Objective To reveal the dynamic evolution of the global innovation cooperation network in the field of pentacyclic triterpenoids, and analyze the collaborative evolution mechanism of network structure, national innovation strategies and individual behaviors at different stages of the technology lifecycle. Methods Based on global patent data from 1945 to 2025, social network analysis method is used to construct and analyze the innovation cooperation network in this field. According to the theory of technology lifecycle, four development stages are divided for dynamic comparison. Results The cooperative network structure presents a phased evolution, from a closed “core small world” in its infancy to a long-term expansion, ultimately converging into a “strategic focused” tight structure; The national innovation strategy is divided into three types of paths: “sustained openness”“first rising and then falling”“low-level stability”. The intensity of international cooperation decreases in an “inverted U-shape” as technology matures; There is a significant “structural fragmentation” among micro entities, with the industry forming a high-density collaborative closed loop, while key academic institutions are often in a “bilateral isolation” state at the edge of the network, leading to an ecological imbalance of “industry academia decoupling”. Conclusion This study systematically reveals the dynamic evolution mechanism of innovation cooperation networks in the field of pentacyclic triterpenoids from three levels: network structure, national strategy, and subject behavior. It deepens the theoretical understanding of cooperation and competition relationships in the technology lifecycle and provides empirical evidence and policy implications for building a more resilient innovation ecosystem.

pentacyclic triterpenoids  /  innovation cooperation networks  /  social network analysis  /  evolutionary mechanisms  /  patent analysis  /  technology lifecycle