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Nuclear Energy Patent Classification

Fission reactors classify in G21C: core design, fuel elements, control rods and safety systems, including the current small-modular-reactor wave. The plant around the reactor, turbines coupling, plant control, sits in G21D.

Fusion has its own subclass G21B. Its filing volume is small but worth watching: private fusion ventures have started to patent alongside the national laboratories.

The classification codes that matter

G21C 29,798 filings 2013–2023

NUCLEAR REACTORS

Nuclear reactors: core design, fuel and safety, including SMR concepts.

2018 → 2023: 2,873 → 2,661 filings (-7 %)

G21D 7,179 filings 2013–2023

NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

Nuclear power plants: the systems that turn reactor heat into grid power.

2018 → 2023: 612 → 862 filings (+41 %)

G21B 3,917 filings 2013–2023

FUSION REACTORS

Fusion reactors: magnetic and inertial confinement, from tokamaks to laser fusion.

2018 → 2023: 364 → 510 filings (+40 %)

Who files here: top applicants

  1. 1 CHINA GENERAL NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION 2,364
  2. 2 CGN POWER COMPANY 1,899
  3. 3 CHINA NUCLEAR POWER ENGINEERING COMPANY 1,870
  4. 4 NUCLEAR POWER INSTITUTE OF CHINA 1,517
  5. 5 KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (KR) 1,367

IPC filings 2013–2023, aggregated across the codes above. Source: EPO PATSTAT.

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