Textiles & Coatings - Subtopic Landscape

A synthetic biology perspective

The subset of SynBio – Textiles & coatings related patents were further investigated to identify subtopics and assess trending areas. The topic model leverages a hybrid approach based on the optimised extractive summary for each publication. Using a combination of topic discovery via fine-tuned transformer based deep learning and ground truth cross referencing via keyword and classification codes. The process enables a patent to belong to more than one topic for accurate multi-classification trends, accounting for multiple invention embodiments. Please see the topic model page for further details regarding the topic model methodology to avoid duplication here.

Subtopic counts

The identified subtopics within the textiles & coatings topic are shown in figure 1. The topics are ranked based on the total number of published applications since 2015. A patent application can be counted more than once as it can belong to multiple topics.

The classification of documents across the top 5 subtopics are as follows; polymers (60.5%), synthetic or artificial (47%), medical implants (45.3%), polyesters (29.3%) and cellulose (25.2%). Approx. 61% of documents were related to polymers, of which polyesters (29.3%) represents a major subgroup. Synthetic or artificial textiles and coatings saw nearly 47% of documents classified in this subtopic. Cellulose related materials represent a major subtopic area which includes biopackaging and the processing of waste and recycling. The synthetic biology related textiles and coatings are commonly used in medical devices with nearly 45% of documents classified in this subtopic.

The textiles & coatings subtopic publication year trends are shown in figure 2. Publication trends discussed below are based on EP A1/A2 applications, identified patents can belong to more than one subtopic due to multiple invention embodiments.

In figure 2, the fastest growing subtopics identified of note and based on compound annual growth rates during 2016-24 are biomass conversion & processing (32.5%), recycling / waste related (27.3%), biopackaging (21.8%), antimicrobial peptides & compounds (15.5%) and biodegradable, etc. (15.1%).

Subtopic top 20 assignees distributions (published since 2015)

The patent portfolios of the top 20 assignees within the SynBio – textiles & coatings dataset are analysed in figure 3. The portfolios are restricted to publications during 2015-24, mapped to the subtopics identified, the counts represent total EPO publications.

The heatmap in figure 3, reveals the distribution of the top 20 assignees since 2015, publications can be assigned to more than one subtopic, reflecting multiple invention embodiments. SPIBER is focused on synthetic or artificial materials and the treatment of fibres, producing high performance protein most notably spider silk. PROCTOR & GAMBLE has the largest distribution of polymers (135 applications) and is focused towards biodegradability, biopackaging, treatment of fibres and cellulose. There also exists a notable distribution of waste / recycling based applications for DOW GLOBAL (29 publications).

The analysis does not account for earlier publications prior to 2015, which may have contributed to companies developing market share, etc. and potential licensing and acquisitions (subsidiaries). The analysis is an informative guide as some specific subtopics have strict content boundaries to enable differentiation, whilst others are broader to capture more generic areas.