- Capability group
- Energy Technologies
- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cap/00BV57J50X
- Reference
- Nuclear power Wikipedia
Papers
9.2k
2020–2024
Paper growth
−10%
2020–24 on 2015–19
Patent families
16.4k
2020–2024
Filed abroad
17%
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 reactor, fusion and fuel-cycle technology; operating plants, enrichment and waste facilities belong to Strategic Infrastructure's Nuclear Generation, weapons matters to National Security, and the latency read runs across that seam as established there.
Lineage
Carried from v0.0 (formerly Nuclear energy) with the same identifier, absorbing Nuclear waste management and recycling (retired): the fuel cycle is one technological capacity end to end, and the facilities are Strategic Infrastructure's.
Indicators
- research publication share in nuclear and fusionResearch
- advanced reactor designs under licensingPending
- enrichment and fuel fabrication capacityPending
- fusion facilities in operationPending
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 topics Nuclear energy and Nuclear waste management and recycling.
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.
- 1China18.1%1,188 papers
- 2United States16.2%1,059 papers
- 3Russia7.4%482 papers
- 4Japan5.0%327 papers
- 5Germany4.9%321 papers
- 6India4.9%320 papers
- 7France4.5%297 papers
- 8United Kingdom4.4%290 papers
- 9South Korea4.1%269 papers
- 10Egypt3.1%201 papers
Leading institutions, 2020–2024
By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.
- 1Savannah River National Laboratory147fractional papers
- 2Southwest University of Science and Technology115fractional papers
- 3Pacific Northwest National Laboratory98fractional papers
- 4University of South China84fractional papers
- 5Bhabha Atomic Research Centre82fractional papers
- 6Oak Ridge National Laboratory70fractional papers
- 7Japan Atomic Energy Agency69fractional papers
- 8Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority66fractional papers
- 9East China University of Technology65fractional papers
- 10Idaho National Laboratory53fractional 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
3,444 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 10% of families (HHI 44 of 10,000: unconcentrated).
Share of families by origin, 2020–2024
- 1China63.3%10,400 families
- 2South Korea13.7%2,254 families
- 3Japan8.6%1,411 families
- 4United States5.7%930 families
- 5France2.2%363 families
- 6Russia1.4%230 families
- 7United Kingdom1.1%182 families
- 8Germany1.1%177 families
- 9Canada0.6%91 families
- 10Taiwan0.2%38 families
Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024
Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.
- 1CGN POWER CO LTD211international families
- 2WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CO LLC203international families
- 3KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER CO202international families
- 4CHINA GENERAL NUCLEAR POWER200international families
- 5COMMISSARIAT ENERGIE ATOMIQUE185international families
- 6CHINA NUCLEAR POWER ENG CO LTD173international families
- 7CHINA NUCLEAR POWER TECHNOLOGY RES INST CO LTD156international families
- 8CHINA NUCLEAR POWER INST CO LTD132international families
- 9HITACHI GE NUCLEAR ENERGY LTD124international families
- 10KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RES115international families
Classification read
- G21B Fusion reactors · 18k documents
- G21C Nuclear reactors, fuel elements and fuel handling · 314.6k documents
- G21D Nuclear power plant · 37.1k documents
- G21F9/00 Treatment of radioactive waste and decontamination · 62.2k documents
- B01D59/00 Isotope separation, including enrichment · 12.1k documents
- H05H1/02 Magnetic confinement and heating of plasma · 7.7k documents
- C01G43/00 Uranium compounds · 8.2k documents
Shares inventions with
Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).
- Nuclear Medicine & Radioisotope Technologies255 families · 0.015
- Advanced Propulsion & Hypersonic Systems61 families · 0.009
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 high5 companies
- 1Very highSystems integrationMoscowRussia2007–State-owned
Integrated state nuclear corporation that designs and exports VVER-1200 reactors, builds fast reactors (BN-800, BREST-300) and RITM SMRs, and supplies a large share of world enrichment via TVEL and Tenex.
Very high relevance · Systems integration · Russia, Moscow · founded 2007
- 2Very highOperations & infrastructureBeijingChina1988–State-owned
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)Chinese state nuclear group behind the Hualong One reactor, the ACP100 Linglong One land-based SMR, the HL-3 tokamak programme and China's full fuel cycle from enrichment to reprocessing.
Very high relevance · Operations & infrastructure · China, Beijing · founded 1988
- 3Very highOperations & infrastructureShenzhenChina1994–1816China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN)
Co-developer of the Hualong One (HPR1000) design and China's largest international nuclear patent applicant, with listed arm CGN Power operating the country's biggest reactor fleet.
Very high relevance · Operations & infrastructure · China, Shenzhen · founded 1994
- 4Very highProfessional & data servicesCranberry Township, PennsylvaniaUnited States188610kPrivate
Designer of the AP1000 pressurised water reactor, the AP300 SMR and eVinci microreactor, and a leading global nuclear fuel fabricator, owned by Brookfield and Cameco.
Very high relevance · Professional & data services · United States, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania · founded 1886 · 10k staff
- 5Very highOperations & infrastructureParisFrance1946–State-owned
French state utility that develops the EPR and EPR2 reactors, owns reactor and fuel supplier Framatome, and is redesigning its Nuward SMR.
Very high relevance · Operations & infrastructure · France, Paris · founded 1946
- High11 companies
- 6HighOperations & infrastructureGyeongjuSouth Korea2001–State-owned
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KEPCO group)KEPCO subsidiary that owns the APR1400 design exported to the UAE and Czechia and leads Korea's i-SMR programme, with sister firms KEPCO E&C and KEPCO Nuclear Fuel.
High relevance · Operations & infrastructure · South Korea, Gyeongju · founded 2001
- 7HighHardware & devicesCambridge, MassachusettsUnited States202475kGEV
GE Vernova (GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy)Through GE Hitachi it designs the BWRX-300 SMR, now under construction at Darlington, Canada, and selected in the US, Poland and Sweden.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Cambridge, Massachusetts · founded 2024 · 75k staff
- 8HighHardware & devicesTokyoJapan188477k7011
Japan's leading PWR vendor, developing the SRZ-1200 advanced light-water reactor and microreactors, and maker of ITER toroidal field coils.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1884 · 77k staff
- 9HighAdvanced materialsChâtillonFrance2001–State-owned
Fuel-cycle group (formerly Areva) that runs uranium mining, Georges Besse II enrichment and La Hague reprocessing, and is planning US enrichment capacity.
High relevance · Advanced materials · France, Châtillon · founded 2001
- 10HighComponents & subsystemsChangwonSouth Korea1962–034020
Major forger and maker of reactor vessels, steam generators and SMR modules for APR1400, NuScale and X-energy designs.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · South Korea, Changwon · founded 1962
- 11HighComponents & subsystemsLynchburg, VirginiaUnited States18678,700BWXT
Sole maker of US naval nuclear reactors, producer of TRISO fuel and components, and developer of the BANR microreactor and Project Pele.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Lynchburg, Virginia · founded 1867 · 8,700 staff
- 12HighHardware & devicesBellevue, WashingtonUnited States2006–Private
Building the Natrium sodium-cooled fast reactor with molten-salt storage at Kemmerer, Wyoming, and developing a molten chloride fast reactor.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Bellevue, Washington · founded 2006
- 13HighOperations & infrastructureStoke PogesUnited Kingdom1971–State-owned
Centrifuge enrichment company with plants in the UK, Netherlands, Germany and the US, and one of the first Western suppliers developing HALEU for advanced reactors.
High relevance · Operations & infrastructure · United Kingdom, Stoke Poges · founded 1971
- 14HighAdvanced materialsSaskatoonCanada1988–CCJ
One of the largest uranium producers, with conversion and fuel manufacturing in Canada and a 49% stake in Westinghouse.
High relevance · Advanced materials · Canada, Saskatoon · founded 1988
- 15HighResearch & IPDevens, MassachusettsUnited States2018––
MIT spin-out and the best-funded fusion company, building the SPARC high-temperature-superconducting tokamak and planning the ARC power plant in Virginia.
High relevance · Research & IP · United States, Devens, Massachusetts · founded 2018
- 16HighAdvanced materialsAstanaKazakhstan1997–KAP
The world's largest uranium producer, with roughly 20% of global primary supply, plus fuel-pellet and fuel-assembly fabrication at Ulba.
High relevance · Advanced materials · Kazakhstan, Astana · founded 1997
- Moderate18 companies
- 17ModerateProfessional & data servicesTokyoJapan1910269k6501
Hitachi (Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy)Its subsidiary Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy develops ABWR and BWRX-300 technology and is among the top international nuclear patent applicants.
Moderate relevance · Professional & data services · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1910 · 269k staff
- 18ModerateOperations & infrastructureBeijingChina2015–State-ownedState Power Investment Corporation (SPIC)
Owner of China's CAP1400 (Guohe One) passive PWR design, derived from the AP1000, through its State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation.
Moderate relevance · Operations & infrastructure · China, Beijing · founded 2015
- 19ModerateDesignPortland, OregonUnited States2007–SMR
Its 77 MWe light-water SMR module was the first SMR design to receive US NRC standard design approval.
Moderate relevance · Design · United States, Portland, Oregon · founded 2007
- 20ModerateDesignRockville, MarylandUnited States2009–Private
Developer of the Xe-100 pebble-bed high-temperature gas reactor for Dow and Amazon, and of TRISO-X fuel fabrication.
Moderate relevance · Design · United States, Rockville, Maryland · founded 2009
- 21ModerateComponents & subsystemsLondonUnited Kingdom190642kRR.
Builds UK submarine reactors, and its 470 MWe Rolls-Royce SMR was chosen by Great British Nuclear and ČEZ.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · United Kingdom, London · founded 1906 · 42k staff
- 22ModerateHardware & devicesAlameda, CaliforniaUnited States2016––
Building the Hermes fluoride-salt-cooled demonstration reactor in Oak Ridge, the first non-light-water power reactor permitted by the NRC in decades, under a Google offtake deal.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Alameda, California · founded 2016
- 23ModerateAdvanced materialsBethesda, MarylandUnited States1998–LEU
Operates the only US-licensed HALEU enrichment cascade, at Piketon, Ohio, under a DOE contract.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Bethesda, Maryland · founded 1998
- 24ModerateHardware & devicesCamden, New JerseyUnited States1986–Private
Leading supplier of spent-fuel dry storage, developer of the SMR-300 planned at Palisades, and the company restarting the Palisades plant.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Camden, New Jersey · founded 1986
- 25ModerateHardware & devicesKawasakiJapan1875105kPrivate
BWR and ABWR vendor developing the iBR advanced BWR, the 4S microreactor and superconducting fusion components; taken private in 2023.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Kawasaki · founded 1875 · 105k staff
- 26ModerateProfessional & data servicesMontrealCanada1911–ATRL
Owner of the CANDU heavy-water reactor technology through Candu Energy, developer of the CANDU Monark, and a major nuclear engineering contractor.
Moderate relevance · Professional & data services · Canada, Montreal · founded 1911
- 27ModerateDesignSanta Clara, CaliforniaUnited States2013–OKLO
Developer of the Aurora sodium-cooled fast microreactor at Idaho National Laboratory and of fuel recycling technology.
Moderate relevance · Design · United States, Santa Clara, California · founded 2013
- 28ModerateHardware & devicesShanghaiChina1880–601727
Leading Chinese maker of nuclear islands, reactor pressure vessels and steam generators, and of components for HTR-PM, fast reactors and ITER.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Shanghai · founded 1880
- 29ModerateOperations & infrastructureMumbaiIndia1987–State-owned
Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL)Designs and builds India's indigenous 700 MWe PHWR fleet and is leading the Bharat Small Reactor programme.
Moderate relevance · Operations & infrastructure · India, Mumbai · founded 1987
- 30ModerateResearch & IPEverett, WashingtonUnited States2013––
Developing pulsed magneto-inertial fusion (Polaris prototype) and building its Orion plant to supply Microsoft under a 2028 power purchase agreement.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · United States, Everett, Washington · founded 2013
- 31ModerateResearch & IPFoothill Ranch, CaliforniaUnited States1998–Private
Long-running developer of beam-driven field-reversed-configuration fusion (Norman and Copernicus devices); announced a merger with Trump Media in 2025.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · United States, Foothill Ranch, California · founded 1998
- 32ModerateResearch & IPMilton Park, AbingdonUnited Kingdom2009––
Spherical-tokamak fusion developer (ST40) and maker of high-temperature superconducting magnets, part of the US DOE milestone programme.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · United Kingdom, Milton Park, Abingdon · founded 2009
- 33ModerateAdvanced materialsTokyoJapan1907–5631
One of very few makers of the ultra-large forgings used for reactor pressure vessels worldwide.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1907
- 34ModerateSystems integrationSan Carlos de BarilocheArgentina19761,400State-owned
Exporter of research reactors (Australia's OPAL, Egypt's ETRR-2, the Netherlands' Pallas) and builder of Argentina's RA-10.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche · founded 1976 · 1,400 staff
- Low9 companies
- 35LowSystems integrationMumbaiIndia1938–LT
Main Indian fabricator of PHWR reactor components and the ITER cryostat, and builder of fast breeder and naval reactor equipment.
Low relevance · Systems integration · India, Mumbai · founded 1938
- 36LowHardware & devicesParisFrance2021––
Developer of lead-cooled fast SMRs (LFR-AS-30/200) fuelled by MOX from recycled plutonium; moved its headquarters from London to Paris.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · France, Paris · founded 2021
- 37LowResearch & IPRichmond, British ColumbiaCanada2002––
Developer of magnetised target fusion, now running its LM26 demonstration machine.
Low relevance · Research & IP · Canada, Richmond, British Columbia · founded 2002
- 38LowHardware & devicesOakville, OntarioCanada2013–IMSR
Developer of the Integral Molten Salt Reactor; it completed the Canadian vendor design review and listed on Nasdaq in October 2025.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Canada, Oakville, Ontario · founded 2013
- 39LowOperations & infrastructureAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates2009–State-owned
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC)The Arab world's first nuclear power developer (Barakah, 4 APR1400s), now investing in advanced reactors and SMRs abroad, including US partnerships.
Low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi · founded 2009
- 40LowOperations & infrastructurePragueCzechia1992–CEZ
Czech utility that took full ownership of reactor-component maker Škoda JS in 2022, controls the ÚJV Řež research institute and holds a stake in Rolls-Royce SMR.
Low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · Czechia, Prague · founded 1992
- 41LowResearch & IPLucas Heights, SydneyAustralia1988–SLX
Inventor of SILEX laser uranium enrichment, which it is commercialising through Global Laser Enrichment (majority-owned with Cameco) at Paducah, Kentucky.
Low relevance · Research & IP · Australia, Lucas Heights, Sydney · founded 1988
- 42LowResearch & IPMunichGermany2023––
Max Planck spin-out designing the Stellaris quasi-isodynamic stellarator power plant, and Europe's best-funded fusion startup.
Low relevance · Research & IP · Germany, Munich · founded 2023
- 43LowResearch & IPShanghaiChina2021––
Chinese private fusion company that built HH70, the first fully high-temperature-superconducting tokamak, in 2024.
Low relevance · Research & IP · China, Shanghai · founded 2021
- Very low7 companies
- 44Very lowResearch & IPPelindabaSouth Africa1999–State-owned
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa)Africa's main nuclear technology body; it runs the SAFARI-1 research reactor and, through NTP, is a major world supplier of medical isotopes.
Very low relevance · Research & IP · South Africa, Pelindaba · founded 1999
- 45Very lowAdvanced materialsRio de JaneiroBrazil1988–State-owned
Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB)Brazil's state fuel-cycle company, running uranium mining, centrifuge enrichment at Resende and fuel fabrication for Angra.
Very low relevance · Advanced materials · Brazil, Rio de Janeiro · founded 1988
- 46Very lowResearch & IPSão PauloBrazil2012–State-ownedAmazônia Azul Tecnologias de Defesa (Amazul)
Brazilian Navy company developing the LABGENE naval propulsion reactor and the Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor (RMB).
Very low relevance · Research & IP · Brazil, São Paulo · founded 2012
- 47Very lowOperations & infrastructureBucharestRomania1998–SNN
Romania's CANDU operator and fuel maker (Pitești), and lead developer, through RoPower, of the six-module NuScale SMR project at Doicești.
Very low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · Romania, Bucharest · founded 1998
- 48Very lowOperations & infrastructureWarsawPoland2021–Private
Joint venture of Orlen and Synthos planning a fleet of GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMRs in Poland, starting at Włocławek.
Very low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · Poland, Warsaw · founded 2021
- 49Very lowComponents & subsystemsEzeizaArgentina1981–Private
Combustibles Nucleares Argentinos (CONUAR)Makes all fuel elements for Argentina's Atucha and Embalse reactors, plus research-reactor fuel for export.
Very low relevance · Components & subsystems · Argentina, Ezeiza · founded 1981
- 50Very lowHardware & devicesPretoriaSouth Africa–––
Privately funded developer of the HTMR-100, a 35 MWe pebble-bed high-temperature gas-cooled SMR descended from South Africa's PBMR, with a demonstration unit targeted for 2030.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · South Africa, Pretoria
