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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of affiliation network on creating innovative ideas and forming a technological position.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt the concept of an affiliated network and use the technique of social network analysis to investigate patent data from USPTO.FindingsFirst, the technological classification which captures the core position in the network is the most important technological trend. On the contrary, the technological classification which belongs to the position of periphery is less important for technological development. Second, the technological community with the highest degree, closeness and betweenness among other communities means that this technological community occupies broader technological scopes and with important influence with others.Practical implicationsThis paper demonstrates that affiliation network analysis can be a useful tool in determining the relationship between technology (patent) and R&D activity (technological classification). In the technological affiliation network, patents are related to one another because they occupy the same technological classification and technological classifications are related to one another because they share with patents. This connection has a clear advantage over a strategy of having R&D activities acts as bridges between distinct clusters of technologies.Originality/valueThis paper has briefly studied how affiliation network of technological communities and technological classifications relate to the R&D and technological development in environment. The authors' perspectives and empirical method can provide suggestions for making R&D decisions.