Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

The global energy transition is driving unprecedented investment in hydrogen infrastructure and advanced computing, both reliant on efficient cryogenic technologies. Regulatory pressures for reduced carbon footprints and increased energy efficiency are pushing industries away from traditional, energy-intensive cooling methods. This technology offers a strategic advantage by providing a sustainable, high-performance cooling solution that meets these evolving demands, enabling companies to lead in green innovation and operational cost reduction.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Utilizes abundant, non-rare-earth elements, ensuring stable material supply with zero resource depletion risk.

02

Achieves high-efficiency cooling in the 20K-30K temperature range, ideal for liquid hydrogen applications.

03

Enables high-efficiency cooling with low power consumption, significantly reducing operational costs compared to conventional methods.

Market Opportunity
Liquid Hydrogen Production & Storage
$3.0B–$3.5B globally (AI est.)
Increased demand for hydrogen energy to achieve a decarbonized society makes high-efficiency cooling technology essential for liquid hydrogen production, storage, and transport.
Industrial gas suppliers Hydrogen energy infrastructure developers Cryogenic equipment manufacturers
Superconducting Applications
$1.5B–$2.0B globally (AI est.)
There is growing demand for more efficient and compact cooling systems in fields such as MRI, maglev trains, and superconducting power transmission lines.
MRI system manufacturers Superconducting magnet developers High-speed rail component suppliers
Quantum Computing
$600M–$650M globally (AI est.)
Ultra-low temperature environments are essential for stable quantum bit operation, and the cooling systems for these environments are expected to grow with market expansion.
Quantum computer developers Cryogenic research equipment suppliers Semiconductor cooling solution providers
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects a magnetic refrigeration material defined by its specific iron-manganese chloride composition, crystal structure, and X-ray diffraction intensity ratios. The claims are robust, having successfully overcome prior art during examination, ensuring a secure foundation for licensees.

Competitive White Space

This patent primarily covers the material composition and specific crystal structures. Licensees could explore novel magnetic refrigeration device designs or advanced manufacturing processes for integrating this material into specific application-level cooling systems.

Economic Impact
~$100K/year estimated cooling cost reduction per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

Assuming an annual electricity cost of ~$330K (AI est.) for existing gas compression refrigerators in liquid hydrogen production plants or superconducting facilities. Implementing this technology, which improves cooling system energy efficiency by 30%, could result in an annual electricity cost reduction of ~$100K (AI est.). Further cost reductions are anticipated from reduced refrigerant gas exchanges and main component maintenance.

Speed to Market
5× faster than in-house development
This technology benefits from completed fundamental research and material design by a national R&D institute, with the magnetocaloric effect demonstrated for specific crystal structures and compositions. Quality control standards based on X-ray diffraction intensity ratios are also established, eliminating the need for licensees to develop materials from scratch. This significantly shortens development time, enabling rapid product commercialization and market entry.
Competitive Positioning

X: Energy Efficiency
Y: Environmental Impact Reduction

Business Models & Applications
📝 Licensing Model
License this technology to existing cooling equipment manufacturers or hydrogen-related companies to strengthen product portfolios and support new market entry.
🤝 Joint Development Model
Collaborate with licensees to jointly develop and commercialize specific ultra-low temperature cooling devices or systems, creating new market value.
📦 Material Supplier Model
Act as a supplier manufacturing and providing magnetic refrigeration materials based on this technology, meeting the needs of various cooling equipment manufacturers.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🚀 Space Industry
Cryogenic Cooling Systems for Spacecraft & Satellites
Applying this technology to cryogenic fuel storage or high-sensitivity sensors in space could enable long-term stable operation and power savings. It could also contribute to miniaturization and weight reduction, becoming a foundational technology for next-generation space exploration, potentially reducing mission costs by 15-20%.
🔬 Medical & Biotech
High-Efficiency Cooling for Superconducting MRI Devices
Integrating this technology into superconducting coil cooling for medical MRI could reduce helium consumption, enable device miniaturization, and lower operational costs by an estimated 20-25%. It also has potential for ultra-low temperature sample storage systems in drug discovery research.
☁️ Data Centers
Next-Gen Superconducting Data Center Cooling
This technology could be utilized in cooling systems for next-generation data centers, combining with superconductivity for high-performance computing and AI data processing. This could achieve significant power consumption reductions of up to 30% and enable higher density, reducing environmental impact.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 22-Month Deployment
Phase 1: Technology Evaluation & Application Design
Duration: 4 months
Detailed evaluation of the material properties to match the licensee's product requirements and design for optimal integration into existing systems.
Phase 2: Prototyping & Performance Validation
Duration: 9 months
Prototype the magnetic refrigeration material based on the design, then demonstrate and validate cooling performance, durability, and stability in ultra-low temperature environments.
Phase 3: Commercialization & Mass Production Setup
Duration: 9 months
Based on validation results, optimize the manufacturing process, establish a mass production system, and finalize adjustments and quality control for market launch.
Technical Feasibility
This technology specifies materials with particular compositions and crystal structures, with the foundational manufacturing method disclosed in the patent specification. This allows licensees to bypass significant new material development barriers and potentially establish manufacturing processes by applying existing material synthesis and processing techniques. Clear quality evaluation standards via X-ray diffraction also suggest relatively straightforward quality control implementation.
Success Scenario
Implementing this technology in a liquid hydrogen production plant could potentially reduce cooling system energy consumption by up to 30%. This is estimated to significantly lower overall plant operating costs and contribute to CO2 emission reductions. As a result, licensees could achieve high-efficiency, low-environmental-impact hydrogen supply, strengthening their market competitiveness.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2021-199950
REGISTRATION NO.
7743057
FILING DATE
2021/12/09
GRANT DATE
2025/09/12
EXPIRATION DATE
2041/12/09
PATENT HOLDER
国立研究開発法人物質・材料研究機構
Examination History
2024年11月27日
出願審査請求書
2025年08月26日
特許査定