- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cpg/TNP52GEY0H
- Capabilities
- 7
Bounds. Holds materials and manufacturing technology as national capacity. Industrial production at scale belongs to the economic domains and to Strategic Infrastructure's manufacturing capabilities; mining and commodity processing operations to Strategic Infrastructure's Resource Infrastructure, with processing, substitution and recycling technology reading across this group's capabilities at the control layer; munitions production and stockpiles to National Security and Strategic Infrastructure, with the underlying chemistry held here.
The 7 capabilities
The capabilities compared
Papers and patent families, 2020–2024, with growth on the five years before and the leading nation in each.
| Capability | Papers | Growth | Research leader | Families | Growth | Patent leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structural & Composite Materials | 44k | +18% | China 20% | 57k | +10% | China 70% |
| Functional Materials & Coatings | 89.9k | +26% | China 33% | 64.4k | −4% | China 68% |
| Nanomaterials & Metamaterials | 35.6k | +16% | China 32% | 62.6k | +26% | China 71% |
| Superconducting, Magnetic & Photonic Materials | 62.4k | +30% | China 20% | 20.6k | +18% | China 55% |
| Energetic Materials | 4.9k | +18% | China 44% | 3.1k | +4% | China 82% |
| Additive & Precision Manufacturing | 89.7k | +114% | China 18% | 66.7k | +13% | China 55% |
| Advanced Chemical & Process Manufacturing | 2.1k | +18% | China 19% | 13.4k | +55% | China 66% |
Who publishes it
Papers by year for each capability, and the nations' shares of the group's papers, 2020–2024. A capability that shares a v0.0 topic with another counts it in both.
- 1China21.2%69,811 papers
- 2United States9.5%31,259 papers
- 3India6.6%21,797 papers
- 4Germany4.1%13,545 papers
- 5Russia3.4%11,031 papers
- 6United Kingdom3.1%10,133 papers
- 7Japan2.8%9,197 papers
- 8South Korea2.2%7,308 papers
- 9France2.2%7,276 papers
- 10Italy2.1%6,754 papers
Who patents it
Patent families by priority year for each capability, and the origin nations' shares of the group's families, 2020–2024. A family in two capabilities' classes counts in both.
- 1China65.1%187,377 families
- 2Japan9.1%26,123 families
- 3United States7.4%21,410 families
- 4South Korea7.1%20,315 families
- 5Germany2.7%7,825 families
- 6Taiwan1.5%4,366 families
- 7France1.3%3,662 families
- 8United Kingdom0.6%1,620 families
- 9Switzerland0.4%1,262 families
- 10Canada0.3%981 families
Who makes it
The companies across the group's capabilities, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.
322 companies in Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, from 46 nations across 8 regions; the leading 25 below. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in its strongest capability of the group, from very high to very low.
- Very high25 companies
- 1Very highChemicals & gasesLudwigshafenGermany1865112kBAS
World's largest chemical producer, running integrated Verbund sites and a large process-development and catalyst business that is among the top international patent applicants in process chemistry.
In Advanced Chemical & Process Manufacturing
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Germany, Ludwigshafen · founded 1865 · 112k staff
- 2Very highAdvanced materialsBostonUnited States1882–CBT
One of the world's largest producers of carbon nanotube conductive additives, fumed metal oxides and engineered carbon nanostructures for batteries, polymers and coatings.
In Nanomaterials & Metamaterials
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Boston · founded 1882
- 3Very highSystems integrationFalls ChurchUnited States193997kNOC
Largest US producer of solid rocket propellants and motors (ex-Orbital ATK) and a leading military energetics producer at Bacchus and Allegany Ballistics Laboratory.
In Energetic Materials
Very high relevance · Systems integration · United States, Falls Church · founded 1939 · 97k staff
- 4Very highChemicals & gasesPittsburghUnited States188346kPPG
One of the two largest coatings makers globally, supplying aerospace, automotive OEM, protective and functional coatings (anti-corrosion, conductive, self-cleaning).
In Functional Materials & Coatings
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Pittsburgh · founded 1883 · 46k staff
- 5Very highAdvanced materialsTokyoJapan1926–4063
Major producer of sintered NdFeB and SmCo rare-earth magnets, synthetic quartz for optical-fibre preforms, and lithium tantalate/niobate photonic crystals; a top international patent applicant in this field.
In Superconducting, Magnetic & Photonic Materials
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1926
- 6Very highEquipment & machineryRehovotIsrael1989–SSYS
Largest polymer additive manufacturing system maker by revenue, with FDM and PolyJet printers, materials and software (dual HQ Rehovot and Eden Prairie, Minnesota).
In Additive & Precision Manufacturing
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Israel, Rehovot · founded 1989
- 7Very highAdvanced materialsTokyoJapan1926–3402
World's largest carbon fibre producer (Torayca, including Zoltek large-tow and Toray Advanced Composites prepregs), primary supplier of the carbon fibre in the Boeing 787 and the second-largest PCT patent applicant in this field.
In Structural & Composite Materials
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1926
- 8Very highSystems integrationLondonUnited Kingdom1999100kBA.
Operates the US Army's Holston (RDX/HMX) and Radford (nitrocellulose and propellant) plants and UK energetics at Glascoed, and is a top international patent applicant in energetic materials.
In Energetic Materials
Very high relevance · Systems integration · United Kingdom, London · founded 1999 · 100k staff
- 9Very highEquipment & machineryKraillingGermany1989–Private
World leader in industrial laser powder-bed fusion systems for metals and polymers, with a large installed base in aerospace, medical and tooling.
In Additive & Precision Manufacturing
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Krailling · founded 1989
- 10Very highAdvanced materialsStamfordUnited States19465,900HXL
Leading Western maker of aerospace-grade carbon fibre (HexTow), prepregs and honeycomb, qualified on the Airbus A350 and on most US military aircraft.
In Structural & Composite Materials
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Stamford · founded 1946 · 5,900 staff
- 11Very highComponents & subsystemsCharlotteUnited States1906102kHON
Its subsidiary UOP is the leading licensor of refining and petrochemical process technology (Platforming, Oleflex, aromatics) along with catalysts and adsorbents, and is the second-largest patent applicant in this field.
In Advanced Chemical & Process Manufacturing
Very high relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Charlotte · founded 1906 · 102k staff
- 12Very highAdvanced materialsLeudelangeLuxembourg2009–Private
The world's largest producer of single-wall carbon nanotubes (TUBALL), with production in Novosibirsk and Serbia supplying battery and polymer makers globally.
In Nanomaterials & Metamaterials
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · Luxembourg, Leudelange · founded 2009
- 13Very highAdvanced materialsTokyoJapan1956–Private
Proterial (formerly Hitachi Metals)Owns the original NEOMAX sintered NdFeB magnet technology and patents, and makes ferrite magnets and amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys; taken private by a Bain Capital consortium in 2023.
In Superconducting, Magnetic & Photonic Materials
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1956
- 14Very highChemicals & gasesClevelandUnited States186664kSHW
Largest coatings company by revenue, with performance coatings for industrial wood, coil, packaging, protective and marine uses.
In Functional Materials & Coatings
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Cleveland · founded 1866 · 64k staff
- 15Very highChemicals & gasesAmsterdamNetherlands199435kAKZA
Major global maker of performance coatings including Interpon powder, International marine and protective, aerospace and automotive refinish coatings.
In Functional Materials & Coatings
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Netherlands, Amsterdam · founded 1994 · 35k staff
- 16Very highComponents & subsystemsPittsburghUnited States202024kHWM
Largest maker of nickel-superalloy and titanium jet-engine castings, forged structural parts and aerospace fasteners, spun out of Arconic (founded 1888 as Alcoa).
In Structural & Composite Materials
Very high relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Pittsburgh · founded 2020 · 24k staff
- 17Very highAdvanced materialsZhenjiangChina2011–688116
China's largest maker of carbon nanotube powders and conductive pastes, a leading supplier to lithium-ion battery manufacturers such as CATL and BYD.
In Nanomaterials & Metamaterials
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · China, Zhenjiang · founded 2011
- 18Very highComponents & subsystemsGanzhouChina2008–300748
Among the world's largest makers of high-performance NdFeB magnets, supplying EV traction motors (including Tesla and BYD) and wind turbines.
In Superconducting, Magnetic & Photonic Materials
Very high relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Ganzhou · founded 2008
- 19Very highSystems integrationDüsseldorfGermany188931kRHM
Europe's largest propellant and explosives group through Nitrochemie (Switzerland/Germany), Rheinmetall Expal (Spain) and Rheinmetall Denel Munition (South Africa), with new TNT and nitrocellulose capacity under construction.
In Energetic Materials
Very high relevance · Systems integration · Germany, Düsseldorf · founded 1889 · 31k staff
- 20Very highChemicals & gasesKongens LyngbyDenmark1940–Private
Leading licensor of catalysts and process technology for ammonia, methanol, hydrogen and SOEC electrolysis-based e-fuels.
In Advanced Chemical & Process Manufacturing
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Denmark, Kongens Lyngby · founded 1940
- 21Very highEquipment & machineryOshino, YamanashiJapan1972–6954
World's largest maker of CNC controls and a major maker of robots and Robodrill/Robocut machine tools, and the top international patent filer in this capability.
In Additive & Precision Manufacturing
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Japan, Oshino, Yamanashi · founded 1972
- 22Very highChemicals & gasesMelbourneAustralia1874–ORI
World's largest supplier of commercial explosives (ammonium-nitrate emulsions, initiating systems) to mining and quarrying.
In Energetic Materials
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Australia, Melbourne · founded 1874
- 23Very highComponents & subsystemsSuwonSouth Korea1969268k005930
The top international patent applicant in this capability, commercialising cadmium-free quantum dot materials in QLED/QD-OLED displays and researching 2D and nanostructured device materials.
In Nanomaterials & Metamaterials
Very high relevance · Components & subsystems · South Korea, Suwon · founded 1969 · 268k staff
- 24Very highSystems integrationBeijingChina1980–State-owned
China North Industries Group (NORINCO Group)China's main state producer of military explosives, propellants and nitrocellulose through subsidiaries such as Gansu Yinguang Chemical, Anhui Jiangnan Chemical and the Xi'an Modern Chemistry Research Institute (204th).
In Energetic Materials
Very high relevance · Systems integration · China, Beijing · founded 1980
- 25Very highAdvanced materialsBaotouChina1997–600111China Northern Rare Earth Group
World's largest light rare-earth producer, using Bayan Obo feedstock to supply the NdPr oxide and metals behind global NdFeB magnet output; it also makes magnet materials.
In Superconducting, Magnetic & Photonic Materials
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · China, Baotou · founded 1997
