IntelligentMaterialSolutions
Sources

Where our numbers come from.

Every number we publish has a basis. Here is each one, where it comes from, and what it means.

Surgical suppliesAbout 3 billion

About 3 billion surgical-supply units were secured with Intelligent Material in 2025.

Basis
NovaVera production records for 2025. NovaVera Corp. makes and sells Intelligent Material under an exclusive license from IMS.
What it means
Units that left production carrying Intelligent Material, counted by NovaVera.
Authentication →#surgical
Diagnostics researchMore than 200,000

More than 200,000 patients have been tested with IMS reporter crystals in research lateral-flow programs.

Basis
At least about 50,000 tests a year for more than 10 years, in field programs that include leprosy, tuberculosis and schistosomiasis with Leiden University Medical Center, and in published papers.
What it means
Research use. These are not tests cleared or approved by the U.S. FDA.
Use case: lateral flow · TB →Published papers →#patients
Patents21

Intelligent Material Solutions (IMS) holds 21 U.S. patents.

Basis
IMS patent records. The base material is covered by U.S. 9,181,477 and its family, a composition-of-matter patent: it claims the uniform rare-earth crystals themselves, not one recipe or one use.
What it means
IMS holds all the intellectual property. NovaVera Corp. makes and sells Intelligent Material under an exclusive license.
Our patents →#patents
Government programsSince 2009

Covert marking and traceability in U.S. government programs since 2009.

Basis
IMS program records. Program details are not public; they are shared with program offices, primes and partners in the password-protected partner area.
What it means
Marking and traceability work for U.S. government programs, starting in 2009.
Defense →#programs
Markets todayIn use

Intelligent Material is used in banknotes (currency), apparel fiber and surgical supplies.

Basis
NovaVera customer and production records.
What it means
These three markets use the material in products today. Other applications on this site are labeled Demonstrated, In development or Concept.
Authentication →#banknotes
Fiber5 million tons

About 5 million tons of fiber protected with Intelligent Material.

Basis
NovaVera customer and production records.
What it means
Apparel fiber made with Intelligent Material inside it, so the fiber can be identified after spinning, weaving and finishing.
Authentication →#fiber
Loading in fiber~5 ppm

About 5 parts per million of Intelligent Material is enough to read in a finished fiber.

Basis
IMS and NovaVera measurements on production fiber.
What it means
The crystals are added at very low levels, so the fiber looks, feels and performs the same.
Authentication →#ppm
Published papers74

74 published papers, 2001–2026.

Basis
The full list, with links to PubMed or the journal, on our Data & publications page: 67 papers co-authored by Dr. Paul Corstjens and colleagues at Leiden University Medical Center on tests that use upconverting reporters, and 7 papers co-authored by IMS scientists.
What it means
Independent research groups published most of these results. Diagnostic results are research use, not cleared tests.
All publications →#papers
Field programs9

Field programs in 9 countries and regions.

Basis
The published field studies and program records.
What it means
Places where research lateral-flow tests with these reporters were run in the field.
Diagnostics →Published papers →#countries
Contracts30

30 government and prime contracts since 2009.

Basis
IMS contract records. The list is shared with program offices and partners in the password-protected partner area.
What it means
Contracts and subcontracts with U.S. government agencies and prime contractors.
Defense →#contracts
Range test500 m

Optimized taggants read at up to 500 meters on an outdoor range, in daylight and at night.

Basis
Range testing under the OSD Rapid Innovation Fund.
What it means
A demonstrated result on a test range, not a fielded system.
Defense →#range
Customer referenceHundreds of kg a year

IMS delivers hundreds of kilograms of material a year, on time and within specifications, to a fiber customer’s facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

Basis
A written reference letter from a Senior R&D Scientist at a global fiber manufacturer that has used IMS as a supplier since the company was founded. On file at IMS.
What it means
Production-scale supply to a multinational customer, plus joint work to design and optimize materials for that customer’s needs.
Authentication →Prove a product is real →#supplier

Reviewed yearly. We review these numbers once a year and update this page when a number changes. Last review: October 2026.

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