Small Modular Reactor Nuclear Fuel Patent Landscape
Small Modular Reactor Nuclear Fuel Patent Landscape in 2026
The SMR nuclear fuel IP space is tightly concentrated, with two Korean state-linked entities — Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and KEPCO Nuclear Fuel — holding the majority of the largest filers’ combined output. The field is in a growth phase, with recent-window filing activity up sharply, and the United States is the primary filing jurisdiction.
Two Korean utilities dominate a highly concentrated filing landscape
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co Ltd leads all applicants with 14 patent families, followed by KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Co Ltd with 11 and SMR Inventec LLC with 9. These three entities together account for the bulk of activity among the ranked filers.
The top five filers collectively hold 83% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, signalling an unusually concentrated landscape where a small group of incumbents controls the majority of established IP positions.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER CO LTD | 14 | |
| 2 | KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Co Ltd | 11 | |
| 3 | SMR Inventec LLC | 9 | |
| 4 | Holtec International Inc | 5 | |
| 5 | Sejong University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | 1 | |
| 6 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | 1 | |
| 7 | Tsinghua University | 1 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Advanced Reactor Concepts LLC | 1 | |
| 9 | China North Nuclear Fuel Co Ltd | 1 | |
| 10 | Prodigy Clean Energy Ltd | 1 | |
| 11 | Maoz Betser-Zilevitch | 1 | |
| 12 | Intellect Future IP Management Co Ltd | 1 | |
| 13 | Betaber Zilevitch Maoz | 1 |
The dominance of two Korean state-affiliated organizations suggests that national nuclear programs — particularly South Korea’s — are driving formal IP protection, while US-based commercial SMR developers such as SMR Inventec LLC and Holtec International represent the most visible private-sector counterweights.
Filing counts for 2024–2026 are understated due to standard patent publication lag; the apparent plateau in the most recent period should not be read as a deceleration. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
A sharp growth inflection from 2023 onward, anchored in nuclear reactor IP
The annual filing trend reveals a market that was largely dormant before a pronounced acceleration starting in 2023, while the technology composition shows that nuclear reactor design (G21C) is overwhelmingly the dominant branch, with power-plant integration and thermal systems at the periphery.
Annual filing trend
Filings were negligible from 2017 through 2022, then jumped to 12 families in 2023 and 19 in 2024 — the highest single-year count in the dataset. The 2025 and 2026 counts are materially understated by publication lag and should not be treated as a slowdown.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
G21C (Nuclear reactors) accounts for the large majority of classified records, confirming that fuel assembly and core design are the primary focus. G21D (Nuclear power plants) and F01K (Steam and thermal power plants) appear at much lower shares, indicating that balance-of-plant and thermal integration remain sparsely covered relative to the reactor core itself.
↗ 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.
Optimized nuclear fuel core design for a small mod…
A fuel core for a nuclear reactor in one embodiment includes an upper internals unit and a lower internals unit comprising nuclear fuel assemblies. The assembled fuel core includes an upper core plate, a lower core plate, and a plurality of channel boxes extending therebetween. Each channel box comprises a plurality of outer walls and inner walls… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Optimized nuclear fuel core design for a small mod… | 25 |
| 2 | SLIMM-Scalable Liquid Metal Cooled Small Modular R… | 24 |
| 3 | Small modular reactor system and the method of rap… | 8 |
| 4 | Small modular reactor power plant with load follow… | 8 |
| 5 | Nuclear fuel assembly with improved seismic perfor… | 2 |
| 6 | Nuclear power plant comprising small modular react… | 2 |
| 7 | Optimized nuclear fuel core design for a small mod… | 2 |
| 8 | 一种含可燃毒物的多叶螺旋型微封装燃料元件及其结构 | 1 |
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 IP structure means for SMR nuclear fuel R&D investment
The combination of high concentration, rapid recent growth, and thin collaboration signals a field transitioning from concept-stage to early-commercial IP buildout, with most incumbents filing independently.
Growth stage: annual filings are still rising
The lifecycle evidence classifies this field as Growth, with annual filings still rising and recent-window growth reaching 3,100%. The 2024 peak has not yet eased. For R&D teams, this means foundational IP positions are still acquirable, but the window for low-competition filing is narrowing as Korean and US commercial players accelerate.
Growth stageTop-heavy field: three filers hold the majority of ranked output
The top five filers account for 83% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and KEPCO Nuclear Fuel together represent the strongest bloc. New entrants face a densely occupied core in G21C fuel assembly design, but the long tail of single-family filers — including universities and independents — suggests that specialty niches remain accessible.
High concentrationNo recorded co-applicant activity in the dataset
Evidence pending: the collaboration dataset returns no co-applicant filings. This could reflect the sensitive or proprietary nature of nuclear fuel IP, organizational preferences for sole ownership, or the early-stage nature of the field where formal consortia have not yet formed. Engineers considering joint development should note that cross-filing partnerships have not yet appeared as a visible IP strategy here.
No co-filings detectedUS leads by office; Korean and Chinese programs also active
The United States is the leading filing jurisdiction, followed by Europe (EPO), South Korea, China, and WIPO (PCT). The presence of PCT filings indicates that at least some applicants are pursuing multi-region protection strategies. Canada and the United Kingdom appear at lower levels, consistent with active domestic SMR programs in both countries. The UAE and Austria each show one filing, suggesting early-stage international reach.
Multi-jurisdictionGo 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.
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and KEPCO Nuclear Fuel lead; US commercial entrants trail closely
The two Korean state-affiliated organizations define the competitive frontier in fuel assembly and reactor core design, while US commercial developers occupy distinct technology niches in power-plant integration and thermal systems.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co Ltd
The top-ranked applicant with 14 patent families, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power’s focus spans G21C subclasses covering reactor design, fuel assemblies, and core structures. Its momentum is classified as a new entrant in the recent filing window, with 11 families filed in the recent period, signalling an aggressive and deliberate IP buildout rather than a long-standing portfolio.
14 patent familiesSMR Inventec LLC
SMR Inventec LLC holds 9 patent families and concentrates on G21C subclasses for fuel assemblies (G21C 3), passive safety systems (G21C 9), and core internals (G21C 11), making it the most technically diversified among the top three within the G21C domain. Its momentum data is not captured in the recent-window figures, but its position as the leading US commercial filer makes it a key independent reference point for engineers tracking non-utility SMR IP.
9 patent families| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co Ltd | 11 | ▲ new entrant |
| KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Co Ltd | 11 | ▲ new entrant |
| Holtec International Inc | 5 | ▲ new entrant |
| China North Nuclear Fuel Co Ltd | 1 | ▲ new entrant |
| Sejong University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | 1 | ▲ new entrant |
| Shanghai Jiao Tong University | 1 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served branches in thermal integration and advanced materials
Four IPC branches adjacent to the dominant G21C core show very low filing counts, representing areas where the SMR nuclear fuel patent landscape is comparatively sparse. These are observations of relative sparsity; technical and commercial value requires independent validation.
C04B · Ceramics, cement & refractories
With only 1 patent record and a 2% share, ceramic and refractory materials for SMR fuel elements — including advanced fuel matrix materials, cladding ceramics, and high-temperature coatings — are almost entirely uncovered. Tsinghua University holds the sole filing here, focused on microencapsulated fuel elements. For teams developing accident-tolerant fuel or TRISO-based systems, this branch represents a genuine gap with plausible technical value and a realistic entry path via materials science expertise.
Search this in Eureka →F22B · Steam generation & boilers
Steam generation and boiler technology associated with SMR thermal cycles accounts for only 2 patent records at a 3% share. As SMR developers move toward detailed balance-of-plant engineering — particularly for marine, remote, or process-heat applications — the steam generator interface with SMR fuel system parameters is likely to become a differentiation point. The sparse coverage is an observation of current IP activity, not a confirmed commercial gap, but it warrants monitoring as designs mature.
Search this in Eureka →How leaders differ by technology route across G21C subclasses and adjacent domains
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | G21C 3 · Nuclear reactors | G21C 11 · Nuclear reactors | G21C 1 · Nuclear reactors | G21C 15 · Nuclear reactors | G21D 1 · Nuclear power plants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co Ltd | Strong · 6 | Strong · 6 | Strong · 6 | Strong · 5 | Absent |
| SMR Inventec LLC | Strong · 9 | Strong · 8 | Absent | Moderate · 3 | Absent |
| KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Co Ltd | Strong · 11 | Absent | Moderate · 3 | Absent | Absent |
| Holtec International Inc | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Strong · 5 |
| Betaber Zilevitch Maoz | Strong · 1 | Strong · 1 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Sejong University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | Strong · 1 | Absent | Strong · 1 | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The current dataset contains 48 patent families in scope, spanning filings across the United States, Europe, South Korea, China, and other jurisdictions.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co Ltd leads with 14 patent families, followed by KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Co Ltd with 11 and SMR Inventec LLC with 9.
The field is classified in a Growth stage. Annual filings are still rising, with a 3,100% increase in the recent window and a peak of 19 families filed in 2024. The 2025 and 2026 figures are understated by publication lag.
The United States is the leading filing jurisdiction, followed by Europe (EPO), South Korea, China, and WIPO (PCT). South Korea’s presence reflects the strong role of state-linked utilities in this space.
G21C (Nuclear reactors) dominates the technology composition, covering fuel assembly design, core structures, and reactor internals. G21D (Nuclear power plants) and F01K (Steam and thermal power plants) appear at much lower coverage levels.
Yes. C04B (Ceramics, cement & refractories) has only 1 patent record, and F22B (Steam generation & boilers) has 2. These branches are sparsely represented relative to the dominant G21C core and may warrant further investigation for teams working on advanced fuel materials or thermal integration.
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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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