Analysis of Patent Competitiveness of COVID-19 Vaccine in China Based on Combination Empowerment- TOPSIS

OBJECTIVE To explore the development level and competition of major COVID-19 vaccine technologies in China based on patent data. METHODS The patent competitiveness evaluation index system of five major COVID-19 vaccines in China was constructed, and the analytical hierarchy process-entropy weight combination empowerment method and TOPSIS competitiveness analysis were carried out based on the retrieved patent data. RESULTS Among the five existing major COVID-19 vaccines, recombinant subunit vaccine, recombinant virus vector vaccine and nucleic acid vaccine had relatively strong patent competitiveness, while inactivated vaccine and attenuated vaccine were relatively weak. CONCLUSION China’s COVID-19 vaccine patent market and technology pattern are gradually becoming mature, and research and development institutions should focus on technology hotspots, devote themselves to innovative research and development, and explore new ways of technological development on the basis of ensuring vaccine safety.