For the first time, the USPTO is on pace to issue over 1,000 patents of nanotechnology class 977 in a single year.
From 1/1/2013 to 6/30/2013, the USPTO issued 531 patents of nanotechnology class 977. Among them, 278 patents (52.4%) have at least one assignee located in the United States, proving that the US continues to be the leader in nanotechnology innovation. The US is followed by the East-Asian bloc of Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China, which together account for 170 patents (32.0%) of nanotechnology class 977.
The total number of class 977 patents issued by the USPTO in the first half of this year translates to a projected year-over-year growth of 14.8%, compared to the 16.8% growth from 2011 to 2012. Geographically, the fastest growth is seen in the number of class 977 patents issued to assignees located in China, which is projected to have a year-over-year increase of almost 100%.
Overall, the growth of class 977 patents in 2013 has been impressive. It will be exciting to see such robust growth of nanotechnology IP translate to an explosion of commercializations in the U.S.
| Assignee Location | Class 977 Patent Issued in 2013 (as of 6/30) | Class 977 Patent Issued in 2012 | Class 977 Patent Issued in 2011 |
| US | 278 (52.4%) | 467 (50.5%) | 415 (52.4%) |
| Japan | 63 | 136 | 103 |
| Korea | 55 | 108 | 111 |
| Taiwan | 45 | 67 | 46 |
| China | 35 | 36 | 27 |
| East-Asian Bloc | 170 (32.0%) | 321 (34.7%) | 266 (33.6%) |
| Others | 87 (16.3%) | 143 (15.5%) | 124 (14.4%) |
| Total | 531 | 925 | 792 |