Global patent landscape of security and policing innovations: Trends, networks, and emerging technologies

Security, as both a phenomenon and a practice, faces challenges from cyber threats and global terrorism, driving rapid technological innovation, as evidenced by patent filings. This study analyses 27,913 patents from 1993 to 2023 on national security and policing technologies from WIPO’s Patentscope. Using mixed methods, especially statistical tests using SPSS, network analysis using Gephi and thematic coding using NVivo, the study identifies inventor networks, jurisdictional trends and emerging technologies. Results show a post-2014 growth in surveillance, data processing and large-scale Machine Learning technology, with the US and China leading the Innovation. The final finding calls for balanced global policies on innovation and ethics, laying down a pathway for future security research. Method: The study retrieved data from the Patentscope database of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva and analysed patent filings in national security and policing technologies spanning 1993 to 2023. Through inclusion and exclusion criteria, 27,913 out of 31,359 patent records were considered for analysis. This Study undertakes a mixed-method approach, i.e., descriptive statistical analysis, chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis Tests in SPSS, network analysis in Gephi, and thematic analysis in NVivo. Results: The study found a significant increase in the number of innovations since 2014, with the majority of contributions from the US and China. At a prima facie level, the advancement in innovation in law-and-order tools for surveillance, data processing, and communication technologies is evident. Towards the later phase, a new shift has emerged in areas like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, signalling a revolution for security providers. Conclusion: The article highlights the importance of technological progress in strengthening global security frameworks and appeals to the international bureaucracies to formulate policies that balance innovation and ethical considerations. These findings may help policymakers, researchers, and security experts gain insights to shape future security strategies.