- Capability group
- Sensing, Timing & Navigation
- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cap/SB73WYFP05
- Reference
- Atomic clock Wikipedia
Papers
1.9k
2020–2024
Paper growth
+54%
2020–24 on 2015–19
Patent families
6.2k
2020–2024
Filed abroad
23%
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 timing technology and the national timing capacity; the systems that consume it belong to their own domains, and holdover under satellite denial is the capability's hardest test.
Lineage
Carried from v0.0 (formerly Atomic clocks) with the same identifier; recast from a device definition to the national timing capacity, the device being the indicator.
Indicators
- research publication share in time and frequencyResearch
- national timing infrastructure with holdover capabilityPending
- clock accuracy records heldPending
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 Atomic clocks.
Papers by year
The five leading nations, papers by year
Share of papers, 2020–2024
Of papers with a known author nation; 47% have none and are left out.
- 1China23.3%281 papers
- 2United States17.6%212 papers
- 3Germany9.8%118 papers
- 4France5.6%67 papers
- 5United Kingdom5.2%63 papers
- 6Russia4.5%54 papers
- 7India3.9%47 papers
- 8Japan3.1%38 papers
- 9Italy2.9%35 papers
- 10Australia2.9%35 papers
Leading institutions, 2020–2024
By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.
- 1Chinese Academy of Sciences32fractional papers
- 2Peking University27fractional papers
- 3National Time Service Center22fractional papers
- 4National Institute of Standards and Technology22fractional papers
- 5Leibniz University Hannover17fractional papers
- 6Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt17fractional papers
- 7University of Colorado Boulder15fractional papers
- 8Huazhong University of Science and Technology13fractional papers
- 9University of Chinese Academy of Sciences13fractional papers
- 10Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace8fractional 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
1,733 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 15% of families (HHI 80 of 10,000: unconcentrated).
Share of families by origin, 2020–2024
- 1China76.6%4,757 families
- 2United States8.6%532 families
- 3Japan4.2%264 families
- 4South Korea2.0%126 families
- 5Germany2.0%124 families
- 6Israel1.0%62 families
- 7Sweden0.8%52 families
- 8Taiwan0.7%43 families
- 9France0.6%37 families
- 10Finland0.6%35 families
Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024
Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.
- 1HUAWEI TECH CO LTD296international families
- 2ZTE CORP114international families
- 3SEIKO EPSON CORP80international families
- 4ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M78international families
- 5QUALCOMM INC53international families
- 6MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP50international families
- 7NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE43international families
- 8INTEL CORP39international families
- 9BOSCH GMBH ROBERT33international families
- 10SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD33international families
Classification read
- G04F5/14 Atomic clocks · 4.7k documents
- H03L7/26 Atomic frequency standards · 3.4k documents
- H01S1/00 Masers · 3.3k documents
- H04J3/0635 Clock and time synchronisation across networks · 77.6k documents
- G04G7/00 Synchronisation of electronic timepieces · 3.5k documents
Shares inventions with
Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).
- Quantum Sensing & Metrology388 families · 0.108
- Resilient & Infrastructure-Independent Networks82 families · 0.007
- Quantum Computing56 families · 0.006
- Resilient Positioning & Navigation67 families · 0.006
- Advanced Optical Communication & Photonics251 families · 0.005
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 20 nations across 6 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.
- Very high3 companies
- 1Very highComponents & subsystemsChandlerUnited States198919kMCHP
Through its former Microsemi/Symmetricom frequency and time business it makes the 5071A cesium standard, the SA.45s chip-scale atomic clock, space rubidium clocks, hydrogen masers and TimeProvider grandmasters, and acquired Tekron in 2020.
Very high relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Chandler · founded 1989 · 19k staff
- 2Very highComponents & subsystemsParisFrance2005100kSAF
Safran Electronics & Defense's timing unit (ex-Orolia, Spectratime and T4Science) supplies rubidium clocks and passive hydrogen masers for Galileo and NavIC, plus ground hydrogen masers and resilient PNT timing servers.
Very high relevance · Components & subsystems · France, Paris · founded 2005 · 100k staff
- 3Very highSystems integrationRomeItaly194860kLDO
Leonardo's Nerviano site builds the passive hydrogen masers and rubidium atomic frequency standards flown on every Galileo satellite.
Very high relevance · Systems integration · Italy, Rome · founded 1948 · 60k staff
- High10 companies
- 4HighComponents & subsystemsPittsburghUnited States2010–Private
Supplies the space-qualified rubidium atomic frequency standards used on GPS satellites and offered to other GNSS programmes.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Pittsburgh · founded 2010
- 5HighSystems integrationMelbourneUnited States189547kLHX
Builds the navigation payloads, including the mission data unit and atomic-clock timekeeping system, for GPS III and GPS IIIF satellites.
High relevance · Systems integration · United States, Melbourne · founded 1895 · 47k staff
- 6HighComponents & subsystemsMitchel FieldUnited States1961–FEIM
Makes space and military rubidium standards, hydrogen masers and ultra-stable quartz oscillators for satellites, GPS and US defence programmes.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Mitchel Field · founded 1961
- 7HighSystems integrationBeijingChina1999180kState-owned
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)Its institutes, including the Lanzhou Institute of Space Technology Physics, develop the rubidium clocks and hydrogen masers for BeiDou satellites, and CASC builds the BeiDou constellation.
High relevance · Systems integration · China, Beijing · founded 1999 · 180k staff
- 8HighHardware & devicesHuntsvilleUnited States1985–ADTN
Adtran Holdings (Oscilloquartz)Its Swiss unit Oscilloquartz (Neuchâtel) makes optical cesium clocks, PTP grandmasters and timing networks used by telecom operators and national timing infrastructures.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Huntsville · founded 1985
- 9HighHardware & devicesSuwa, NaganoJapan194274k6724
One of the world's largest makers of crystal oscillators and timing devices (TCXO/OCXO) and a top patent applicant in this field.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Suwa, Nagano · founded 1942 · 74k staff
- 10HighDesignSanta ClaraUnited States2003–SITM
The leader in MEMS-based precision timing, making oscillators, clock generators and Epoch-class OCXO replacements for data centres, 5G and aerospace.
High relevance · Design · United States, Santa Clara · founded 2003
- 11HighComponents & subsystemsTokyoJapan1948–6779
A major maker of quartz crystal units and high-stability OCXOs, from crystal growth through to oscillators, for telecom and space timing.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1948
- 12HighComponents & subsystemsTokyoJapan200221k6723
Through the former IDT business it is a leading maker of network synchroniser and jitter-attenuator ICs (ClockMatrix) that run PTP/SyncE timing in telecom equipment.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Tokyo · founded 2002 · 21k staff
- 13HighEquipment & machineryPlaneggGermany2001–Private
Spun out of Theodor Hänsch's Nobel-winning frequency-comb work, it supplies the optical frequency combs and ultrastable lasers used to build optical clocks at national labs.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Planegg · founded 2001
- Moderate21 companies
- 14ModerateHardware & devicesShenzhenChina1987208kPrivate
The largest international patent applicant in this field, mostly on clock synchronisation (IEEE 1588 PTP, SyncE) for telecom and 5G networks that distribute national time.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Shenzhen · founded 1987 · 208k staff
- 15ModerateSystems integrationBeijingChina1956–State-ownedChina Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC)
Its 203 Institute (Beijing Institute of Radio Metrology and Measurement) developed the super-thin rubidium clocks central to BeiDou timing and runs national time-frequency metrology.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · China, Beijing · founded 1956
- 16ModerateComponents & subsystemsChengduChina––002935
A CETC-affiliated company and China's main commercial atomic-clock maker, it supplies the space-borne rubidium clock physics package for BeiDou-3 and makes ground rubidium and time-frequency systems.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Chengdu
- 17ModerateHardware & devicesBoulderUnited States2007–INFQ
Builds the Tiqker optical atomic clock and cold-atom quantum timing products for defence; it listed on the NYSE in February 2026 through a SPAC merger.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Boulder · founded 2007
- 18ModerateHardware & devicesCollege ParkUnited States2015–IONQ
Acquired Vector Atomic in 2025, a maker of compact iodine optical clocks that have been tested at sea and in space for the US Navy and DIU.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, College Park · founded 2015
- 19ModerateSystems integrationBethesdaUnited States1995121kLMT
Prime contractor for GPS III/IIIF satellites, which carry the US atomic-clock time base that delivers GPS time worldwide.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · United States, Bethesda · founded 1995 · 121k staff
- 20ModerateEquipment & machineryChandlerUnited States2015–VIAV
Acquired Jackson Labs Technologies in 2023 and sells CSAC- and rubidium-disciplined timing and SecurePNT resilient timing for defence and critical infrastructure.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Chandler · founded 2015
- 21ModerateHardware & devicesStockholmSweden187694kERIC-B
A leading patent applicant in network time and phase synchronisation for mobile networks, and a supplier of the timing architectures used in 5G radio access networks.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Sweden, Stockholm · founded 1876 · 94k staff
- 22ModerateComponents & subsystemsAucklandNew Zealand1967–RAK
Supplies high-performance OCXOs and TCXOs for telecom grandmasters, GNSS and space payloads, and is the leading timing firm in Oceania.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · New Zealand, Auckland · founded 1967
- 23ModerateHardware & devicesBad PyrmontGermany1979–Private
A leading European maker of GNSS and DCF77 radio clocks, NTP/PTP time servers and grandmasters for power, finance and telecom.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Germany, Bad Pyrmont · founded 1979
- 24ModerateEquipment & machineryGräfelfingGermany1998–Private
Supplies the tunable diode lasers, frequency combs and laser systems used in optical lattice and ion clocks around the world.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Gräfelfing · founded 1998
- 25ModerateHardware & devicesParisFrance––EXA
Took over Muquans' cold-atom technology and sells the MuClock cold-atom microwave clock and laser systems for timing labs and quantum sensing.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · France, Paris
- 26ModerateComponents & subsystemsJerusalemIsrael1993–Private
Israel's atomic-clock maker; its rubidium standards are used in the Galileo ground segment and its ultra-stable oscillator flew on ESA's JUICE mission.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Israel, Jerusalem · founded 1993
- 27ModerateComponents & subsystemsTaipeiTaiwan1983–3042
One of the world's largest makers of quartz crystals and oscillators, supplying frequency-control parts for telecom, automotive and networking.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Taiwan, Taipei · founded 1983
- 28ModerateComponents & subsystemsThalwilSwitzerland1997–Private
Makes multi-band GNSS timing modules (the LEA-M8F and ZED-F9T) that sync base stations and grids to nanosecond level; it was taken private by Advent in 2025.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Switzerland, Thalwil · founded 1997
- 29ModerateComponents & subsystemsGoldenUnited States2002–Private
Makes compact frequency combs, lasers and laser-control electronics for portable optical and atomic clocks, mostly under US defence contracts.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Golden · founded 2002
- 30ModerateHardware & devicesNishinomiyaJapan19483,3006814
Supplies GNSS timing receivers and GNSS-disciplined oscillators (GF-8x series) used for base-station and broadcast synchronisation.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Nishinomiya · founded 1948 · 3,300 staff
- 31ModerateComponents & subsystemsNizhny NovgorodRussia––Private
Among the world's leading hydrogen-maser makers, delivering more than 150 active and passive masers a year for timing labs, VLBI and space missions such as Spektr-R.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Russia, Nizhny Novgorod
- 32ModerateProfessional & data servicesTres CantosSpain1984–Private
A main contractor for the Galileo ground mission segment, including precise orbit and clock determination and system time processing.
Moderate relevance · Professional & data services · Spain, Tres Cantos · founded 1984
- 33ModerateComponents & subsystemsLeuvenBelgium2000–Private
Its PolaRx and mosaic-T timing receivers are widely used by national timing labs for GNSS time transfer and by infrastructure needing anti-jam timing.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Belgium, Leuven · founded 2000
- 34ModerateComponents & subsystemsKakogawaJapan1959–6962
A major Japanese maker of crystal units and oscillators, including high-stability TCXOs for telecom timing.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Kakogawa · founded 1959
- Low11 companies
- 35LowHardware & devicesShenzhenChina1985–000063
The second-largest international patent applicant in this capability, covering time synchronisation for transport networks and 5G.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Shenzhen · founded 1985
- 36LowComponents & subsystemsBeijingChina1994–002151
Makes BeiDou/GNSS chips and timing modules used for time synchronisation in Chinese power, telecom and finance networks.
Low relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Beijing · founded 1994
- 37LowComponents & subsystemsFremontUnited States––Private
Develops compact cold-atom clocks and atom-interferometric sensors for navigation and timing for US defence agencies.
Low relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Fremont
- 38LowComponents & subsystemsSuwonSouth Korea1969268k005930
A top-10 international patent applicant in this capability, mainly on timing and synchronisation in network equipment and devices; it is Korea's largest corporate actor in the field.
Low relevance · Components & subsystems · South Korea, Suwon · founded 1969 · 268k staff
- 39LowHardware & devicesSolnaSweden1997–NETI B
Sells Zyntai, a GNSS-independent network time-transfer technology for resilient timing in mobile and critical networks.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Sweden, Solna · founded 1997
- 40LowResearch & IPSaint PetersburgRussia––State-owned
Russian Institute of Radionavigation and Time (RIRT)A joint-stock company that develops the GLONASS central synchroniser (built on hydrogen masers), onboard cesium clocks and GLONASS time-transfer receivers.
Low relevance · Research & IP · Russia, Saint Petersburg
- 41LowComponents & subsystemsTaichungTaiwan1988–2484
A Taiwanese maker of quartz crystals, oscillators and TCXOs for networking and automotive timing.
Low relevance · Components & subsystems · Taiwan, Taichung · founded 1988
- 42LowSystems integrationLydbrookUnited Kingdom1986–Private
A UK specialist in resilient time and frequency systems, eLoran and GNSS-jamming detection for telecom and critical national infrastructure.
Low relevance · Systems integration · United Kingdom, Lydbrook · founded 1986
- 43LowHardware & devicesAdelaideAustralia201640–
A University of Adelaide spinout making the Cryoclock cryogenic sapphire oscillator for the JORN radar and the TEMPO optical atomic clock, and it has demonstrated an optical frequency comb in orbit.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Australia, Adelaide · founded 2016 · 40 staff
- 44LowComponents & subsystemsBengaluruIndia––Private
India's main private GNSS receiver developer, making NavIC/GPS receivers and timing modules used in Indian timing and navigation programmes.
Low relevance · Components & subsystems · India, Bengaluru
- 45LowEquipment & machineryRigaLatvia2011––
Its picosecond A033-ET Riga Event Timer is used in more than half of the world's satellite laser ranging stations, and it holds ESA timing contracts.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · Latvia, Riga · founded 2011
- Very low5 companies
- 46Very lowProfessional & data servicesLondonUnited Kingdom––Private
Provides traceable timing-as-a-service to financial markets for MiFID II clock-sync compliance and runs its own atomic-clock time distribution.
Very low relevance · Professional & data services · United Kingdom, London
- 47Very lowResearch & IPSouthamptonUnited Kingdom2021––
Develops a laser-cooling, cold-atom clock design without a vacuum chamber, aimed at portable and space use.
Very low relevance · Research & IP · United Kingdom, Southampton · founded 2021
- 48Very lowComponents & subsystemsWuhanChina–––Zhongke Taifeisi (Wuhan) Technology
A Wuhan University spinout reported in 2026 to have reached volume production of chip-scale atomic clocks for BeiDou time sync, LEO satellites and drones.
Very low relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Wuhan
- 49Very lowComponents & subsystemsHuzhouChina–––
A Peking University spinout making domestic chip-scale atomic clocks and frequency-stabilised lasers.
Very low relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Huzhou
- 50Very lowHardware & devicesPoznańPoland––Private
Designs and makes precise time and frequency equipment, including GNSS time-transfer systems for comparing atomic clocks between labs.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Poland, Poznań
