- Capability group
- Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cap/X1ETSGZE1C
- Reference
- Flow chemistry Wikipedia
Papers
2.1k
2020–2024
Paper growth
+18%
2020–24 on 2015–19
Patent families
13.4k
2020–2024
Filed abroad
28%
families in more than one office
What it covers
What the capability covers and what it leaves to others, and the indicators it will be measured by.
Bounds
Covers process technology; chemical plants belong to Strategic Infrastructure, and pharmaceutical production technology is shared with Biomanufacturing, classified by what is being made.
Lineage
Carried from v0.0 (formerly Continuous flow chemical synthesis) with the same identifier; broadened from a single technique to the process-manufacturing capacity the technique exemplifies.
Indicators
- research publication share in process chemistryResearch
- speciality chemicals outputPending
- process technology licensingPending
Who publishes it
Papers classified to the capability, by year and by the nation of their authors' institutions, 2020–2024. Read from the v0.0 research topic Continuous flow chemical synthesis.
Papers by year
The five leading nations, papers by year
Share of papers, 2020–2024
Of papers with a known author nation; 26% have none and are left out.
- 1China18.7%374 papers
- 2United States10.1%202 papers
- 3United Kingdom8.4%168 papers
- 4Germany7.4%149 papers
- 5Japan5.4%108 papers
- 6Italy4.0%80 papers
- 7France3.5%70 papers
- 8India3.4%69 papers
- 9Netherlands2.6%52 papers
- 10South Korea2.5%51 papers
Leading institutions, 2020–2024
By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.
- 1Tsinghua University18fractional papers
- 2State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering18fractional papers
- 3The University of Tokyo17fractional papers
- 4East China University of Science and Technology15fractional papers
- 5Zhejiang University of Technology14fractional papers
- 6Shanghai Jiao Tong University12fractional papers
- 7Eindhoven University of Technology12fractional papers
- 8University of Leeds9fractional papers
- 9Massachusetts Institute of Technology9fractional papers
- 10Fudan University9fractional papers
Who patents it
Patent families by the nation of origin of their applicants and their earliest priority year, from the CPC and IPC classes the capability is read from. Read as tools for the field: the classes count inventions used in it rather than the field itself. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.
Families by priority year
The five leading origins, families by year
5,805 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 5% of families (HHI 19 of 10,000: unconcentrated).
Share of families by origin, 2020–2024
- 1China66.1%8,858 families
- 2United States8.0%1,076 families
- 3South Korea6.4%860 families
- 4Japan3.7%490 families
- 5Germany3.4%456 families
- 6France2.2%295 families
- 7United Kingdom1.1%152 families
- 8Netherlands1.0%135 families
- 9Saudi Arabia1.0%135 families
- 10Canada0.7%99 families
Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024
Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.
- 1SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES BV158international families
- 2UOP LLC150international families
- 3BASF SE147international families
- 4SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO144international families
- 5AIR LIQUIDE131international families
- 6HALDOR TOPSOE AS128international families
- 7IFP ENERGIES NOW128international families
- 8ARAMCO SERVICES CO109international families
- 9LG CHEMICAL LTD107international families
- 10CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEM CORP99international families
Classification read
- B01J19/0093 Microreactors · 22k documents
- B01J2219/00781 Microreactor design aspects · 89.8k documents
- B01J19/24 Fixed flow reactors without moving parts · 82.4k documents
- B01J8/00 Fluid-solid reactors: fixed and fluidised beds · 322.1k documents
- B01J10/00 Gas-liquid reaction processes and apparatus · 12.5k documents
- B01J12/00 Gas-gas reaction processes and apparatus · 12.3k documents
- B01J14/00 Liquid-liquid reaction processes and apparatus · 4.5k documents
Shares inventions with
Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).
- Hydrogen, Ammonia & Sustainable Fuels1,665 families · 0.038
Who makes it
The companies that research, design, make, supply and operate the technology, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.
50 companies in this capability, from 27 nations across 8 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.
- Very high7 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.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Germany, Ludwigshafen · founded 1865 · 112k staff
- 2Very 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.
Very high relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Charlotte · founded 1906 · 102k staff
- 3Very highChemicals & gasesKongens LyngbyDenmark1940–Private
Leading licensor of catalysts and process technology for ammonia, methanol, hydrogen and SOEC electrolysis-based e-fuels.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Denmark, Kongens Lyngby · founded 1940
- 4Very highChemicals & gasesWokingUnited Kingdom187965kLIN
Linde Engineering designs and builds olefin, hydrogen, syngas and air-separation plants using its own process technology, and supplies key cryogenic equipment.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · United Kingdom, Woking · founded 1879 · 65k staff
- 5Very highChemicals & gasesMidlandUnited States189736kDOW
Global materials-science producer that develops and licenses process technology (UNIPOL polypropylene, the Fluidized Catalytic Dehydrogenation process) and is a leader in process intensification.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Midland · founded 1897 · 36k staff
- 6Very highChemicals & gasesSpringUnited States187061kXOM
ExxonMobil Chemical runs among the world's largest steam crackers, including the first commercial crude-oil-to-chemicals cracking in Singapore, and licenses catalysts and process technology.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Spring · founded 1870 · 61k staff
- 7Very highChemicals & gasesBeijingChina2000–600028
China's largest refining and petrochemicals group, whose research institutes (RIPP, SRIBPC) develop and license its own cracking, aromatics and catalyst process technology.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · China, Beijing · founded 2000
- High20 companies
- 8HighChemicals & gasesRiyadhSaudi Arabia1976–2010
Major petrochemicals producer (70% owned by Saudi Aramco) and the largest international patent applicant in this capability through SABIC Global Technologies, working on crude-to-chemicals and electrified cracking.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Saudi Arabia, Riyadh · founded 1976
- 9HighChemicals & gasesParisFrance190267kAI
Industrial-gas leader whose Engineering & Construction arm licenses syngas, hydrogen, methanol (Lurgi) and air-separation process technology.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · France, Paris · founded 1902 · 67k staff
- 10HighResearch & IPRueil-MalmaisonFrance1944–State-owned
IFP Energies nouvelles (Axens)Public research body whose subsidiary Axens licenses refining, petrochemical and biofuel process technology; it is a top-10 patent applicant in this capability.
High relevance · Research & IP · France, Rueil-Malmaison · founded 1944
- 11HighResearch & IPHoustonUnited States1907–Private
Leading licensor of ethylene cracking, propane dehydrogenation (CATOFIN) and polymer process technologies, owned by Haldia Petrochemicals and Rhône Group.
High relevance · Research & IP · United States, Houston · founded 1907
- 12HighChemicals & gasesSeoulSouth Korea1947–051910
Korea's largest chemical maker and a top-10 international patent applicant in process chemistry, covering petrochemicals and advanced materials.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Korea, Seoul · founded 1947
- 13HighChemicals & gasesLondonUnited Kingdom190796kSHEL
Shell Catalysts & Technologies licenses process technology for gas-to-liquids, ethylene oxide/glycols and hydroprocessing, and Shell runs major chemical complexes.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · United Kingdom, London · founded 1907 · 96k staff
- 14HighChemicals & gasesLondonUnited Kingdom1817–JMAT
Its Catalyst Technologies business licenses methanol, ammonia, hydrogen and sustainable-fuel (FT CANS) process technology and supplies process catalysts.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · United Kingdom, London · founded 1817
- 15HighSystems integrationDortmundGermany1921–Private
Engineering licensor and contractor for ammonia, urea, nitric acid and chlor-alkali process plants, part of the thyssenkrupp group.
High relevance · Systems integration · Germany, Dortmund · founded 1921
- 16HighChemicals & gasesEssenGermany200732kEVK
Specialty-chemicals leader with strong process-technology and process-intensification R&D (for example its HPPO and methacrylate processes) and catalyst businesses.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Germany, Essen · founded 2007 · 32k staff
- 17HighProfessional & data servicesHoustonUnited States190138kKBR
Its Sustainable Technology Solutions arm is a leading licensor of ammonia, olefins (SCORE), phenol and refining process technology.
High relevance · Professional & data services · United States, Houston · founded 1901 · 38k staff
- 18HighChemicals & gasesAllentownUnited States194023kAPD
Industrial-gas major that supplies the main cryogenic heat exchangers and process technology for LNG, and syngas and hydrogen process technology.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Allentown · founded 1940 · 23k staff
- 19HighSystems integrationNanterreFrance2021–TE
Engineering and technology company that licenses ethylene furnace, hydrogen and polymer process technology and delivers large process plants.
High relevance · Systems integration · France, Nanterre · founded 2021
- 20HighChemicals & gasesTokyoJapan2005–4188
Japan's largest chemical group, developing and licensing process technology such as MMA and acrylonitrile routes.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Japan, Tokyo · founded 2005
- 21HighChemicals & gasesTokyoJapan1913–4005
Diversified chemical maker known for licensed process technology, including propylene-oxide-only (cumene) and caprolactam processes.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1913
- 22HighChemicals & gasesTokyoJapan1931–3407
Chemical producer that licenses its non-phosgene polycarbonate, acrylonitrile and chlor-alkali membrane process technologies worldwide.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1931
- 23HighChemicals & gasesYantaiChina1998–600309
World's largest MDI producer, which built its home-grown isocyanate process technology into global-scale integrated chemical sites.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · China, Yantai · founded 1998
- 24HighChemicals & gasesMuttenzSwitzerland1995–CLN
Major supplier of process catalysts (for example dehydrogenation catalysts used in CATOFIN) and developer of the sunliquid cellulosic-ethanol process.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Switzerland, Muttenz · founded 1995
- 25HighChemicals & gasesColumbiaUnited States1854–Private
Leading supplier of FCC refining catalysts and UNIPOL polypropylene process licensing; owned by Standard Industries since 2021.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Columbia · founded 1854
- 26HighChemicals & gasesMumbaiIndia1973–RELIANCE
Runs the Jamnagar refining and petrochemical complex, the world's largest single-site refinery, which includes the first commercial refinery off-gas cracker.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · India, Mumbai · founded 1973
- 27HighChemicals & gasesJohannesburgSouth Africa1950–SOL
World leader in commercial Fischer-Tropsch coal- and gas-to-liquids process technology, running the Secunda complex and licensing its slurry-phase FT technology.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Africa, Johannesburg · founded 1950
- Moderate14 companies
- 28ModerateSystems integrationBeijingChina1953–601117
China National Chemical Engineering (CNCEC)China's leading chemical engineering contractor, designing and building coal-to-chemicals, petrochemical and fertiliser process plants at home and abroad.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · China, Beijing · founded 1953
- 29ModerateChemicals & gasesTaipeiTaiwan1954–1301
Taiwan's largest petrochemicals group, running the integrated Mailiao complex and large US Gulf Coast PVC and olefins plants.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Taiwan, Taipei · founded 1954
- 30ModerateChemicals & gasesAmsterdamNetherlands2018–Private
Specialty-chemicals maker (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals) active in organic peroxides, chlor-alkali and electrochemical process technology.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Netherlands, Amsterdam · founded 2018
- 31ModerateChemicals & gasesTel AvivIsrael1968–ICL
Specialty minerals and chemicals group that runs Dead Sea bromine and potash processing and develops phosphate and bromine process chemistry.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Israel, Tel Aviv · founded 1968
- 32ModerateAdvanced materialsCorning, New YorkUnited States1851–GLW
Makes Advanced-Flow Reactors, glass and silicon-carbide continuous-flow reactors used to move chemical and pharmaceutical synthesis from lab to industrial scale.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Corning, New York · founded 1851
- 33ModerateSystems integrationPuneIndia1983–PRAJIND
Process-technology and engineering firm supplying bioethanol, compressed biogas and bio-based chemical plants in more than 100 countries.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · India, Pune · founded 1983
- 34ModerateChemicals & gasesAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates1998–BOROUGE
ADNOC–Borealis polyolefins venture running the Ruwais complex, one of the largest single-site polyolefin plants, using Borstar process technology.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi · founded 1998
- 35ModerateChemicals & gasesSão PauloBrazil2002–BRKM5
Latin America's largest petrochemical producer, which developed and runs the first commercial ethanol-to-ethylene process for bio-based polyethylene.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Brazil, São Paulo · founded 2002
- 36ModerateChemicals & gasesCasablancaMorocco1920–State-owned
World's largest phosphate and phosphoric-acid processor, which develops its own process chemistry with the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Morocco, Casablanca · founded 1920
- 37ModerateChemicals & gasesKuala LumpurMalaysia1985–5183
Southeast Asia's largest integrated chemicals producer, running olefins, methanol and fertiliser plants and the Pengerang integrated complex.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur · founded 1985
- 38ModerateChemicals & gasesBangkokThailand1983–SCGC
Thai petrochemicals leader that develops in-house catalyst and process technology, including high-performance polyolefins and electrified cracking pilots.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Thailand, Bangkok · founded 1983
- 39ModerateChemicals & gasesSantiagoChile1968–SQM
SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera)One of the largest lithium chemical processors, refining Atacama brine into battery-grade lithium carbonate and hydroxide, and a major maker of specialty nitrates and iodine.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Chile, Santiago · founded 1968
- 40ModerateChemicals & gasesMexico CityMexico1953–ORBIA
Mexican specialty-materials group (Vestolit PVC, Koura fluorochemicals) with fluorine and vinyl process technology and global production.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Mexico, Mexico City · founded 1953
- 41ModerateChemicals & gasesMelbourneAustralia1874–ORI
World's largest commercial-explosives maker, running ammonia and ammonium-nitrate process plants and mining-chemicals production.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Australia, Melbourne · founded 1874
- Low9 companies
- 42LowProfessional & data servicesNew DelhiIndia1965–ENGINERSIN
India's state process-engineering consultancy, which designs refineries and petrochemical plants and co-develops indigenous process technologies with Indian oil companies.
Low relevance · Professional & data services · India, New Delhi · founded 1965
- 43LowEquipment & machineryGeleenNetherlands2005––
Specialist maker of silicon-carbide continuous-flow reactors (Protrix) that scale from lab to industrial production.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · Netherlands, Geleen · founded 2005
- 44LowEquipment & machineryBury St EdmundsUnited Kingdom2003–Private
Maker of widely used laboratory flow-chemistry systems (R-Series, E-Series) for continuous synthesis and photochemistry.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · United Kingdom, Bury St Edmunds · founded 2003
- 45LowEquipment & machineryRoystonUnited Kingdom2001–Private
Supplier of Asia flow-chemistry and automated reactor systems for process development, part of Japan's Asahi Glassplant group.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · United Kingdom, Royston · founded 2001
- 46LowChemicals & gasesIzmirTürkiye1965–PETKM
Turkey's only integrated petrochemical complex (at Aliağa), controlled by SOCAR Turkey.
Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Türkiye, Izmir · founded 1965
- 47LowChemicals & gasesJakartaIndonesia1989–TPIA
Indonesia's largest integrated petrochemical producer, running the country's only naphtha cracker at Cilegon.
Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Indonesia, Jakarta · founded 1989
- 48LowChemicals & gasesLagosNigeria1981–Private
Built and runs Africa's largest refinery, polypropylene and urea-fertiliser complex at Lekki, Nigeria.
Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Nigeria, Lagos · founded 1981
- 49LowChemicals & gasesJohannesburgSouth Africa1924–AFE
South African chemicals group producing explosives, process and specialty chemicals for mining, water treatment and agriculture.
Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Africa, Johannesburg · founded 1924
- 50LowEquipment & machineryBudapestHungary2002–Private
Hungarian pioneer of continuous-flow hydrogenation and high-pressure flow reactors (H-Cube, Phoenix), widely used in pharmaceutical process chemistry.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · Hungary, Budapest · founded 2002
