UHPC Foundation Engineering Patent Landscape 2026
The UHPC foundation engineering field is in a growth phase, with activity concentrated in China and led by a cluster of universities and state-backed infrastructure enterprises. Fuzhou University holds the top position, and the dominant technical route is deep-foundation and pile systems under IPC class E02D.
Universities and infrastructure contractors lead a China-concentrated field
Fuzhou University leads the applicant ranking with 15 patent records, followed closely by CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. at 14 and Jiangsu Ocean University at 10. The top five filers account for 27% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, indicating moderate concentration without a single dominant monopoly.
The field divides into two tiers: a research-intensive tier of universities (Fuzhou, Jiangsu Ocean, Xiangtan, Hunan) and a project-delivery tier of large state-owned engineering groups (CCCC Second Harbor, CCCC Highway Bridges National Engineering Research Center, State Grid Gansu). The gap between the top applicant and the third-ranked entity is only five patent records, reflecting competitive parity at the top.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fuzhou University | 15 | |
| 2 | CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. | 14 | |
| 3 | Jiangsu Ocean University | 10 | |
| 4 | CCCC Highway Bridges National Engineering Research Center Co., Ltd. | 9 | |
| 5 | FUJIAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING & DESIGN INST CO LTD | 8 | |
| 6 | State Grid Gansu Electric Power Corp. | 7 | |
| 7 | Economic and Technical Research Institute of State Grid Gansu Electric Power Corp. | 7 | |
| 8 | Xiangtan University | 7 | |
| 9 | Hunan University | 6 | |
| 10 | State Grid Corporation of China | 6 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Fujian University of Technology | 4 | |
| 12 | CGN (Fujian) Wind Power Co., Ltd. | 3 | |
| 13 | Guangxi University | 3 | |
| 14 | GANSU PROVINCE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING SURVEY & DE… | 3 | |
| 15 | SHANGHAI URBAN CONSTRUCTION DESIGN & RESEARCH INST… | 3 | |
| 16 | Ningbo Zhongchun High-Tech Co., Ltd. | 3 | |
| 17 | Sichuan Jingyida Engineering Testing Co., Ltd. | 2 | |
| 18 | Stevens Institute of Technology | 2 | |
| 19 | Anhui Highway Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd. | 2 | |
| 20 | Nanjing Tongxing New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. | 2 |
The dual presence of academic institutions and major infrastructure contractors suggests that UHPC foundation technology is still being jointly defined by research and practice—implying that licensing, joint development, and standard-setting are all live strategic levers for new entrants.
Data for 2025 and 2026 are subject to publication lag and should be treated as partial counts; the apparent slowdown in those years does not reflect real-world filing activity. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filings have surged since 2022, anchored in foundation and pile system patents
The two charts together show a field that accelerated sharply after 2021 and is technically anchored in geotechnical foundation work, with secondary clusters in bridge engineering and advanced concrete processing.
Annual filing trend
Annual filings were negligible in 2017, rose to a plateau of 16 records in both 2019 and 2020, dipped in 2021, then surged strongly from 2022 onward—reaching 34 in 2022, 32 in 2023, and 38 in 2024. The 174% growth in the recent window confirms the field is in a growth phase. The 2025 and 2026 counts (14 and 3, respectively) are understated by publication lag and should not be read as a peak or reversal.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
E02D (Foundations and Earth Drilling) dominates decisively, reflecting the core application of UHPC in pile systems and deep foundations. E01D (Bridges) and B28B (Shaping Clay and Cement Products) form a secondary cluster, indicating that bridge substructures and precast manufacturing methods are the next most active fronts. Smaller shares in C04B (Ceramics, Cement and Refractories), E02B (Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering), and E04C (Structural Building Components) point to adjacent application areas that remain sparsely covered.
↗ 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.
UHPC-NC composite pile foundation and construction…
The present invention relates to the field of power transmission line tower foundations. Disclosed are an ultra-high performance reactive powder concrete (UHPC)-normal concrete (NC) composite pile foundation and a pile forming method therefor, which are applicable to strongly corrosive salinized soil areas or geological condition areas with obvious dry-wet… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
Open this patent in Eureka →| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 桩柱一体式桥梁下部结构、施工装置及方法 | 19 |
| 2 | 高强钢筋增强预应力UHPC薄壁管桩构件 | 16 |
| 3 | 一种隧道用UHPC衬砌结构及其施工方法 | 14 |
| 4 | 整体底板-整体竖环组合混凝土承台基础及其建造工艺 | 13 |
| 5 | 一种新型免模板抗腐蚀UHPC- NC组合承台及其施工方法 | 11 |
| 6 | 带螺纹的预制UHPC管桩及其制作施工方法 | 11 |
| 7 | 一种盐碱地区输电塔 UHPC-NC 组合桩基础及施工方法 | 9 |
| 8 | 用于加固盾构隧道衬砌结构的超高性能混凝土-钢拱架组合结构及方法 | 8 |
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 signals—life-cycle stage, applicant concentration, co-filing networks, and geographic spread—shape where new entrants can most efficiently position themselves.
Growth phase with publication lag masking the true pace
The field is classified as Growth, with annual filings still rising and the recent multi-year window showing 174% growth. The peak year in the data is 2024, and the lifecycle evidence does not indicate any easing from that peak. New IP positions staked now are likely to shape the standard-setting landscape before the field matures.
Growth stageModerate concentration, with no single entity holding blocking power
The top five filers hold 27% of the hundred largest filers’ combined output, and the margin between the leader and the third-ranked applicant is narrow. This dispersion means no single entity can set the technological agenda unilaterally, but a coalition of the top three or four could. New entrants should monitor cross-licensing dynamics between the academic and contractor tiers.
Moderate HHICCCC Second Harbor and its national research center form the most active co-filing pair
The strongest co-filing tie is between CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. and CCCC Highway Bridges National Engineering Research Center, with 9 jointly filed records. State Grid Gansu Electric Power Corp and its Economic and Technical Research Institute co-filed 7 records, with State Grid Corporation of China involved in 6. Fuzhou University maintains a smaller but broader network, co-filing with CGN (Fujian) Wind Power Co., Ltd., Yuhua Engineering Design (Xiamen), and several Fujian-based contractors. These clusters indicate two parallel ecosystems: transportation infrastructure and power grid foundations.
Consortium dynamicsChina holds near-total jurisdiction coverage; international filings are minimal
China accounts for 156 of the patent records across all jurisdictions. Israel, WIPO (PCT), and the United States each hold only a handful of records, and Australia and South Korea together account for three more. The near-absence of PCT and US filings signals that most innovations are currently protected only domestically, leaving international markets largely uncontested for applicants willing to file outside China.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. | CCCC Highway Bridges National Engineering Research Center Co., Ltd. | 9 |
| Economic and Technical Research Institute of State Grid Gansu Electric Power Corp. | State Grid Gansu Electric Power Corp. | 7 |
| Economic and Technical Research Institute of State Grid Gansu Electric Power Corp. | State Grid Corporation of China | 6 |
| State Grid Gansu Electric Power Corp. | State Grid Corporation of China | 6 |
| Fuzhou University | CGN (Fujian) Wind Power Co., Ltd. | 3 |
| Fujian Transportation Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd. | Fujian University of Technology | 2 |
| Fuzhou University | Yuhua Engineering Design (Xiamen) Co., Ltd. | 1 |
| Fuzhou University | Fujian Zhonghe Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. | 1 |
| Fuzhou University | Fujian Yongdongnan Construction Group Co., Ltd. | 1 |
| Fuzhou University | Xiamen Luhongteng Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Fuzhou University and CCCC Second Harbor lead on volume; both are new entrants with momentum
The two top-ranked entities share a focus on pile and deep-foundation systems (E02D 5 and E02D 27) but diverge on secondary emphasis—Fuzhou University extends into precast manufacturing, while CCCC Second Harbor extends into hydraulic and waterway engineering.
Fuzhou University
Fuzhou University holds 15 patent records and is classified as a new entrant with upward momentum, with 8 recent records. Its technical focus is concentrated on pile foundations (E02D 5) and general foundation systems (E02D 27), with a secondary thread in precast concrete shaping (B28B 21). Its co-filing partnerships with CGN (Fujian) Wind Power and several Fujian construction firms indicate a strategy of translating academic output into regional infrastructure applications.
patent records: 15CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd.
CCCC Second Harbor Engineering holds 14 patent records and is also classified as a new entrant with upward momentum, with 4 recent records. Its deepest technical concentration is in pile foundations (E02D 5, 14 records) and general foundation systems (E02D 27, 10 records), complemented by a meaningful position in hydraulic and waterway engineering (E02B 3, 6 records). Its tight co-filing relationship with CCCC Highway Bridges National Engineering Research Center (9 joint records) gives it a research-backed project pipeline.
patent records: 14| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Fuzhou University | 8 | ▲ new entrant |
| CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. | 4 | ▲ new entrant |
| Jiangsu Ocean University | 9 | ▲ new entrant |
| Fujian Transportation Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd. | 8 | ▲ new entrant |
| Xiangtan University | 2 | ▲ new entrant |
| Hunan University | 4 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served branches adjacent to the dominant E02D core
Several IPC classes appear at the margins of the current corpus and are not yet claimed by the field’s leading applicants; they represent observations of relative sparsity rather than validated commercial opportunities, but two carry plausible technical value worth monitoring.
E02B · Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering
This branch holds 15 patent records—only 5% of the IPC distribution—yet UHPC’s high durability and corrosion resistance make it technically compelling for marine and riverine foundation structures. CCCC Second Harbor already holds an E02B 3 cluster, but most other top filers have not engaged here. An entrant with offshore or port infrastructure experience could establish a credible position with a focused filing program.
Search this in Eureka →E04C · Structural Building Components
E04C accounts for 12 patent records—4% of the IPC distribution—covering prefabricated structural elements that connect UHPC foundation systems to above-ground building frames. As UHPC pile caps and transition zones become more common in high-rise construction, this interface zone between geotechnical and structural engineering is sparsely covered and carries realistic entry paths for precast manufacturers or structural engineering firms already active in adjacent E02D work.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ across foundation, bridge, and manufacturing routes
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | E02D 5 · Foundations & earth drilling | E02D 27 · Foundations & earth drilling | E02D 31 · Foundations & earth drilling | E01D 19 · Bridges | E02D 15 · Foundations & earth drilling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. | Strong · 14 | Strong · 10 | Absent | Emerging · 2 | Moderate · 4 |
| Fuzhou University | Strong · 9 | Strong · 8 | Absent | Strong · 5 | Moderate · 3 |
| CCCC Highway Bridges National Engineering Research Center Co., Ltd. | Strong · 9 | Strong · 6 | Absent | Moderate · 2 | Absent |
| Jiangsu Ocean University | Strong · 9 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Moderate · 2 |
| State Grid Gansu Electric Power Corp. | Moderate · 3 | Strong · 7 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Economic and Technical Research Institute of State Grid Gansu Electric Power Corp. | Moderate · 3 | Strong · 7 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Fujian University of Technology | Absent | Strong · 4 | Strong · 3 | Strong · 3 | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 165 patent families globally across the period examined. China accounts for the overwhelming share of jurisdictional coverage.
Fuzhou University leads with 15 patent records, followed by CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. at 14 and Jiangsu Ocean University at 10.
The field is classified as Growth. Annual filing volume increased by 174% in the recent window, with 2024 representing the highest single-year count in the data at 38 records. The apparent drop in 2025 and 2026 reflects publication lag, not a real decline.
China dominates with 156 patent records. Israel and WIPO (PCT) each account for 4 records, the United States for 3, Australia for 2, and South Korea for 1. International filings remain minimal, leaving most non-Chinese markets largely uncontested.
The most active co-filing pair is CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. and CCCC Highway Bridges National Engineering Research Center, with 9 jointly filed records. State Grid Gansu Electric Power Corp and its Economic and Technical Research Institute co-filed 7 records. Fuzhou University maintains a broader but smaller network with regional Fujian partners and CGN (Fujian) Wind Power.
E02B (Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering) at 15 records and E04C (Structural Building Components) at 12 records are the most sparsely covered branches with plausible technical relevance. F03D (Wind Motors) and H02S (Photovoltaic/Solar Power Generation) each hold only 5 and 2 records respectively, signaling early-stage interest in renewable energy foundation applications.
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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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