The confluence of science and technology: mapping the co-evolution of sepsis research and omics patents

This study examines the co-evolution of scientific research and technological innovation in sepsis-related omics through a combined bibliometric and technometric approach. Using cross-domain citation mapping, it explores how knowledge flows between scholarly publications and patents shape science–technology interaction. A dual-track design was implemented. First, 4,197 sepsis-related omics articles (Web of Science, 1990–2024) were analyzed for publication trends, categories, and patent citations, yielding 24 patents for detailed technometric profiling. Second, 1,589 omics patents with sepsis applications (Lens database) were retrieved using keyword-based searches. Descriptive statistics, International Patent Classification codes, and assignee profiles were assessed. Forward and backward citation analyses traced interdependencies, and visualization tools (Lens.org, Tableau, Excel) highlighted clusters, trajectories, and geographic hotspots. Publications increased from 32 in 2001 to 473 in 2022, dominated by microbiology and immunology, with the United States, China, and Europe as leading contributors. Only 34 articles cited patents, producing 24 patents for analysis, most filed at the USPTO, WIPO, and EPO, heavily classified under pharmacology and antibacterial agents. Omics patenting grew from 33 records in 1999 to 103 in 2021, led by pharmaceutical firms, genomic institutes, and universities. Backward citations revealed over 13,000 academic works and 8,900 patents as prior art, while forward citations linked to more than 9,000 subsequent patents. The study highlights limited patent citation in academic literature, geographic asymmetries, and concentration of activity in a few jurisdictions. By introducing indicators of cross-domain knowledge flows, it contributes methodologically to science and technology evaluation and provides policy-relevant insights into global science–technology integration.