The dark sides of innovation: an empirical analysis on nuclear energy innovation

Innovation is widely known for its contribution and opportunity in the society, but it often carries hidden risks, particularly in sensitive areas such as nuclear energy, where the line between breakthrough and disaster seomtimes is rather thin. In this paper, we examine the “dark side” of innovation by exploring the dual nature of nuclear technologies: their potential to transform energy production and the dangers they may bring by analyzing the patent data. The patent data for this study was taken from Lens.org and focuses exclusively on patents granted in European countries between 2000 and 2020 and the analysis is based on two strands. The first strand, based on Martinelli et al. (2021), uses direct and reverse citation models to assess the diffusion of innovation using indicators of generality, originality, and longevity. The second strand applies text analysis methods to identify wording in patent descriptions that indicates toxicity, risk, or environmental damage. This study covers two time periods (2000-2010 and 2010-2020) and analyzes the technical evolution of nuclear innovations, particularly in Europe. Combining bibliometric and textual analysis, this work explores how nuclear innovation can be a driver progress but also exmines the potential harms it can bring, which contributes to the broader discussion on responsible innovation. To enrich the quantitative analysis, interviews with nuclear science experts are included, offering practical insights into the meaning and implications of the patent trends.