Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China have found that key patents for advanced rare earth functional materials are largely controlled by Japan and the United States.
The study was published in the latest issue of the Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The researchers wrote that China is not in a leading position in mastering key core technologies in certain fields.
The paper maps high-end rare earth functional material technologies instead of focusing on resource reserves and production capacity. The researchers are from the University of Science and Technology of China.
They concluded that key patents underpinning advanced rare earth functional materials remained largely controlled by Japan and the United States.