CambridgeIP brings its nanotechnology, advanced materials and industry experience and capabilities to bear in the production of this Technology Profile Report on who owns graphene technologies and graphene technology commercialisation challenges.
3. Why graphene?
Graphene: A fast developing research-enabled
technology space, encompassing a very extensive
set of potential markets and applications.
• Graphene is the first 2D crystal discovered, with unusual electronic, optical
and mechanical properties.
• Graphene is of interest across industry fields as diverse as semiconductors
and biotechnology.
• Many graphene technology applications are in sectors which are notoriously
patent and litigation intensive
Examples of graphene applications include:
• Faster computers: More efficient transistors based on graphene could result
in thinner computer chips which use less energy and work faster.
• More sensitive and robust sensors: Biotech sensor devices, environmental
monitoring, oil & gas sensors
• Thinner and flexible displays: Flexible and transparent electronics
• Tougher and more conductive polymer composites: Much like multi-wall
nanotubes (MWNT), graphene polymer composites can make polymers and
other products, like natural rubber, stronger and electrically conductive.
4. Patenting flatland: Graphene - Overview
• Our report ‘Patenting flatland: Graphene – Exploitation
challenges’ builds on research and analysis around
university graphene patent activity, recently presented
in Nature Materials: Tannock, Q. Exploiting carbon
flatland, Nature Materials, Vol 11, 2-5, (2012)
– CambridgeIP research for Nature Materials around the graphene
patent activity and collaborations of universities has been updated
and extended to analyse the entire graphene patent landscape and
focus additionally on the activities of major corporations and
leading SMEs. In addition the report considers the impact of leaders
in the publication of non-patent literature on the patent landscape
– The report is 70 pages long and contains 45 tables and figures
Corporate/University R&D networks
• Our dataset ‘Graphene patents’ is an expert verified
dataset of all graphene patents and patent applications
globally recovered in our research – more than 2,000. All
key patent information fields and all major jurisdictions are
covered.
Patent trends over time
6. Corporations in the graphene patent landscape
• The largest corporate patent portfolios in the graphene patent
landscape are held by Samsung and Sandisk, reflecting clear
industrial interests in semiconductor and memory-related
applications.
• Key differences in corporate research and development (R&D)
focus and commercial strategies can be inferred from corporate
patent filings.
• Network analysis from Tannock, Q. Exploiting carbon flatland,
Nature Materials, Vol 11, 2-5, (2012)
Samsung‟s graphene patent network Sandisk‟s graphene patent network
7. Universities in the graphene patent landscape
• Across all years, there is a relatively high patent contribution
from universities and research institutes, consistent with other
relatively early-stage and research-intensive technology spaces.
• Table 1 highlights the most active inventors with university
affiliations or collaborations, and shows strong track records of
industry–university collaborations in both South Korea and the
United States.
• Table 1 from Tannock, Q. Exploiting carbon flatland, Nature
Materials, Vol 11, 2-5, (2012)
Nr Name Nr of Organisational affiliations in inventor's Example Example patent title
patents Graphene patents patent
number
Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Samsung, Sungkyunkwan US20110127497
1 Jae-young Choi 62 Organic Light Emitting Device Using Graphene
University A1
Method For Exfoliating Carbonization Catalyst From Graphene Sheet,
US20090308520 Method For Transferring Graphene Sheet From Which Carbonization
2 Hyeon-jin Shin 43 Samsung, Sungkyunkwan University
A1 Catalyst Is Exfoliated To Device, Graphene Sheet And Device Using The
Graphene Sheet
US20090071533 Transparent Electrode Comprising Graphene Sheet, And Display And
3 Seon-mi Yoon 39 Samsung, Sungkyunkwan University
A1 Solar Cell Including The Electrode
Battelle Memorial Institute, Princeton University, Vorbeck Materials US20100096595
4 Ilhan A. Aksay 35 Functional graphene-polymer nanocomposites for gas barrier applications
Corporation A1
Hyun-jong US20110089995
5 34 Samsung, Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University Graphene device and method of manufacturing the same
Chung A1
Samsung, Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University, The US20110108521
6 Sun-ae Seo 33 Methods Of Manufacturing And Transferring Larger Sized Graphene
Leland Stanford Junior University A1
Graphene Roll To Roll Coating Apparatus And Graphene Roll To Roll
7 Byung Hee Hong 28 Samsung, Sungkyunkwan University US20110195207
Coating Method Using The Same for Graphene
8 Yun-sung Woo 21 Samsung, Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University US20110108609 Methods Of Fabricating Graphene Using Alloy Catalyst
Robert K US20110042813
8 21 Princeton University, Vorbeck Materials Corporation Printed Electronics
Prudhomme A1
Graphene Energy Inc., Northwestern University, Texas Instruments Inc., WO2008143829
9 Rodney S. Ruoff 20 Graphene Oxide Sheet Laminate and Method
University of Texas A2
9 James M. Tour 20 University of Texas, William Marsh Rice University US20110059871 Graphene Compositions and Drilling Fluids Derived Therefrom
Coatings Containing Functionalized Graphene Sheets and Articles Coated
10 John S. Lettow 18 Princeton University, Vorbeck Materials Corporation US20110049437
Therewith
8. Technology Profile Reports: Overview
• CambridgeIP brings its significant experience in building
patent-based technology intelligence with leading
Patent trends over time
technologists and investors to create Technology Profile
Reports.
• CambridgeIP‟s patent-based approach provides a
different perspective to understanding investment in
Patents are inter-related
R&D, geographical distribution and size of markets,
market value chains, how a technology area is evolving
and what are the fundamental drivers of its long-term
performance.
• Our analysis helps readers identify and assess those
technologies where commercial value is concentrated.
Corporate/University Patents cost money and significant organisational
R&D networks
resources to secure and maintain. Patents can provide
a useful indication of those technologies that patent
holders are prepared to spend money to protect.
9. Patenting flatland: Graphene – In our report
• Graphene: Key enablers and barriers
• Most important graphene patents
– Top cited patents
– Largest patent families
• Graphene manufacturing techniques
• Timeline highlighting key events in the graphene
patent landscape
• Geographical analysis of patent activity
• Technology component analysis of patent portfolios
• Patent activity and company profiles of leading small and medium sized
enterprises (SMEs) in the graphene space
• Identification of leading major corporations in graphene by number of
patents filed, with example patents
• What to watch for in the graphene patent landscape
• Conclusions and recommendations for investors, researchers and
policymakers
10. Patenting flatland: Graphene – Table of Contents
Table of Contents
About CambridgeIP and Technology Profile Reports .......................................................................................................... 0
Other CambridgeIP Reports .......................................................................................................................................... 1
Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................................... 1
Patent-based Intelligence ................................................................................................................................................... 2
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................... 7
Why Graphene? ................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Graphene History and Context ......................................................................................................................................... 12
Graphene, a Nanomaterial .......................................................................................................................................... 13
Graphene Technology ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
Patents in the Graphene flatland ...................................................................................................................................... 18
Who owns the graphene flatland? ............................................................................................................................... 22
Universities and Research Institutes ............................................................................................................................ 26
Sungkyunkwan University............................................................................................................................................ 30
Rice University ............................................................................................................................................................ 31
Manchester University ................................................................................................................................................. 32
Multinational corporations ............................................................................................................................................ 34
Samsung‟s graphene patent network........................................................................................................................... 36
Sandisk 3D‟s graphene patent network ....................................................................................................................... 38
SMEs .......................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Company profile: Vorbeck Materials Corp.................................................................................................................... 40
Company Profile: Nanotek Instruments Inc. ................................................................................................................. 41
Company Profile: Graphene Industries ........................................................................................................................ 42
Collaborations and licensing relationships ................................................................................................................... 43
Key inventors .............................................................................................................................................................. 43
Geography of patent filings: Graphene ........................................................................................................................ 44
Most frequently cited US patents ................................................................................................................................. 45
Patent families ............................................................................................................................................................. 46
Patent portfolio composition by technologies ............................................................................................................... 48
Most recently filed patents ........................................................................................................................................... 49
Patent trend conclusions ............................................................................................................................................. 52
Recommendations and Conclusions ................................................................................................................................ 53
Key developments to watch for .................................................................................................................................... 55
About CambridgeIP .......................................................................................................................................................... 56
CambridgeIP Executives ............................................................................................................................................. 57
CambridgeIP Products and Services ........................................................................................................................... 58
Appendix 1: Additional analysis of the graphene patent landscape ................................................................................... 59
Appendix 2: Methodology & Detailed Patent Information .................................................................................................. 63
Methodology................................................................................................................................................................ 63
Patent family explanation and context ......................................................................................................................... 65
Patent IPC Codes........................................................................................................................................................ 66
Disclaimer and Registered Company Information ............................................................................................................. 68
To read a report overview & table of contents in more details please visit us at
http://www.boliven.com/boliven_landscapes/patenting_flatland_graphene
11. Patenting flatland: Graphene – Access
Access the full report and full dataset here:
• http://www.boliven.com/boliven_landscapes/
patenting_flatland_graphene
Pricing
• Report $ 495
• Dataset $ 1,500
• Report and dataset $ 1,895
– Save $100
– Academic discount available, contact us for
details at info@cambridgeip.com.
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• There is an option at the end of the survey
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