Is Science Driving Technology? An Investigation in the Field of Breast Cancer: Analysis of Polymerase Chain Reaction and CRISPR/Cas9

Abstract The debate about whether science drives technology or conversely remains unresolved. Various approaches have been proposed to determine the driving force and influence of science on technology. Numerous technologies have been analyzed and compared, and in some cases, science has been shown to drive technological progress, particularly in the field of biochemistry. However, whether the influence of science on different technologies within the same sector changes over time has not yet been investigated. This study analyzes how the influence of science on technologies in the field of breast cancer therapy has evolved over the years, using polymerase chain reaction and CRISPR/Cas9 as examples. For the study, two data sets were created for each technology: one for scientific publications and the other for patents. This approach allowed for the inclusion of approximately 1,800 articles and 400 patents. It was observed that in the case of CRISPR, the scientific literature is only slightly ahead of the patents. In addition, a shift in the patenting strategy of China and the USA was observed: from predominantly scientific activity to increased patenting. Although these two technologies are in a science-intensive field, there is little to no evidence of a significant time lag. The country analysis revealed that China, in particular, is increasingly focusing on commercial applications, more so than was previously observed with PCR.