Smart Materials Market Report 2026

The smart materials market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $70.28 billion in 2025 to $78.32 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to defense research investments, aerospace innovation, demand for adaptive systems, early piezoelectric applications, academic research funding.

The smart materials market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $121.4 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to smart infrastructure development, wearable electronics growth, electric vehicle sensor demand, healthcare device innovation, AI enabled material systems. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of self healing materials, growing use in sensors and actuators, expansion in adaptive aerospace structures, increased demand for shape memory materials, integration into smart consumer electronics.

The rising demand for consumer electronics is expected to drive the growth of the smart materials market in the coming years. Consumer electronics include devices designed for everyday personal or home use, such as smartphones, laptops, TVs, gaming consoles, and smart home gadgets. The demand for these products is growing due to their increasing integration into daily life, enhancing communication, productivity, entertainment, and convenience, while also adapting to changing consumer needs and lifestyles. Smart materials support consumer electronics by enabling innovative functionalities, including self-healing screens, flexible displays, energy-efficient components, and adaptive responses to environmental changes, ultimately improving durability, performance, and user experience. For example, in May 2023, the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association reported that total consumer electronic equipment production in Japan reached $209.16 million (¥32,099 million), up from $164.65 million (¥25,268 million) in May 2022. Thus, the growing demand for consumer electronics is driving the smart materials market.

Companies within the smart materials market are working on developing innovative materials that utilize ultrasonic conversion and actuator technology, combined with filling polymers, to enhance performance and adaptability across various industrial and medical applications. Ultrasonic conversion involves transforming electrical energy into high-frequency mechanical vibrations, while actuator technology provides precise motion control by using these vibrations. This combination offers numerous advantages, including high efficiency, precision, fast response times, and low maintenance. These technologies are useful in industries such as medical technology, industrial automation, and diagnostics. For example, in May 2024, PI Ceramic GmbH, a Germany-based company specializing in advanced materials, introduced piezoceramic composites that embed piezoelectric ceramics in filling polymers using ultrasonic conversion and actuator technology. This approach enhances adaptability for applications such as high-intensity focused ultrasound, diagnostic imaging, and industrial uses such as flow rate metering and non-destructive testing, improving precision, sensitivity, and resolution.

In October 2023, Resonetics LLC, a US-based medical device manufacturer, acquired SAES Smart Materials Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition allows Resonetics to expand its expertise in nitinol materials and processing capabilities. By integrating Memry Corporation and SAES Smart Materials, Resonetics gains new facilities and advanced manufacturing techniques, as well as a dedicated Lightspeed Lab in Bethel, Connecticut. This move is aimed at accelerating innovation and improving prototyping. SAES Smart Materials Inc. is a company that specializes in manufacturing smart materials.

Major companies operating in the smart materials market are Honeywell International Inc., 3M Company, Toray Industries Inc., Evonik Industries AG, TDK Corporation, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Arkema S.A., AMETEK Inc., Schott AG, CeramTec AG, CTS Corporation, SAES Getters S.p.A, Piezo Kinetics Inc., PI Ceramic GmbH, Kyocera Corporation, APC International, LORD Corporation, Smart Material Corp., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Solvay S.A., Covestro AG, Eastman Chemical Company, Gentex Corporation.

North America was the largest region in the smart materials market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the smart materials market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the smart materials market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The smart materials market consists of sales of electroactive polymers, thermochromic materials, thermoelectric materials, self-healing materials, and phase change materials. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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