Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Patent Landscape 2026
Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Patent Landscape in 2026
ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering leads a moderately concentrated field in which the top five filers account for 29% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, with academic and government institutions occupying four of the top five positions. Annual volume peaked in 2022 and has plateaued since, signalling that the field is entering maturity rather than decline.
A mature, moderately concentrated field led by industry and academia in roughly equal measure
ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co holds the top position with 414 patent families, followed closely by the Regents of the University of California at 392. The top five — rounding out with CNRS (217), CSIRO (210), and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (192) — together represent 29% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total.
The tier gap between rank one and rank two is narrow (414 vs. 392 patent families), while rank five already sits at 192 — roughly half the leader’s count. This compressed upper tier reflects a field where no single actor has achieved decisive dominance, and where well-resourced universities and national labs compete directly with industrial players.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING CO | 414 | |
| 2 | Regents of the University of California | 392 | |
| 3 | French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) | 217 | |
| 4 | COMMONWEALTH SCI & IND RES ORG | 210 | |
| 5 | KING ABDULLAH UNIV OF SCI & TECH | 192 | |
| 6 | Northwestern University | 117 | |
| 7 | NuMat Technologies Inc | 109 | |
| 8 | Regents of the University of Michigan | 106 | |
| 9 | Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) | 104 | |
| 10 | Kyoto University | 99 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Zhejiang University | 96 | |
| 12 | Board of Regents, The University of Texas System | 92 | |
| 13 | King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals | 86 | |
| 14 | South China University of Technology | 85 | |
| 15 | Research Triangle Institute (RTI International) | 75 | |
| 16 | University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines | 62 | |
| 17 | University of St Andrews | 60 | |
| 18 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. | 58 | |
| 19 | University of South Florida | 54 | |
| 20 | Beijing University of Technology | 53 |
ExxonMobil’s lead position signals that gas separation and storage applications have attracted sustained commercial investment. The strong academic presence across ranks two through five indicates that fundamental MOF chemistry and new framework types continue to be drivers of new filings, keeping entry opportunities open for well-positioned research institutions and start-ups.
Filings from approximately 2024–2026 are subject to publication lag and are likely under-counted; the 2025–2026 figures should not be interpreted as trend signals. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Plateauing annual volume and a catalysis-dominated technology mix with meaningful separation and synthesis branches
The filing trend reveals a field that expanded strongly through 2022 and has since stabilised at high volume, while the technology composition chart shows that chemical/physical processes and catalysis (B01J) dominate, with separation processes (B01D) and organo-metallic compound chemistry (C07F) forming a substantial secondary layer.
Annual filing trend
Annual filings grew from 481 in 2017, reached a peak of 732 in 2022, and have since plateaued in the 600–640 range through 2024. The 2025 figure (369) and the nascent 2026 count (40) reflect publication lag rather than a genuine drop and should not be read as a new downward trend.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
B01J (chemical/physical processes and catalysis) is the dominant IPC branch by a wide margin, consistent with MOFs’ core role as high-surface-area adsorbents and catalysts. B01D (separation processes) and C07F (organo-metallic compounds) together form a strong second tier, reflecting the industrial importance of gas separation and the ongoing chemistry of new linker and metal-node synthesis. Lower-share branches — including C02F (water treatment), H01M (batteries), A61K (medicinal preparations), and F17C (gas storage) — highlight the breadth of application domains being explored.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaFoundational and most-cited patents
The most-cited families that anchor this space. Hover a row and click to open it in Eureka.
Graphene oxide-zeolitic imidazolate framework-base…
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a nanocomposite. The nanocomposite includes graphene oxide and a zeolitic imidazolate framework, wherein the zeolitic imidazolate framework has a phase I, II, or III structure. The nanocomposite of the present disclosure finds use in water filtration and heavy metal ion removal applications. (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crystalline metal-organic microporous materials | 479 |
| 2 | Preparation of functionalized zeolitic frameworks | 204 |
| 3 | Imperfect mofs (IMOFS) material, preparation and u… | 203 |
| 4 | Isoreticular metal-organic frameworks, process for… | 184 |
| 5 | Shaped bodies containing metal-organic frameworks | 172 |
| 6 | Isoreticular metal-organic frameworks, process for… | 172 |
| 7 | Shaped bodies containing metal-organic frameworks | 163 |
| 8 | Novel crystalline metal-organic microporous materi… | 159 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts accrue over time, so this list favours older, broadly-cited patents and may include general-purpose work beyond the specific topic; treat it as foundational context rather than a current-activity ranking.
What the patent structure implies for R&D investment decisions
The combination of a maturing filing curve, moderate concentration, active cross-sector collaboration, and a US-led but globally distributed jurisdiction footprint shapes where incremental R&D investment is likely to yield differentiated positions.
Field at maturity: annual volume has plateaued near its 2022 peak
The lifecycle evidence places MOF patenting at the Maturity stage: annual filings have plateaued near their 2022 peak of 732 and the multi-year window shows only 2% recent growth. New entrants face a crowded prior-art landscape, particularly in core adsorbent and gas-separation claims. Differentiation now requires moving into application-specific or composition-specific territory not already staked out by the leading filers.
Maturity stageModerate concentration with a compressed upper tier — no clear monopolist
The top five filers hold 29% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, and the gap between ranks one and two is less than 6%. This moderate concentration means that a well-resourced new entrant or a mid-tier player with focused application expertise can realistically challenge for a top-ten position. The large academic and government presence also means that licensing from publicly funded institutions is a viable technology-access route.
Moderate concentrationDense co-filing networks centred on CNRS, ExxonMobil, and BASF
The most active co-filing pair is CNRS with Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (91 joint families), followed by ExxonMobil with the University of California (62) and CNRS with École Normale Supérieure (51) and ESPCI Paris (51). BASF co-files actively with both the University of Michigan (32) and the University of California (28), while KAUST and Saudi Aramco jointly filed 27 families. These networks indicate that industry-academia and intra-academic consortia are the dominant collaboration models, and that partnering with CNRS or UC provides access to the broadest co-development ecosystem.
Collaboration networksUS-led filings with China as a fast-rising second jurisdiction
The United States leads with 2,152 patent records, followed by China (1,496), PCT/WIPO (1,061), and the EPO (1,005). Japan, South Korea, India, Canada, Germany, and Australia each have meaningful presences, reflecting genuinely global commercial interest. The strong Chinese volume, approaching US levels, signals that Chinese academic and industrial actors are building defensive and offensive positions — a factor any non-Chinese applicant must weigh when designing a global filing strategy.
US + China dominantGo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) | University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines | 91 |
| ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co | Regents of the University of California | 62 |
| French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) | École Normale Supérieure | 51 |
| French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) | ESPCI Paris | 51 |
| BASF SE | Regents of the University of Michigan | 32 |
| BASF SE | Regents of the University of California | 28 |
| King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) | Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) | 27 |
| French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) | Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 | 20 |
| ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co | Georgia Tech Research Corporation | 19 |
| Northwestern University | King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) | 19 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
ExxonMobil leads on volume; NuMat Technologies shows the strongest recent momentum
The top two filers — ExxonMobil and the University of California — share nearly identical technology emphases (adsorption and gas separation), but differ sharply in recent trajectory. Among all tracked applicants, NuMat Technologies stands out with a 60% increase in recent filings, while most incumbents have pulled back from their peak-period pace.
ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co
ExxonMobil holds the top position with 414 patent families, focused heavily on adsorption (B01J 20), gas separation (B01D 53), and organo-metallic compound synthesis (C07F 3). Their technology profile is tightly oriented toward industrial gas processing and carbon capture applications. Recent filing momentum shows a ▼ –45% trend versus the prior three-year period, consistent with a broader industry-wide plateau rather than a strategic withdrawal.
families: 414NuMat Technologies Inc
NuMat Technologies, with 109 patent families, is the field’s most commercially focused pure-play MOF company in the ranking. Its technology emphasis spans adsorption (B01J 20), gas separation (B01D 53), and pressure-vessel gas storage (F17C 11) — aligning squarely with its semiconductor-gas storage and hazardous-gas delivery products. Crucially, NuMat shows a ▲ +60% recent filing trend, making it the highest-momentum filer among tracked applicants and a company to watch for IP encirclement in specialty gas applications.
families: 109| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co | 75 | ▼ -45% |
| Regents of the University of California | 49 | ▼ -38% |
| French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) | 44 | ▲ +10% |
| Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) | 34 | ▼ -51% |
| King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) | 17 | ▼ -71% |
| NuMat Technologies Inc | 32 | ▲ +60% |
| Northwestern University | 13 | ▼ -13% |
Under-served adjacent branches: water treatment, condensation polymer composites, and heterocyclic linker chemistry
Several IPC branches adjacent to the dominant MOF activity show lower filing shares relative to their technical relevance, representing areas where the prior-art density is lower and targeted filings could establish early positions.
C02F · Water and wastewater treatment
C02F represents 3% of the branch distribution despite MOFs’ well-documented performance advantages in heavy-metal ion removal, micropollutant adsorption, and photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants. The gap between demonstrated laboratory performance and patent coverage in water-treatment process claims suggests that applicants with stability-optimised, scalable MOF formulations could stake out defensible positions in this application domain. Entry paths include claims on shaped MOF bodies for flow-through filtration or on composite MOF-membrane systems.
Search this in Eureka →C08G · Condensation polymers and MOF composites
C08G accounts for 3% of branch coverage, pointing to sparse claiming around MOF-polymer hybrid materials where the MOF functions as a functional filler or structural node within a condensation polymer matrix. Such composites are technically attractive for gas-barrier films, mixed-matrix membranes, and responsive coatings — all areas with growing industrial interest. The relatively low filing density compared with pure-MOF adsorption claims indicates that applicants integrating MOF chemistry with established polymer platforms have room to differentiate.
Search this in Eureka →How leaders differ across technology routes: separation, synthesis, and storage
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | B01J 20 · Chemical/physical processes & catalysis | B01D 53 · Separation processes (filtration etc.) | C07F 3 · Organo-metallic & non-carbon compounds | C07F 15 · Organo-metallic & non-carbon compounds | B01J 31 · Chemical/physical processes & catalysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regents of the University of California | Strong · 281 | Strong · 196 | Moderate · 109 | Moderate · 74 | Moderate · 84 |
| ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co | Strong · 318 | Strong · 199 | Moderate · 108 | Emerging · 47 | Emerging · 46 |
| King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) | Strong · 173 | Strong · 124 | Absent | Emerging · 29 | Moderate · 42 |
| Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) | Strong · 158 | Strong · 119 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) | Strong · 108 | Strong · 58 | Moderate · 26 | Strong · 67 | Emerging · 14 |
| NuMat Technologies Inc | Strong · 109 | Strong · 80 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 5,255 patent families. Filing records span multiple jurisdictions; because a single family can be filed in several offices, jurisdiction-level counts exceed the family total.
ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co leads with 414 patent families. The second-ranked filer, the Regents of the University of California, is close behind at 392 patent families — a gap of less than 6%.
The field is at a maturity stage: annual filings peaked at 732 in 2022 and have since plateaued in the 600–640 range. Multi-year growth across the full window is a modest 2%. The apparent drop in 2025–2026 figures reflects publication lag rather than a genuine decline.
The United States leads with 2,152 patent records, followed by China (1,496), PCT/WIPO (1,061), and the EPO (1,005). Japan, South Korea, India, Canada, Germany, and Australia each carry meaningful volumes, reflecting global commercial interest in MOF technologies.
Chemical and physical processes including catalysis (B01J) dominate, followed by separation processes (B01D) and organo-metallic compound chemistry (C07F). These three branches collectively reflect MOFs’ primary industrial roles as adsorbents, gas-separation media, and designable porous materials.
NuMat Technologies shows the strongest upward momentum among tracked filers, with a ▲ +60% trend in recent filings versus the prior three-year period. CNRS also shows positive momentum at ▲ +10%, while most other top filers — including ExxonMobil (▼ -45%), CSIRO (▼ -51%), and KAUST (▼ -71%) — have pulled back from peak-period filing rates.
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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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