NANOTECHNOLOGY

Description

B82 encompasses inventions and technologies involving the manipulation, control, and application of matter at the nanoscale (typically 1–100 nanometers). This classification covers nanostructures, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and nanodevices, including their synthesis, characterization, and integration into functional systems across multiple technical fields. Applications include nanoelectronics, nanophotonics, nanomaterials for structural or chemical purposes, and nano-enabled devices in sectors such as medicine, energy, and manufacturing. Excluded are bulk material properties, conventional semiconductor devices without nanoscale features, and macro-scale systems that merely incorporate nano-sized components without exploiting nanoscale phenomena.

Filing statistics

CPC B82 recorded 139,083 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 2 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 10,941 in 2013 to 12,480 in 2023 (+14%), peaking at 16,294 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B82 are TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY (3,665 applications), SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (2,885 applications) and CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (2,220 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings