Abstract This paper explores the role of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) in shaping technological development and regional innovation in Europe’s telecommunications sector. Results reveal strong geographic concentration: Helsinki and Stockholm account for one-third of all cellular SEPs. Unlike other technologies, SEP distribution does not scale with population or prior technological expertise. Findings suggest a “rich-get-richer” dynamic where early leadership reinforces future dominance; however, this advantage weakens across technological generations. This study offers new insights into standardization’s spatial dynamics and underscores the need for long-term perspectives when modeling technological competition and diffusion.
Buarque et al. (Thu,) studied this question.