AM Digital-Thread Security Patent Snapshot 2026
The AM digital-thread security patent space is nascent, with only 2 patent families in scope and meaningful filings appearing only in 2025–2026. Activity is highly concentrated, with Nanjing Tech University and Knowhedge SRL as the only identifiable filers, signaling that this field remains largely open for structured R&D investment.
An embryonic field: two applicants hold all ranked activity
With just 2 patent families in scope, AM digital-thread security is at the earliest traceable stage of patent formation. Nanjing Tech University holds the top position in the applicant ranking with 1 patent family, and Knowhedge SRL is the only other identified filer.
The top five filers account for 100% of the combined total among the ranked applicants visible in this query — a structural condition that reflects the absence of any broader applicant base rather than entrenched dominance by large incumbents.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nanjing Tech University | 1 |
The positions of both leaders are fragile in a positive sense: a single filing program by any new entrant — particularly an established industrial automation, cybersecurity, or additive manufacturing firm — would meaningfully alter the competitive map.
The most recent filings (2025–2026) should be treated as under-counted due to standard patent publication lag; the true volume of activity in this period is likely higher than the current record shows. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filings emerge only in 2025–2026; digital transmission security dominates the technology mix
The annual filing trend and technology composition together define a field that has only just begun to crystallize. Both charts reflect an extremely early-stage corpus.
Annual filing trend
Zero filings were recorded from 2017 through 2024; activity appears only in 2025 and 2026, with one family in each year. Given standard publication lag of 18–24 months, the 2025–2026 counts are almost certainly under-counted and should not be read as defining the ceiling of near-term activity.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H04L (Digital information transmission) accounts for 2 records, making it the visible IPC class; G06F (Electric digital data processing) accounts for 1 record. This pattern reflects a focus on cryptographic and data-transmission security protocols, with a secondary but present interest in digital data processing — consistent with securing design files and manufacturing instructions across a connected workflow.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
System for the cybersecurity of critical OT device…
A system called SENECA™ (Secure Edge Neuromorphic computing Ecosystem using Auto-healing Al Agents) that is inherently secure (secure by design) and capable of ensuring the cybersecurity of devices connected to critical OT (Operational Technologies) infrastructures, comprising one or more sentinel devices (1) called SENECA dAlsy™ (data-diode-based… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
Assignee snapshot from the current evidence set
The applicants below are visible in this query result. Because the evidence set is relatively small, read this section as a directional snapshot rather than a full competitive ranking.
Nanjing Tech University
Nanjing Tech University holds 1 patent family, with technology focus on H04L 9 (cryptographic protocols within digital information transmission). As an academic institution, its filing reflects research output rather than a commercial deployment program. No momentum data is available from the evidence, but the PCT filing path (WO2026058209A1) indicates intent to pursue broader protection beyond China. Its early academic presence makes it a potential licensing or collaboration partner for industrial entrants.
families: 1Knowhedge SRL
Knowhedge SRL holds 1 patent family and shows the broadest technology coverage of the two filers, spanning G06F 21 (secure digital data processing), H04L 67 (application-layer network protocols), and H04L 9 (cryptographic protocols). This multi-class footprint — covering both the security layer and the application/data-processing layer — is consistent with a company positioning itself across the full digital-thread security stack. No momentum trend data is available from the evidence.
families: 1Frequently asked questions
The current corpus contains 2 patent families in scope. Given that both filings appear in 2025–2026 and are subject to patent publication lag, this figure is likely an undercount of true recent activity.
Nanjing Tech University and Knowhedge SRL are the only two identified applicants, each holding 1 patent family. Nanjing Tech University leads the applicant ranking by filing date.
H04L (Digital information transmission) accounts for 2 records and is the visible class. G06F (Electric digital data processing) accounts for 1 record. Both classes relate to securing data in transit and in processing environments — consistent with the digital-thread use case.
China accounts for 1 record and WIPO (PCT) accounts for 1 record. No direct filings in the United States, Europe, or other major industrial patent offices are recorded in the current evidence.
No co-applicant or cross-institutional filing relationships are recorded in the current corpus. The collaboration evidence is empty, indicating that no consortium or joint R&D agreement has yet produced a joint patent application in this area.
A formal lifecycle stage classification is not available from the current evidence given the very small corpus size. The filing pattern — zero activity from 2017 to 2024, followed by one family per year in 2025 and 2026 — is consistent with an emergence or pre-growth phase.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from Patsnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
Nothing on this page constitutes an exhaustive prior-art, novelty, freedom-to-operate, or validity search, nor does it constitute legal, financial, investment, or professional advice, and it should not be relied upon as such. Any patent, commercial, or strategic decision should be verified independently and reviewed with qualified patent, legal, and domain professionals. Patsnap makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose of the information presented.