Global trends in rare earth patents and other macro issues

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James C Kennedy

ThREE Consulting, USA

: J Phys Res Appl

Abstract

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This presentation will provide various graphic representations of global trends in international patent filings relating to rare earths on a comparative national basis (beginning in 1950 to the present) and outline other macro trends related to rare earths research. The focus of the presentation is to draw attention to the widening gap in materials science research and related investments into intellectual and commercial capital across various nations. The scale of the investment differential across nations appears to be compounding the disparity between nations through a feed-back loop of increasing government sponsorship (or lack thereof), rapid commercialization of rare earth dependent components, products & industries that are leveraged through advantageous national policies (or lack thereof) and the consequential drive for greater research in material science from a growing concentration of commercial enterprises (or conversely shrinking) across nations. The scale of asymmetric investment appears to be too large for any one nation to meet. Collective action is a possible solution. This presentation concludes with the outline of a multi-national solution that is currently under consideration with the current U.S. Administration.

Biography

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James C Kennedy earned a Master’s degree in Political Economics & Public Policy at Washington University, St. Louis. He is an independent consultant for the mining and financial industry. He also works on critical materials, energy and national security issues at the U.S. Federal level, including direct participation on related legislation in the U.S. Congress. He actively consults with the United States Congress, with the current and past Administrations and the Pentagon. He is an author of several publications, including a number of technical papers on rare earths. He is also a recognized expert in matters relating to thorium and nuclear energy.

E-mail: jkennedy@threeconsulting.com