Today　science　and　technology　takes　an　increasingly　important　responsibility　in　promoting　economic　growth　and　social　development.　For　developing　countries,　the　development　of　emerging　technologies　is　a　shortcut　to　catch　up　with　developed　countries.　In　order　to　help　government　better　manage　emerging　technologies,　it　is　necessary　to　understand　its　evolution　process.　However,　the　existing　research　approaches　have　some　limitations.　This　paper　proposes　to　explore　the　evolution　of　emerging　technologies　from　a　multi-agent　perspective,　surveys　state-of-theart　studies　and　points　out　some　future　research　directions.　©　2011　IEEE.