Technological ecosystem mapping in facilities management: insights from patent data mining

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to examine the technological evolution of the facilities management (FM) sector through patent-based analysis, identifying innovation trajectories, leading countries and organizations and the primary thematic domains driving digital transformation. It also explores how intellectual property (IP) dynamics reflect technological maturity and competitiveness in FM. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative and exploratory design was used using FM-related patents (1977–2026) extracted from Google Patents and Lens.org. Advanced data mining, natural language processing (NLP), topic modeling and social network analysis were applied to map temporal trends, geographic distribution, technological clusters and collaboration networks among inventors and applicants. Findings Patent activity in FM has intensified since 2000, based on a data set of 2,967 patents, 3,018 inventors and 2,007 applicants. Topic modeling identified eight technological clusters structured around system architectures, operational control and digital infrastructure. Network analysis reveals sparse and fragmented collaboration patterns, with consistently high modularity (>0.97). The top applicants account for approximately 18% of patents, indicating moderate organizational concentration, whereas individual inventive activity remains highly dispersed. Geographically, innovation is concentrated in East Asia and North America, particularly in South Korea, Japan and the United States. Research limitations/implications The study is limited by incomplete patent coverage across databases, inconsistencies in metadata quality and publication delays that may affect temporal analyses. Topic modeling was restricted to patents with processable abstracts, reducing the analytical corpus for NLP procedures. Despite these constraints, the study advances computational patent analysis in FM by integrating topic modeling and network analysis into a unified analytical framework. Future studies should incorporate qualitative assessments, policy variables and market adoption indicators to strengthen interpretation of technological maturity and innovation diffusion. Practical implications The findings emphasize the importance of research and development investment, AI-powered analytics, internet of things (IoT) adoption and interoperability standards as critical enablers of innovation. Organizations and policymakers should foster collaborative ecosystems and effective IP management to enhance global competitiveness and sustainability. Social implications The technological evolution identified in FM patents has implications for sustainability, energy efficiency, operational resilience and user well-being in built environments. The increasing integration of AI, IoT and intelligent control systems may contribute to reduced resource consumption, improved building performance and enhanced responsiveness in critical infrastructures. However, the fragmented structure of innovation networks suggests unequal distribution of technological capabilities, reinforcing the importance of policies that promote broader access to innovation and collaborative technological development across regions and organizations. Originality/value This is one of the first large-scale patent-based studies in FM, offering a data-driven framework that integrates computational text and network analysis to illuminate innovation patterns and the technological ecosystems shaping FM worldwide.