Abstract
This study investigates the structural characteristics of marine biotechnology research by evaluating the relationships among marine biological resources, applied technologies, and research methods. A total of 193 articles published in the Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology (2006-2025) were examined. Information on target resources, applied technologies, and research methods was systematically extracted and examined using network-based approaches, including analyses of resource-technology, technology-method, and resource-method relationships, along with similarity analysis and hierarchical clustering. The results indicate that marine biotechnology research is organized as an interconnected system rather than a set of independent elements. First, resource-technology analysis reveals that resource groups differ in their structural roles, with some broadly linked to multiple technologies and others exhibiting more specialized associations. Technologies also occupy distinct positions within the network, with certain technologies serving as central or bridging elements. Second, technology-method analysis indicates that each technology is implemented through characteristic combinations of research methods. A small set of core methods is repeatedly used across studies, whereas numerous method combinations form a fragmented long-tail structure. Third, resource-method analysis shows that resource groups differ in their method compositions. Some emphasize functional evaluation and molecular- and cellular-level analyses, whereas others rely more heavily on process- or purification-oriented approaches. Rather than forming discrete categories, these differences constitute a continuous spectrum of method compositions across resource groups. Overall, the findings suggest that marine biotechnology research is best understood as an integrated system defined by the interdependent relationships among resources, technologies, and methods. By providing a structural perspective on research trends, this study offers valuable insights for strategic R&D planning in the field.