- Capability group
- Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cap/AHQ2Z8FP1N
- Reference
- Superconductivity Wikipedia
Papers
62.4k
2020–2024
Paper growth
+30%
2020–24 on 2015–19
Patent families
20.6k
2020–2024
Filed abroad
32%
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 the enabling materials; the machines built on them sit with their own capabilities across the quantum, energy and connectivity groups, and rare-earth and speciality supply reads at this capability's control layer.
Lineage
Carried from v0.0 (formerly Advanced magnets and superconductors) with the same identifier; broadened to the photonic materials base and recast from a definition of superconductivity to the capacity to supply the materials that enable frontier machines.
Indicators
- research publication share in superconductors and magnetsResearch
- high-performance magnet production sharePending
- superconducting wire production capacityPending
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 Advanced magnets and superconductors.
Papers by year
The five leading nations, papers by year
Share of papers, 2020–2024
Of papers with a known author nation; 39% have none and are left out.
- 1China19.7%9,761 papers
- 2United States10.7%5,294 papers
- 3India9.4%4,674 papers
- 4Japan6.3%3,142 papers
- 5Germany6.0%2,990 papers
- 6Russia4.8%2,353 papers
- 7France3.7%1,848 papers
- 8United Kingdom3.0%1,492 papers
- 9Spain2.4%1,184 papers
- 10South Korea2.2%1,070 papers
Leading institutions, 2020–2024
By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.
- 1Chinese Academy of Sciences350fractional papers
- 2Tohoku University254fractional papers
- 3The University of Tokyo238fractional papers
- 4National Institute for Materials Science204fractional papers
- 5Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique173fractional papers
- 6Nanjing University160fractional papers
- 7Xi'an Jiaotong University156fractional papers
- 8Oak Ridge National Laboratory146fractional papers
- 9University of Science and Technology of China144fractional papers
- 10Beihang University143fractional 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. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.
Families by priority year
The five leading origins, families by year
6,541 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 8% of families (HHI 28 of 10,000: unconcentrated).
Share of families by origin, 2020–2024
- 1China54.7%11,272 families
- 2Japan18.2%3,740 families
- 3South Korea10.5%2,162 families
- 4United States7.5%1,536 families
- 5Germany2.3%468 families
- 6France1.0%209 families
- 7Taiwan0.8%172 families
- 8United Kingdom0.7%142 families
- 9Switzerland0.4%88 families
- 10Canada0.4%80 families
Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024
Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.
- 1TDK CORP473international families
- 2NIPPON STEEL CORP362international families
- 3JFE STEEL CORP323international families
- 4SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES258international families
- 5NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORP231international families
- 6MURATA MANUFACTURING CO223international families
- 7POSCO CO LTD212international families
- 8SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECH152international families
- 9SHINETSU CHEMICAL CO146international families
- 10SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD145international families
Classification read
- H01F1/00 Magnetic materials, including rare-earth permanent magnet alloys · 214.9k documents
- H01F7/02 Permanent magnets · 40.6k documents
- H01F6/00 Superconducting magnets and coils · 28.8k documents
- H01B12/00 Superconducting wires, cables and conductors · 17k documents
- H10N60/85 Superconducting active materials · 9.2k documents
- H10N60/01 Manufacture of superconducting devices, wires and tapes · 40.7k documents
- C04B35/45 Copper-oxide ceramics, the high-temperature superconductors · 9k documents
- Y10S505/00 Older US superconductor technology collection · 41.7k documents
- G02F1/355 Non-linear optical materials · 16.9k documents
- H01S3/16 Solid laser gain materials · 48k documents
- C03C13/04 Glass compositions for optical fibre · 11.6k documents
- C03B37/012 Preforms for drawing optical fibre · 65.2k documents
Shares inventions with
Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).
- Quantum Computing687 families · 0.038
- Directed Energy Technologies411 families · 0.029
- Advanced Optical Communication & Photonics1,397 families · 0.023
- Nanomaterials & Metamaterials645 families · 0.017
- Structural & Composite Materials377 families · 0.010
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 19 nations across 8 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.
- Very high6 companies
- 1Very 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.
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1926
- 2Very 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.
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1956
- 3Very 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.
Very high relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Ganzhou · founded 2008
- 4Very highAdvanced materialsBaotouChina1997–600111
China Northern Rare Earth GroupWorld'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.
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · China, Baotou · founded 1997
- 5Very highAdvanced materialsGanzhouChina2021–State-owned
Central state-owned group formed in 2021 by merging China's heavy rare-earth producers; it controls most dysprosium and terbium supply for high-coercivity magnets.
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · China, Ganzhou · founded 2021
- 6Very highAdvanced materialsCorning, New YorkUnited States1851–GLW
Inventor of low-loss optical fibre and the world's largest maker of optical fibre and specialty glass for photonics and high-purity fused silica.
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Corning, New York · founded 1851
- High21 companies
- 7HighComponents & subsystemsTokyoJapan1935–6762
Founded to commercialise ferrite, TDK makes ferrite and NdFeB magnets and magnetic materials, and is the leading international patent applicant in this capability.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1935
- 8HighComponents & subsystemsTokyoJapan1884–5801Furukawa Electric (SuperPower)
Makes NbTi and Nb3Sn low-temperature superconducting wire and, through US subsidiary SuperPower, REBCO second-generation HTS tape; it also makes optical fibre.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1884
- 9HighComponents & subsystemsOsakaJapan1897–5802
Sole volume producer of DI-BSCCO (Bi-2223) HTS wire, and a major maker of optical fibre and compound-semiconductor (GaAs, InP) substrates.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Osaka · founded 1897
- 10HighAdvanced materialsXi'anChina2003–688122Western Superconducting Technologies
China's leading NbTi and Nb3Sn superconducting wire maker, supplying ITER conductor and MRI magnet wire, and also making titanium alloys.
High relevance · Advanced materials · China, Xi'an · founded 2003
- 11HighAdvanced materialsNingboChina1994–600366
Large Chinese maker of sintered and bonded NdFeB magnets for automotive, industrial motors and consumer electronics.
High relevance · Advanced materials · China, Ningbo · founded 1994
- 12HighAdvanced materialsBeijingChina1999–000970Beijing Zhong Ke San Huan Hi-Tech
One of China's largest NdFeB magnet producers, spun out of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with joint ventures with Hitachi Metals.
High relevance · Advanced materials · China, Beijing · founded 1999
- 13HighAdvanced materialsHanauGermany1923–Private
Europe's leading producer of rare-earth permanent magnets and soft magnetic alloys; it is building the eVAC NdFeB magnet plant in South Carolina for GM.
High relevance · Advanced materials · Germany, Hanau · founded 1923
- 14HighAdvanced materialsYokohamaJapan2011––
Claims to be the world's largest 2G REBCO HTS tape producer, supplying fusion magnet developers and industrial busbars; it opened a new Zama factory in 2024.
High relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Yokohama · founded 2011
- 15HighEquipment & machineryBillericaUnited States1960–BRKR
Bruker (Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies)Its BEST unit (Hanau, Germany) is a leading producer of NbTi and Nb3Sn LTS wire for MRI, NMR and fusion magnets, and also makes HTS conductors.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Billerica · founded 1960
- 16HighAdvanced materialsEspooFinland1878–Private
Major supplier of NbTi and Nb3Sn superconducting wire to MRI makers and big-science projects; a subsidiary of Japan's Mitsubishi Materials.
High relevance · Advanced materials · Finland, Espoo · founded 1878
- 17HighComponents & subsystemsTokyoJapan1885–5803
Pioneer of IBAD/PLD REBCO HTS tape production and a major optical-fibre and specialty-fibre manufacturer.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1885
- 18HighAdvanced materialsTokyoJapan1950–5401
Leading producer of grain-oriented and non-oriented electrical steel, the soft magnetic material in transformers and EV motors, and a heavy patent filer in this capability.
High relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1950
- 19HighComponents & subsystemsSaxonburgUnited States197126kCOHR
Formerly II-VI; produces engineered photonic materials including SiC and InP substrates, nonlinear and laser crystals, and optical materials.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Saxonburg · founded 1971 · 26k staff
- 20HighAdvanced materialsLas VegasUnited States2017–MP
Operates Mountain Pass, the only integrated US rare-earth mine and separation plant, and the Independence NdFeB magnet factory in Fort Worth, backed by a 2025 Department of War partnership.
High relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Las Vegas · founded 2017
- 21HighAdvanced materialsPerthAustralia1983–LYC
Largest separated rare-earth producer outside China: it mines at Mt Weld, separates in Kuantan, Malaysia, and began heavy rare-earth (Dy and Tb) separation in 2025.
High relevance · Advanced materials · Australia, Perth · founded 1983
- 22HighAdvanced materialsShanghaiChina2011––Shanghai Superconductor Technology
China's largest REBCO HTS tape maker and a major supplier to fusion programmes in China and abroad; it has filed for a STAR Market listing.
High relevance · Advanced materials · China, Shanghai · founded 2011
- 23HighAdvanced materialsTokyoJapan2003–5411
Major maker of electrical steels, including high-silicon JNEX/JNHF grades for EV motors and transformers, and a top patent filer here.
High relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo · founded 2003
- 24HighAdvanced materialsShanghaiChina2016–State-owned
World's largest steelmaker; through Baoshan Iron & Steel it is the leading producer of high-grade oriented and non-oriented electrical steel.
High relevance · Advanced materials · China, Shanghai · founded 2016
- 25HighAdvanced materialsMainzGermany1884–Private
Leading maker of optical glass, laser glass, Zerodur glass-ceramic and photonic glass components; owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation.
High relevance · Advanced materials · Germany, Mainz · founded 1884
- 26HighAdvanced materialsHanauGermany1851–Private
Heraeus Covantics is a top supplier of high-purity synthetic fused silica and quartz for optical-fibre preforms, lithography optics and photonics.
High relevance · Advanced materials · Germany, Hanau · founded 1851
- 27HighComponents & subsystemsWuhanChina1988–6869Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (YOFC)
World's largest producer of optical-fibre preforms and fibre, with in-house PCVD preform technology.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Wuhan · founded 1988
- Moderate11 companies
- 28ModerateComponents & subsystemsAyer, MassachusettsUnited States1987–AMSCAmerican Superconductor (AMSC)
US producer of Amperium 2G HTS wire using its RABiTS/MOD process, used in power cables, fault-current limiters and naval degaussing systems.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Ayer, Massachusetts · founded 1987
- 29ModerateEquipment & machineryAbingdonUnited Kingdom1959–OXIG
Pioneer of commercial superconducting magnets and a supplier of high-field magnets and cryogenic systems for research and quantum; it sold NanoScience to Quantum Design in 2025.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · United Kingdom, Abingdon · founded 1959
- 30ModerateAdvanced materialsPohangSouth Korea1968–005490
Korea's producer of grain-oriented and non-oriented electrical steel for motors and transformers; POSCO International also builds a rare-earth magnet supply chain.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · South Korea, Pohang · founded 1968
- 31ModerateAdvanced materialsTorontoCanada––NEO
Makes Magnequench bonded-magnet powders, separates rare earths at NPM Silmet (Estonia), and opened Europe's first large sintered NdFeB magnet plant in Narva, Estonia, in 2025.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · Canada, Toronto
- 32ModerateChemicals & gasesBrusselsBelgium1863–SOLB
Its La Rochelle plant is Europe's largest rare-earth separation facility, expanded from 2025 to supply NdPr and other magnet-grade oxides.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Belgium, Brussels · founded 1863
- 33ModerateAdvanced materialsAraxáBrazil1955–Private
Supplies roughly 80 percent of the world's niobium, including the high-purity niobium behind NbTi and Nb3Sn superconductors and SRF cavities.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · Brazil, Araxá · founded 1955
- 34ModerateAdvanced materialsDallasUnited States19967,700ATI
Leading supplier of NbTi alloy rod and high-purity niobium that superconducting wire makers draw into MRI and accelerator conductor.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Dallas · founded 1996 · 7,700 staff
- 35ModerateAdvanced materialsChengduChina1956–State-owned
China's largest optical glass producer and among the largest globally by volume, supplying optical, laser and photonic glasses.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · China, Chengdu · founded 1956
- 36ModerateAdvanced materialsFremont, CaliforniaUnited States1986–AXTI
Produces InP, GaAs and Ge substrates for lasers, photodetectors and optical transceivers, mainly at its plants in China.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Fremont, California · founded 1986
- 37ModerateComponents & subsystemsPuneIndia1988–STLTECH
India's integrated optical-fibre maker, producing its own glass preforms and fibre for global telecom networks.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · India, Pune · founded 1988
- 38ModerateAdvanced materialsPerthAustralia1954–ILU
Building the government-backed Eneabba refinery in Western Australia to produce separated light and heavy rare-earth oxides for magnets.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · Australia, Perth · founded 1954
- Low10 companies
- 39LowAdvanced materialsMumbaiIndia1950–State-owned
Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL)India's state rare-earth producer, which mines and separates monazite and runs a samarium-cobalt magnet plant at Visakhapatnam.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · India, Mumbai · founded 1950
- 40LowAdvanced materialsMoscowRussia2006–Private
Russian REBCO HTS tape producer that supplied tape for the Moscow HTS cable project and Russian fusion devices; Faraday Factory Japan began as its Japanese affiliate.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · Russia, Moscow · founded 2006
- 41LowAdvanced materialsAnseongSouth Korea2004––
Korean REBCO HTS tape maker using the RCE-DR process, supplying high-field magnet and cable projects including MIT's 45.5-tesla magnet tests.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · South Korea, Anseong · founded 2004
- 42LowAdvanced materialsDaejeonSouth Korea2003–Private
Kiswire Advanced Technology (KAT)Kiswire group subsidiary that supplied Nb3Sn and NbTi strand for ITER and KSTAR magnets.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · South Korea, Daejeon · founded 2003
- 43LowAdvanced materialsRiyadhSaudi Arabia1997–1211
Ma'aden (Saudi Arabian Mining Company)Holds at least 51 percent of a November 2025 joint venture with MP Materials and the US Department of War to build a Saudi rare-earth refinery for light and heavy oxides, with magnet manufacturing under study.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · Saudi Arabia, Riyadh · founded 1997
- 44LowAdvanced materialsMinaçu, GoiásBrazil––Private
Operates the Pela Ema ionic-clay deposit, the first large-scale producer outside Asia of mixed rare-earth concentrate rich in the magnet elements Nd, Pr, Dy and Tb.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · Brazil, Minaçu, Goiás
- 45LowAdvanced materialsPerthAustralia1997–ARU
Developing the Nolans project in the Northern Territory to mine and refine NdPr oxide, with offtakes to magnet makers including Hyundai/Kia and Siemens Gamesa.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · Australia, Perth · founded 1997
- 46LowComponents & subsystemsOżarów MazowieckiPoland1987–VGO
Grows III-V and HgCdTe epitaxial materials and makes mid-infrared photodetectors, and runs an EU-supported photonic integrated circuit (PIC) materials programme.
Low relevance · Components & subsystems · Poland, Ożarów Mazowiecki · founded 1987
- 47LowAdvanced materialsTurnovCzechia1943–Private
Grows single crystals (YAG, LuAG and doped garnets) for lasers, scintillators and photonic components.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · Czechia, Turnov · founded 1943
- 48LowAdvanced materialsUst-KamenogorskKazakhstan1949–State-owned
Ulba Metallurgical Plant (Kazatomprom)Produces niobium and tantalum metals and alloys, as well as beryllium, used in superconducting and specialty-material supply chains.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · Kazakhstan, Ust-Kamenogorsk · founded 1949
- Very low2 companies
- 49Very lowAdvanced materialsAnkaraTürkiye1935–State-owned
State miner whose Beylikova pilot rare-earth processing plant (1,200 t ore a year, opened 2023) is being scaled up to industrial separation.
Very low relevance · Advanced materials · Türkiye, Ankara · founded 1935
- 50Very lowAdvanced materialsCape TownSouth Africa––Private
Owns South Africa's high-grade Steenkampskraal monazite deposit, once the world's main thorium and rare-earth mine, and is redeveloping it to supply magnet rare-earth feedstock.
Very low relevance · Advanced materials · South Africa, Cape Town
