From lock-in to convergence: network homophily and biotechnology in the evolution of cultured meat

This study investigates the evolution of cultured meat technology, an emerging field with the potential to address global food security and environmental challenges. Unlike previous studies that focus on social entities, this research explores how network homophily, the tendency of knowledge to flow within similar technology fields, shapes the technological trajectory of an emerging technology. Using U.S. patent data from 1997–2022, we employ patent co-classification and social network analyses to trace knowledge flows across technology fields across four developmental phases. The findings reveal that the trajectory of cultured meat evolved from scientific lock-in to systemic convergence, driven by fluctuations in homophily. During periods of high homophily (2007–2019), knowledge flows concentrated within biotechnology, reinforcing a single technological paradigm, a necessary condition for initial scientific accumulation. During a subsequent period of low homophily (2020–2022), knowledge spilled over into the engineering, measurement, and manufacturing domains, facilitating the cross-field convergence essential for commercialization. Furthermore, the role of biotechnology evolved from a static core technology to a dynamic broker technology, serving as an integrative platform connecting biological knowledge with diverse engineering solutions.