A foresight based on scientific indicators:a framework drawn from the case of laptop battery alternatives

Purpose – This paper aims to forecast technological change for laptop batteries. The most promising technology to replace laptop batteries emerging today is micro fuel cells. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use several sources of technical data like the Department of Energy Sandia National Laboratory Technical Library for exploring this topic further. Patents were searched for fuel cell and lithium battery development and to perform a technology cycle time analysis, identify countries filing patents, and discover what areas they are working on development. Findings – Based on the analysis, fuel cells promise to be the technology that will replace laptop lithium batteries. Originality/value – This paper attempts to draw a framework bringing different scientific data sources together for technology forecasting.