is found to be efficient in detection of Pivot work of Paradigm shift.
• Phenomenon of ‘Critical divergence’, is identified in the network of BT for engineering.

Biotechnology, ever since its inception has had a huge impact on the society and its various applications have been intricately woven into the human web of life. Its evolution amidst all the other research realms vital to mankind is remarkable. In this paper, we intend to identify the radical innovations in Biotechnology for Engineering using network analyses. Centrality analysis and Path analysis are used for identifying important works. Existence of Flow Vergence effect in the scientific literature is revealed. Flow Vergence gradient, an arc metric derived from FV model, is utilised for Path analysis which detects pivotal papers of paradigm shift more accurately. A major paradigm shift has been identified in the business models of Biotechnology for Engineering — ‘Capability to Connectivity’ model. Evidence towards the adoption of business practices in BT firms by nanotechnology start-ups is also identified. The notion of critical divergence is introduced and the exhibition of interdisciplinary interaction in emerging fields due to critical divergence is discussed. Implications of above analyses which target: (i) Science and technology policy makers, (ii) industrialists and investors, (iii) researchers in academia as well as industry, are also discussed.