Integrative model for discovering linked topics in science and technology

Abstract

Linked topics in science and technology (LTSTs) can provide new avenues for technological innovation and are a key step in the transition from basic to applied research. This paper proposes a science and technology semantic linkage integration model for discovering LTSTs. Particularly, the integrative model fuses the term co-occurrence networks of basic and applied research, which expands the completeness of topic networks by enhancing the semantic characteristics of these networks. It is found that link prediction can further reinforce the semantic association of topic terms in networks between basic and applied topics. Simple fusion explicitly linked the topic terms, which can be used as automatic seed marking for subsequent link prediction to identify implicit linking of topic terms. Furthermore, an application to the gene-engineered vaccines field depicted that newly predicted implicit relations can effectively identify LTSTs. The results also show that implicit semantic recognition of LTSTs can be enhanced through simple fusion, while the recognition of LTST can be improved through link prediction. Therefore, the proposed model can assist experts to identify LTSTs that cannot be recognized through simple fusion. • The science and technology semantic linkage integration model improves the identification of linked topics in science and technology (LTSTs). • Simple fusion and link prediction form a twofold model to identify topics and implicit semantics. • Term co-occurrence networks of basic and applied research are fused. • The fusion expands topic networks and enhances their semantic associations. • LTST chains identified by connected LTST terms provide micro granularity.