Forward Osmosis Membrane Patent Landscape 2026
Asahi Kasei dominates a moderately concentrated field, holding the largest single position among the top hundred filers in forward osmosis membranes. Annual filing volume peaked in 2019 and has eased substantially since, placing the field in a post-peak phase even as a diverse group of corporate and academic players remains active.
Asahi Kasei leads a field with a clear first-mover advantage but limited hyper-concentration
Asahi Kasei holds the top position among ranked applicants with 120 patent records, more than 90% above the second-ranked filer, Porifera Inc., at 63 patent records. The top five filers collectively account for 22% of the combined total of the hundred largest filers.
The field divides into a small first tier — Asahi Kasei well ahead — and a dense second tier running from Porifera through Oasys Water and Trevi Systems (each at 36–63 records). Below that, a long tail of academic institutions and smaller companies holds positions 7 through 20 within a tight 22–33 record range, indicating that the gap between mid-tier and lower-tier players is narrow.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asahi Kasei Corporation | 120 | |
| 2 | Porifera Inc. | 63 | |
| 3 | Nanyang Technological University | 42 | |
| 4 | Toray Advanced Materials Korea Inc. | 37 | |
| 5 | Oasys Water Inc. | 37 | |
| 6 | Trevi Systems Inc. | 36 | |
| 7 | Toyobo MC Corp. | 33 | |
| 8 | Gradiant Corporation | 32 | |
| 9 | Toyobo Co., Ltd. | 32 | |
| 10 | Kobe University | 31 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Forward Water Technologies Inc. | 29 | |
| 12 | National University of Singapore | 29 | |
| 13 | Nitto Denko Corporation | 29 | |
| 14 | Hydration Systems LLC | 28 | |
| 15 | JFE Engineering Corporation | 27 | |
| 16 | Regents of the University of California | 26 | |
| 17 | Kyowakiden Industry Co., Ltd. | 25 | |
| 18 | Toray Industries Inc. | 24 | |
| 19 | Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd. | 24 | |
| 20 | Yale University | 22 |
Asahi Kasei’s commanding position, built on separation-process subclasses B01D 61, B01D 69, and B01D 71, suggests deep membrane-materials expertise that would require sustained investment to challenge directly. The density of the second tier, which includes both commercial specialists such as Porifera and Gradiant and academic nodes such as Nanyang Tech University and Kobe University, points to an ecosystem where licensing and collaboration are realistic competitive levers.
Filing counts for 2024 and 2025 are materially under-counted due to standard publication lag; apparent low values in those years should not be read as a further acceleration of decline. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Activity peaked in 2019 and the core IPC class overwhelmingly dominates the technology mix
The filing trend and technology composition charts together reveal a field that built rapidly, crested, and is now consolidating, with nearly all activity anchored in a single separation-process class.
Annual filing trend
Filings rose from 128 records in 2017 to a peak of 160 in 2019, then declined through 2022 before dropping more sharply to 59 in 2023 and 54 in 2024. The recent-window growth rate is -46%, consistent with a post-peak consolidation. Values for 2024–2026 are subject to publication lag and will rise as pending applications publish.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
B01D (separation processes, filtration) accounts for the dominant share of IPC records by a wide margin, followed distantly by C02F (water and wastewater treatment). All other classes — including food and beverage applications under A23L, condensation polymers under C08G, and electrochemical production under C25B — individually represent 2% or less of IPC records, signalling that the field is technically anchored in membrane separation and water treatment with sparse coverage elsewhere.
↗ 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.
Modified forward osmosis membrane module for flow …
To provide a modified forward osmosis (FO) membrane module for flow regime improvement, the FO membrane module includes but not limited to: a water inlet; a water outlet; a forward osmosis (FO) membrane; a frame; and folded plates for improving flow regime in which draw solution is introduced into the water inlet of membrane module, then flowed through flow… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osmotic desalinization process | 217 |
| 2 | Osmotic membrane synthesized on interface | 147 |
| 3 | Method and apparatus for immersion cleaning of sem… | 124 |
| 4 | A forward osmosis membrane | 109 |
| 5 | Thin film composite membranes for forward osmosis,… | 101 |
| 6 | High permeability laminated reverse osmotic membrane | 88 |
| 7 | Water Flooding Method | 85 |
| 8 | 一种二维纳米材料嵌层的新型复合正渗透膜及其制备方法 | 76 |
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.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment
Four structural readings — life-cycle stage, competitive concentration, collaboration patterns, and geographic spread — together define where risk and opportunity sit for a new entrant or an existing player seeking to extend position.
Post-peak consolidation: the field is in decline from its 2019 high
The lifecycle stage is classified as Decline, driven by annual filings easing back from the 2019 peak of 160 records. The recent-window growth rate of -46% confirms a sustained contraction in new filings. For R&D planners, this implies that foundational membrane architecture IP is largely staked; incremental improvements to existing membrane chemistries face a crowded prior-art landscape, while genuinely differentiated materials or application extensions remain the more defensible investment.
Post-peakSingle dominant leader with a competitive second tier of eight to ten players
The top five filers hold 22% of the hundred largest filers’ combined records, a moderate concentration level. Asahi Kasei’s lead of 120 patent records is structurally significant but not monopolistic; the second tier (Porifera at 63, Nanyang Tech at 42, Toray Advanced Materials Korea and Oasys Water each at 37) retains enough density to mount differentiated challenges. A new entrant would find it difficult to displace the first tier on breadth alone but could establish credibility within a focused sub-application.
Moderate concentrationAsahi Kasei–Kobe University is the most active co-filing pair; Trevi–Nippon Shokubai follows
The most active co-filing pair is Asahi Kasei (Asahi Kasei Corporation) and Kobe University (National University Corporation Kobe University) with 15 jointly filed records, suggesting a structured corporate-academic research program on membrane materials. Trevi Systems and Nippon Shokubai account for 9 co-filed records, indicating draw-solute chemistry as a second axis of collaboration. Forward Water Technologies and Queen’s University (5 records) and Aquaporin and Aquaporin Asia (4 records) represent additional active dyads. This ecosystem of industry-university and cross-company partnerships suggests that licensing and joint development are standard entry mechanisms.
Active dyadsUS leads filings; Japan, China, and EPO form a broad second tier
The United States is the leading filing jurisdiction, followed by Japan, China, Europe (EPO), and WIPO (PCT). South Korea, Australia, and India also show meaningful coverage, reflecting the water-stressed or industrially active markets where forward osmosis has clearest commercial pull. Israel and Singapore — both small in patent volume but strategically significant for desalination and water-technology ecosystems — appear further down the list. Coverage gaps in Latin America and Southeast Asia (outside Singapore) suggest those markets are underprotected relative to commercial potential.
US-led, global spreadGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Asahi Kasei Corporation | National University Corporation Kobe University | 15 |
| Trevi Systems Inc. | Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd. | 9 |
| National University Corporation Kobe University | Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd. | 5 |
| Forward Water Technologies Inc. | Queen’s University | 5 |
| Aquaporin A/S | Aquaporin Asia Pte. Ltd. | 4 |
| National University Corporation Kobe University | Kurita Water Industries Ltd. | 4 |
| National University Corporation Kobe University | Daicel Corporation | 3 |
| National University Corporation Kobe University | Asahi Kasei Fibers Corporation | 2 |
| Asahi Kasei Corporation | Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. | 1 |
| Toyobo Co., Ltd. | Japan Exlan Co., Ltd. | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Asahi Kasei anchors the field; Porifera is an emerging challenger with new-entrant momentum
The two most distinctive positions in the ranking are Asahi Kasei’s large, mature portfolio concentrated in membrane separation subclasses, and Porifera’s smaller but growing body of work spanning both membrane architecture and water treatment applications.
Asahi Kasei Corporation
Asahi Kasei holds 120 patent records, nearly double the second-ranked applicant. Its technical focus is concentrated in B01D 61, B01D 69, and B01D 71 — spanning membrane module design, membrane structure, and membrane material selection — indicating a full-stack position across the separation-process chain. Its most active collaboration partner is Kobe University (15 co-filed records). Recent momentum shows a –38% trend versus the prior three-year period, consistent with the field-wide post-peak pattern rather than a unique corporate retreat.
patent records: 120Porifera Inc.
Porifera holds 63 patent records and is classified as a new entrant on recent momentum, indicating its filings in the most recent period are a new contribution rather than a continuation of prior activity. Its technical emphasis spans B01D 61 (membrane separation processes), C02F 1 (water treatment), and B01D 69 (membrane structure), a profile that combines process engineering with application-side claims. This balanced application-versus-materials orientation differentiates it from Asahi Kasei’s deeper materials-subclass concentration.
patent records: 63| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Asahi Kasei Corporation | 31 | ▼ -38% |
| Porifera Inc. | 7 | ▲ new entrant |
| Toyobo Co., Ltd. | 3 | ▲ new entrant |
| Trevi Systems Inc. | 3 | ▼ -81% |
| Forward Water Technologies Inc. | 2 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served branches adjacent to the dominant separation-process core
Several IPC classes appear at low share within the forward osmosis membrane corpus, each representing a plausible but sparsely covered extension of the core technology. These observations reflect relative sparsity in the existing record and are not validated commercial forecasts.
A23L · Foods & non-alcoholic beverages — concentration and dewatering applications
A23L accounts for only 65 IPC records (approximately 2% of IPC records), yet forward osmosis is technically well-suited to gentle, low-heat food concentration — preserving heat-sensitive compounds in juices, dairy, and nutritional extracts. The sparse coverage relative to the much larger B01D and C02F clusters suggests that food-application claims are either underdeveloped or being filed under broader water-treatment classes. An entrant with membrane expertise and food-safety regulatory knowledge could find limited direct prior art here. Entry would require demonstrating food-grade membrane materials and process integration at pilot scale.
Search this in Eureka →C25B · Electrolytic production of compounds — draw-solute recovery and brine valorisation
C25B carries only 42 IPC records (approximately 1% of IPC records), yet the intersection of forward osmosis with electrolytic processes — particularly for draw-solute regeneration or lithium and mineral recovery from brines — is a technically coherent and commercially attractive space given growing interest in critical-mineral supply chains. The Trevi Systems–Nippon Shokubai collaboration (9 co-filed records) touches adjacent chemistry but C25B itself remains sparse. An entry path could combine forward osmosis concentration with downstream electrolytic separation, with the Terralithium and Albemarle entries in the corpus suggesting early commercial interest.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ across technology sub-routes
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | B01D 61 · Separation processes (filtration etc.) | C02F 1 · Water & wastewater treatment | B01D 69 · Separation processes (filtration etc.) | B01D 71 · Separation processes (filtration etc.) | B01D 63 · Separation processes (filtration etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asahi Kasei Corporation | Strong · 102 | Absent | Strong · 97 | Strong · 92 | Strong · 77 |
| Oasys Water Inc. | Strong · 39 | Strong · 38 | Strong · 30 | Strong · 25 | Absent |
| Toyobo Co., Ltd. | Strong · 50 | Strong · 33 | Absent | Moderate · 21 | Moderate · 25 |
| Porifera Inc. | Strong · 52 | Strong · 27 | Moderate · 19 | Absent | Absent |
| Trevi Systems Inc. | Strong · 36 | Strong · 31 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Nanyang Technological University | Strong · 36 | Strong · 25 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus contains 845 patent families in scope, spanning membrane materials, module design, water treatment applications, and adjacent uses such as food concentration and energy recovery.
Asahi Kasei Corporation holds the top position with 120 patent records among the ranked applicants, concentrated in separation-process subclasses covering membrane module design, membrane structure, and membrane materials.
No. Annual filing volume peaked at 160 records in 2019 and has eased substantially since, reaching 59 records in 2023 and 54 in 2024. The field is in a post-peak consolidation phase. Figures for 2024 and 2025 will rise as pending applications publish, but the underlying trend is a decline from the 2019 peak.
The United States leads with 430 patent records, followed by Japan (274), China (228), Europe via the EPO (216), and WIPO PCT filings (186). South Korea, Australia, and India also show meaningful coverage.
The most-cited work in the corpus covers osmotic desalination processes (217 citations), interfacially synthesized osmotic membranes (147 citations), forward osmosis membrane design (109 citations), and thin film composite membranes for forward osmosis (101 citations), reflecting foundational IP in process architecture and membrane fabrication.
Two adjacent branches stand out for relative sparsity: A23L (foods and non-alcoholic beverages, 65 IPC records) covering gentle food-concentration applications, and C25B (electrolytic production of compounds, 42 IPC records) relevant to draw-solute recovery and critical-mineral extraction from brine. Both have plausible technical synergies with forward osmosis but limited existing claim coverage.
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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.
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