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

IPC B82 recorded 109,937 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 2 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 8,791 in 2013 to 10,487 in 2023 (+19%), peaking at 11,589 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B82 are CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (3,032 applications), SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (711 applications) and ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY (703 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

"nanosize" or "nanoscale" nanosize nanoscale nanosized controlled geometrical size below 100 nanometres (nm) in one or more dimensions nanostructure nanostructures nanostructured entity having at least one nanosized functional component that makes physical, chemical or biological properties or effects available, which are uniquely attributable to the nanoscale