The knowledge base of Big Tech
Research as a source of informational leadership by the dominant US digital platforms
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7169779 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sandro Mendonça (0000-0001-7276-9626, University of Macau), Eduardo Silva (0000-0002-2400-9259, Universidade Nova de Lisboa), Bruno Damásio (0000-0002-2289-3087, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Pages | 102908 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Telecommunications Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0308-5961 • E-ISSN: 1879-3258 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.telpol.2025.102908 |
| OpenAlex | W4412593911 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 99 |
Investing in research is an essential element in any business model in the digital age. At the forefront of this approach to innovation are digital platforms, which have resources and development strategies that enable them to enter and transform many markets outside their core activities. This work assembles a wealth of evidence to show that the omnipresence of Big Tech has now reached the science & technology sector in a significant way. We analyse the publication growth, influence, themes and partnership profiles of Big Tech (Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft). In a process that came alive in the 2000s, it is by the 2010s that these giant US-based ICT-services companies move fast and publish things. They show strong dynamic capabilities in “Physical Sciences” and “Computer Science”. Co-authorships reveal links to American universities, mostly in California. Internationally, there is a strong preference for research collaboration with China, with the UK coming second. Results provide a better appreciation of Big Tech's multidimensional footprint and how the science & technology ecosystem is evolving and causing new policy pressures in the 21st century. • Enhances the analysis of Big Tech to include its scientific research portfolio. • Big Tech surpassed the level of scientific production of other major R&D spenders. • Big Tech's research agenda has changed over time, specializing in computer science and AI. • The reception of Big Tech's publications mirrors that of top-tier authors
Big data · Business · Data mining · Data science · High tech · Knowledge base · Knowledge management · Open source · Political science · Public relations · World Wide Web · Business Strategy and Innovation · Computer Science · Innovation and Knowledge Management · Law · Mathematics · University-Industry-Government Innovation Models · Software
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Sharing
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |