RESEARCH FRONTIERS INC 10-K

ITEM 1. BUSINESS Forward-Looking Statements Information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations concerning future events and results. We generally use the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “likely,” “will” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning our expectations, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K under “Item 1A. – Risk Factors” below. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. General: As used herein, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “Research Frontiers” means Research Frontiers Incorporated unless otherwise indicated. Research Frontiers operates in a single business segment which is engaged in the development and marketing of technology and devices to control the flow of light (see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). We develop and license our patented suspended particle device (“SPD-Smart”) light-control technology to other companies that manufacture and/or market the: (i) SPD-Smart chemical emulsion, (ii) light-control film made from the chemical emulsion, (iii) the light-control panels made by laminating the film, (iv) electronics to power end-products incorporating the film, or (v) lamination services for, and the end-products themselves such as “smart” windows, skylights and sunroofs. Research Frontiers currently has numerous companies that, in the aggregate, are licensed to primarily serve five major SPD-Smart application areas (aerospace, architectural, automotive, marine and display products) in every country of the world. Research Frontiers Incorporated develops and licenses its patented Suspended Particle Device (“SPD”) light-control technology. The Company’s licensees manufacture and sell electronically dimmable glazing products incorporating SPD-Smart technology for automotive, aerospace, architectural, marine, rail, recreational vehicle and specialty vehicle applications. The Company generates revenue primarily through license fees and royalties paid by licensees. The Company does not manufacture finished glazing products directly and operates in one business segment. SPD-Smart products use microscopic light-absorbing nanoparticles suspended within a film. When electrical voltage is applied, the particles align to allow light transmission. When voltage is removed, the particles disperse to block light. Adjustment of the voltage to the SPD film gives users the ability to quickly, precisely and consistently regulate the amount of light, glare and heat passing through the window, skylight, sunroof, window shade or other SPD-Smart end-product. This SPD film can be incorporated between two layers of glass or plastic, or combinations of both, to produce a laminate that has enhanced energy efficiency, light-control and security performance properties. The Company has entered into a number of license agreements covering its light control technology. During 2025, five licensees accounted for 21%, 20%, 20%, 19% and 13%, respectively, of fee income recognized during the year. During 2024, four licensees accounted for 34%, 28%, 11% and 11%, respectively, of fee income recognized during the year. 1 Research Frontiers was incorporated in New York in 1965 to continue early work that Dr. Edwin Land, founder of Polaroid Corporation, and others had done in the area of light-control beginning in the 1930s. Research Frontiers was reincorporated in Delaware in 1989. Since 1965, Research Frontiers has actively worked to develop and license its own SPD technology, which it protects using patents, trade secrets and know-how. Although patent and trade secret protection is not a guarantee of commercial success, Research Frontiers currently has hundreds of patents and patent applications worldwide. In addition, the Company has received royalty-free perpetual licenses, with the right to sublicense others, of smart glass related intellectual property (including patents and patent applications) from various former licensees. Research Frontiers also has current patent applications worldwide that, if granted, would add a significant number of additional patents to its portfolio. The Company has and continues to devote significant resources to develop, license and protect its intellectual property position. Research Frontiers believes that the SPD industry is in the initial phase of growth. SPD light-control technology may have commercial applicability in many products where variable light-control is desired. Some existing product applications for SPD-Smart glass or plastic include the following: ● Automotive: sunroofs, sun visors, side windows and rear windows, and head-up displays; ● Aerospace and marine: windows, doors, partitions, sun visors, skylights, and lateral cockpit windows; ● Architectural: commercial and residential windows, doors, skylights, and partitions for new construction, replacement, and retrofit applications: ● Information displays: SPD-Smart light-control film combined with Transparent OLED displays and PDLC projection systems. In addition to the product applications listed above, SPD-SmartGlass technology may also offer potential benefits in the development of new flat panel displays, light conservation panels, neonatal and other incubators, consumer electronics, eyewear, automotive exterior lighting systems, self-dimming automotive rear-view mirrors and other reflective information displays. However, such products need additional product design, engineering or testing before the commercial potential of such SPD-SmartGlass products can be determined. Some of our licensees consider the stage of development, product introduction strategies and timetables, and other plans to be proprietary or secret. Unless required to disclose such information, the Company may limit its disclosure of licensees’ activities until such licensees, or their customers, make their own public announcements of planned or actual product launches. Some of the early sales and uses of SPD technology were to low volume commercial installations and some have involved concept and test installations by licensees and their customers. Recent progress with regard to market development and commercialization activity has been the result of focused and active efforts by Research Frontiers and its key licensees who have invested in product development and improvements, production facilities, increased production capacity, durability, performance testing, quality control and assurance, and marketing programs. Research Frontiers believes that with the normal progression of product and manufacturing improvements, and as licensees become more experienced at the lamination, fabrication and installation of SPD-Smart products for various applications, the adoption rates for SPD-Smart products will grow and accelerate, which we expect will increase the stream of royalty income for the Company. Research Frontiers believes the largest and most predictable near and intermediate term market for its technology will be automotive glass. As part of their marketing and branding programs, many of our licensees have developed their own trademarks for SPD-Smart emulsion, film, and end-products and these are listed in their respective press releases, product brochures, advertising and other promotional materials. Research Frontiers uses the following trademarks: SPD-Smart™, SPD-SmartGlass™, VaryFast™, SPD-CleanTech™, SPD Clean Technology™, SmartGlass™, The View of the Future - Everywhere you Look™, Powered by SPD™, Powered by SPD-CleanTech™, Powered by SPD Clean Technology™, SG Enabled™, SPD Green and Clean™, SPD On-Board™, Speed Matters™ and Visit SmartGlass.com - to change your view of the world™. 2 In each of the last three fiscal years the Company devoted substantially all of its time to the development of one class of products, namely SPD-Smart light-control technology, and therefore revenue analysis by class is not provided herein. Information about our operations and those of our licensees is included below and in our financial statements and notes thereto. The Company does not believe that future sales will be seasonal in any material respect. The Company does not currently directly manufacture products on its own but rather depends on activities of its licensees and vendors. Due to the nature of the Company’s business operations and the fact that the Company is not presently a manufacturer, there is no backlog of orders for the Company’s products. The Company believes that compliance with federal, state and local provisions which have been enacted or adopted regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, will not have a material effect upon the capital expenditures, earnings and competitive position of the Company. The Company has no material capital expenditures for environmental control facilities planned for the remainder of its current fiscal year or its next succeeding fiscal year. Employees: On March 4, 2026, the Company had five full-time employees, two of whom are technical personnel, and the rest of whom perform legal, finance, marketing, investor relations, and administrative functions. Of these employees, one has obtained a doctorate in Chemistry and one has extensive industrial experience in electronics and electrical engineering. One employee also has a postgraduate degree in business administration, and one has a doctorate in jurisprudence. Also, the Company’s suppliers and licensees have people on their teams with advanced degrees in a number of areas relevant to the commercial development of products using the Company’s technology. The success of the Company is dependent upon, among other things, the services of its senior management, the loss of which could have a material adverse effect upon the prospects of the Company. Smart Glass Industry Trends: There are favorable converging global trends in the major near-term markets for smart glass and SPD-Smart products. The potential for smart glass products is significant and is expected to attain economies of scale with increasing high-volume production. This increased production is also expected to bring down end product costs and expand market opportunities. In both public and private sectors across the world, there are substantial efforts targeted toward the promotion and use of energy efficient smart glass materials, including those used in automobiles, windows and other architectural glazings, aircraft and boats. Products using SPD-Smart technology continue to be exhibited at trade shows, conferences, and industry events, with such products not only being exhibited by our licensees but also by their customers and by OEMs. While there can be no assurance that these trends will continue, to the extent that they do continue, each is expected to have a beneficial effect on future interest in SPD-Smart technology. In January 2025, MarketsandMarkets issued Smart Glass Market by Technology (Suspended Particle Display (SPD), Electrochromic Glass, Liquid Crystal/PDLC, Photochromic, Thermochromic and other technologies), Application, Control Mode and Geographic Analysis – Global Forecast to 2030. This market research report concludes that the global smart glass market is expected to grow from approximately USD $6.4 billion in 2025 to approximately USD $10.4 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 10.2% between 2025 and 2030. 3 Key conclusions in this report included: ● Energy efficiency and sustainability as primary drivers: Increasing global emphasis on energy efficiency, reduced HVAC load, and sustainable building design continues to support adoption of smart glass solutions in commercial and residential construction. ● Transportation and automotive demand: Smart glass technologies are increasingly utilized in automotive, aerospace and marine applications for glare control, solar heat management, passenger comfort and design differentiation. ● Cost reductions and innovation: Continued advancements in materials science, manufacturing scale and product integration are expected to contribute to gradual cost reductions and expanded adoption across additional market segments. Another recent industry report projects the smart glass market to reach approximately USD $13.0 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate in the high single-digit to low double-digit range during the forecast period. Longer-term forecasts based upon third-party research estimates suggest that the global smart glass market could exceed USD $18 billion by the mid-2030s, depending on forecast methodology and segmentation assumptions. The Company does not independently verify third party market projections. While reported market size and growth rates vary among research firms due to differing methodologies, geographic scope, and definitions of smart glass technologies, these reports consistently characterize the smart glass industry as a multi-billion-dollar global market opportunity with sustained projected growth driven by energy performance requirements, architectural modernization, electrification trends in vehicles, and ongoing technological innovation. Automotive Market : In the automotive industry, global trends include the introduction of larger sunroofs and panoramic roof panels in transportation vehicles, and a higher percentage of these vehicles having a sunroof or using more glass in the roof. SPD-SmartGlass has also been shown in armored automotive glass applications, recreational vehicles, and a new market is also beginning to develop for personalized custom conversions of automobiles for owners who wish to express themselves through the design of the cars they own and/or drive. Aircraft Market: In the aircraft industry, there is a trend towards larger windows with more passenger control and functionality, and an increased investment in improving the passenger experience. In the “transport category” (primarily large commercial passenger aircraft) segment, the world’s two largest aircraft manufacturers are both promoting the size of the windows in new aircraft platforms already being delivered (e.g. Boeing 787 and Airbus A350). In the “general aviation” category (primarily business jets, private or chartered smaller aircraft) this trend is true as well. For example, Gulfstream is promoting the size of the windows on their G650 platform as well as their upcoming G700 flagship aircraft, and Bombardier highlights the size of the cabin window on the Global 7000 and 8000 platforms. Several OEMs either already offer, or have announced their interest to include, electronically dimmable windows in their aircraft – including Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer, Textron-Beechcraft, HondaJet, Airbus Helicopters, Airbus Corporate Jets, Bell Helicopter, Dassault, Epic Aircraft and One Aviation. Electronically dimmable windows for aircraft may use SPD technology or may use other smart window technologies such as liquid crystal or electrochromic technology. A window system using electrochromic technology was introduced in the Boeing 787. There have been concerns raised that this aircraft’s electronically dimmable windows are not dark enough for long-haul flights, transmit too much heat into the cabin, and have a switching speed that is too slow. The Company believes its SPD technology offers important performance advantages over other technologies including faster, more uniform response time, superior heat-rejection when the aircraft is parked on the ramp, superior acoustic insulation, an automated dimming system to continuously maintain a constant level of light in the cabin in real-time, weight-savings, and the use of scratch-resistant, lightweight (saving fuel) chemically strengthened glass. Leading companies manufacturing electromechanical pleated window shades have products that incorporate SPD-Smart windows into their designs, and Tier-1 suppliers of other cabin systems (e.g. cabin management systems) are featuring SPD-Smart electronically dimmable windows in mockups. 4 SPD technology is also the only commercially available light-control smart window technology known to the Company to have passed the stringent safety and durability tests required by the aviation industry and to have received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration. SPD-Smart electronically dimmable windows are currently flying on more than 40 aircraft models across commercial, business and specialty aviation segments. Production and forward-fit programs incorporating SPD-SmartGlass include installations on the HondaJet, Textron Aviation Beechcraft King Air series, Daher TBM 960, Epic E1000, Airbus ACJ TwoTwenty corporate jet and select Boeing 737 configurations. These aircraft utilize SPD technology to provide electronically controlled shading, glare reduction and passenger comfort enhancements. In addition to forward-fit production programs, Supplemental Type Certification (STC) approvals have enabled retrofit installations of SPD-Smart electronically dimmable windows in various Part 23 and Part 25 aircraft. These retrofit programs include business jet, corporate, VIP and special-mission aircraft configurations and allow operators to upgrade cabin window systems without factory-level aircraft redesign. Licensees have also developed full-cabin demonstrator installations and fuselage mockups to evaluate performance characteristics including switching speed, uniform tinting, heat management and passenger experience across multi-window cabin environments. Such demonstrator programs support airline and operator evaluation processes but do not necessarily represent production commitments. Procurement decisions regarding electronically dimmable window systems on certain transport category aircraft increasingly involve airline customers in addition to airframe manufacturers. Adoption remains subject to certification requirements, airline specifications, economic considerations and OEM integration cycles. Compared to certain electrochromic systems, SPD-SmartGlass is designed to provide rapid switching speed, continuously variable tint control and a dark unpowered state. However, adoption of any dynamic glazing technology depends on cost, durability, certification requirements and competitive platform selection decisions. Architectural Market: The architectural community is actively increasing the use of daylight harvesting, green building technologies and building automation systems to more effectively capture and control natural light as part of energy reduction strategies to offset cooling/heating costs and electricity used by artificial lighting. In addition to design, aesthetic and other benefits, the expanded use of glass also supports a growing body of research which finds that the presence of and control over incoming natural light improves an individual’s well-being and productivity. Products using SPD-Smart light-control technology – sunroofs, windows, skylights, partitions and others – can play an important role in supporting these converging global trends. For architectural applications, various market forces and the distinctive features of SPD-SmartGlass are having a positive influence on interest for SPD-Smart products. Many architects are specifying more glass in their designs to satisfy building occupants’ desire for greater connectedness with the outside environment. In addition, there is increasing interest in improving energy efficiency in both commercial and residential buildings. Various studies indicate that buildings in the United States and Europe now account for an estimated 39-40% of total energy use and upwards of 70% or more of electricity consumption. Many architects and building owners are striving for sustainable, “green” buildings that are highly energy-efficient, reduce environmental impact, and improve occupant health and well-being. In addition, the design community is increasingly interested in advanced daylighting systems in buildings that lower electrical lighting usage and reduce heating and cooling loads. Because of this, the ability to control light, glare and heat in these building applications is very important and advanced solutions often are needed to optimize operating efficiencies. SPD-Smart architectural products instantly and precisely provide shading, glare control and heat management solutions for offices and homes, especially when these products are available for new construction, replacement and retrofit projects. These products include insulated glass units, single-panel retrofits, unusually shaped glazings, and products with advanced fabrications such as those with ballistic- and blast-resistant capabilities. 5 In 2015, Research Frontiers’ patented SPD-SmartGlass technology was selected as the exclusive smart glass for the USA Pavilion at the World’s Fair, Expo Milano 2015. The USA Pavilion featured 312 large panels of SPD-SmartGlass manufactured under license from Research Frontiers by Isoclima S.p.A. Each panel measures approximately 1 meter by 3 meters, making the total surface area in the roof more than 10,000 square feet. This is the largest known installation of smart glass in the world for a roof application and was seen by over 6 million people. Marine Market: In the marine application, where light-control needs are especially important, many yacht manufacturers currently employ less than ideal glazing solutions as they try to satisfy various shading and solar control objectives. For example, some report having to use as many as five different types of glass in a typical yacht to satisfy diverse glazing needs. SPD-Smart marine products can reduce the number of different types of glass used in these yachts because of their increased functionality, superior performance and versatility. SPD-Smart marine products provide an innovation that allows these operators to manage incoming light, glare and heat while achieving privacy or maintaining one’s view as desired. Historical Background and Recent Developments: Establishment of SPD-Smart Light Control Film Production: Hitachi Chemical: An important material used in SPD-Smart end-products is SPD light-control film that varies the tint of glass or plastic. In early 2007, our licensee Hitachi Chemical began producing its initial SPD-Smart light-control film on its first factory line. During the second half of 2009, Hitachi Chemical announced that it had begun mass production on its new, larger capacity production line and expanded its annual production capacity to 400,000 square meters (over 4.3 million square feet). Hitachi Chemical’s production line is dedicated exclusively to the production of SPD-Smart film. In July 2009, Hitachi Chemical launched its website dedicated to its SPD-Smart light control film and during 2009, Hitachi Chemical outlined in its press releases and public presentations that it plans to “accelerate the use of SPD film, which holds significant potential for growth” and noted that “SPD film is positioned as one of the key emerging products promoted by Hitachi Chemical to become a future leading product for the company.” Hitachi Chemical expanded its SPD film product portfolio by initiating commercial production of a “lighter” version of its film. Both the SPD “dark” and “light” versions of the films provide a high range of visible light transmission. The best-selling SPD “dark” film has a range of approximately 0.5% to 55.0%. This leads to contrast ratios (the ratio of clear to dark light transmission) of up to 110:1. The commercialization of both “dark” and “light” versions of SPD-film provides greater design and performance options for end-product applications. Hitachi Chemical sold its overall business to Showa Denko, and Gauzy acquired the patents and technical information related to SPD light control technology owned or controlled by Showa Denko in February 2023. Gauzy Ltd.: In October 2018, Gauzy Ltd. announced that it will be producing SPD-Smart light control film for the entire SPD-SmartGlass industry. The announcement came at a ceremony to celebrate the inauguration of Gauzy’s production line to produce SPD-Smart light control film in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Gauzy initially announced that its Tel-Aviv film production line has a capacity to produce up to 364,000 square meters of film per year per shift, and that its initial production will be 1.2 meters wide, and in 2019 it planned on expanding its SPD film coating capabilities to 1.5 meters wide rolls, and in 2020 to 1.8 meters wide rolls. In February 2019 Gauzy announced that it would be expanding its SPD film production capacity by having SPD emulsion produced in Tel Aviv and that this emulsion would be coated into SPD-Smart light control film in a new dedicated factory being built by Gauzy in Stuttgart, Germany. 6 In December 2019, Gauzy Ltd. celebrated the opening of its second production facility in Stuttgart, Germany to produce SPD-Smart light control film for the entire SPD-SmartGlass industry. This state-of-the-art facility, with specially designed coating and curing areas, will give Gauzy the capacity to coat over one million square meters of SPD film per year in widths of up to 1.8 meters. Customers for SPD-Smart film are end-product licensees of Research Frontiers. These licensees receive the film, laminate it between glass or plastic substrates, and then fabricate end-products which are sold into various industries. Most end-product licensees pay Research Frontiers a royalty on the sale of these end-products that typically range from 10-15%. Others: Other companies are currently licensed by Research Frontiers to sell SPD-Smart light-control film to licensees of Research Frontiers. None of these other companies has yet announced commercial SPD film for sale. Evolution of Commercial Adoption of SPD-SmartGlass in Commercial Products: Early Commercial Validation (2011–2015): The first large-scale serial automotive implementation of SPD-SmartGlass occurred in 2011 when Daimler AG introduced its MAGIC SKY CONTROL™ panoramic glass roof on the Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster. The feature allowed drivers and passengers to electronically vary roof tint from dark to transparent within seconds. Daimler subsequently expanded the use of SPD-SmartGlass to the Mercedes-Benz SL and later to multiple variants of the S-Class platform, including sedan, coupe and Maybach models. This period marked the transition of SPD-SmartGlass from concept demonstrations to sustained series production in a global luxury automotive brand. The S-Class Coupe roof represented one of the largest automotive roof applications of electronically dimmable glass at the time and demonstrated scalability across vehicle platforms. In the architectural market, in 2015 Research Frontiers’ patented SPD-SmartGlass technology was selected as the exclusive smart glass for the USA Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 (World’s Fair). The pavilion featured 312 large panels of SPD-SmartGlass manufactured under license by Isoclima S.p.A., totaling more than 10,000 square feet of smart glazing. The installation was viewed by over 6 million visitors and represented one of the largest publicly exhibited smart glass installations globally. In aerospace, this period also saw the introduction of SPD-Smart electronically dimmable windows as standard equipment on production aircraft including the HondaJet and Textron-Beechcraft King Air platforms, marking the entry of SPD technology into certified aviation production environments. Expansion Across Transportation Platforms (2015–2020): Following Mercedes-Benz’s introduction of MAGIC SKY CONTROL™, additional automotive manufacturers adopted SPD-SmartGlass technology in production vehicles. McLaren Automotive incorporated SPD-SmartGlass into multiple production models, including the McLaren GT, 720S Spider, and Speedtail. The Speedtail program demonstrated advanced integration of SPD-SmartGlass not only in roof systems but also in windshield sun visor areas and other glazing components. In parallel, Tier-1 transportation suppliers expanded SPD-SmartGlass adoption in marine, rail, recreational vehicle, specialty vehicle and business aviation platforms. Vision Systems (a licensee) integrated SPD-Smart electronically dimmable windows into helicopters, business jets, yachts, trains and motorcoaches. These applications validated SPD’s durability, safety compliance and performance across diverse environmental conditions. During this period, SPD-SmartGlass technology also achieved Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval in aviation, enabling retrofit installations in certified aircraft. 7 Multi-OEM Production and Tier-1 Integration (2020–2024): Beginning in 2020, the commercial trajectory of SPD-SmartGlass broadened across both electric vehicles and advanced aircraft platforms. In the automotive sector, General Motors selected SPD-SmartGlass as standard equipment for the roof system of its Cadillac CELESTIQ ultra-luxury electric sedan. The CELESTIQ features a multi-zone electronically dimmable roof system allowing individualized occupant control. Deliveries to customers began in late 2024. Ferrari subsequently adopted SPD-SmartGlass for the sunroof option on its Purosangue platform. The Ferrari program represented further validation of SPD technology in high-performance luxury vehicles. In addition to serial production programs with Mercedes-Benz (multiple models), McLaren Automotive (multiple models), General Motors (Cadillac CELESTIQ) and Ferrari (Purosangue), the Company has been working with a number of other automotive OEMs and program models. In addition, SPD-SmartGlass has been incorporated into multiple concept and pre-production vehicles by global automotive OEMs to evaluate expanded glazing integration beyond panoramic roof systems. These have included the BMW Concept Active Tourer, BMW i Vision Circular and BMW i Vision Dee vehicles, which demonstrated SPD-SmartGlass integrated into panoramic roofs, side and rear glazing, windshield zones and display-integrated head-up systems; the Mercedes-Benz Vision V concept vehicle incorporating electronically dimmable glazing across a substantial portion of total glass surface area; the Audi A2 concept with a large SPD panoramic roof; the Toyota FS Hybrid Concept demonstrating interior glass applications; the Lincoln Continental Concept featuring an electronically tinting roof system; and the Fisker EMotion with a segmented SPD panoramic roof and proposed side-window integration. In addition, Tier-1 supplier demonstrator vehicles, including those developed by Continental to highlight the functionality of its Intelligent Glass Control System, have incorporated SPD-SmartGlass into multi-surface glazing configurations including side windows, rear windows and windshield visor zones. While concept vehicle inclusion does not ensure production adoption, these programs reflect continued OEM evaluation of SPD-SmartGlass for broader surface-area applications, multi-zone tinting and integration with advanced digital cockpit systems. In aerospace, SPD-SmartGlass was incorporated into additional production platforms including the Airbus ACJ TwoTwenty, Boeing 737, Daher TBM 960, Epic E1000, HondaJet and Textron-Beechcraft King Air series. Across rail, marine and specialty vehicles, Tier-1 suppliers expanded multi-zone SPD-SmartGlass installations with integrated electronics, information displays and automated shading systems. 2025 Inflection and Scaling Phase: During 2025, several developments marked a transition from validation and niche luxury adoption toward broader production scaling. Cadillac CELESTIQ Serial Production: In July 2025, Gauzy and Research Frontiers announced that SPD-SmartGlass is in serial production and customer deliveries on General Motors’ Cadillac CELESTIQ electric sedan, featuring a multi-zone electronically dimmable roof - believed by the Company to be among the largest SPD-SmartGlass deployments in a production vehicle to date. Mercedes Vision V – Expanded Glazing: At Auto Shanghai 2025, Mercedes-Benz debuted the Vision V concept vehicle incorporating SPD-SmartGlass across approximately 75% of vehicle glazing. This application expanded SPD beyond panoramic roof systems into broader side and rear glazing, demonstrating the potential for higher surface area integration in future vehicle platforms. 8 Ferrari Introduction and Supply Chain Transition: Ferrari adopted SPD-SmartGlass in the roof of its new Purosangue model. During the second quarter of 2025, one of the Company’s European licensees supplying Ferrari filed for bankruptcy. Production was successfully transitioned to another European licensee without material interruption to the Ferrari program. Although royalty recognition during portions of 2025 was affected by minimum annual royalty provisions, MAR thresholds were exceeded in the third quarter of 2025, enabling additional recognition. Architectural Retrofit Commercial Introduction: In November 2025 at GlassBuild America, Research Frontiers and its partners introduced a prefabricated SPD-SmartGlass retrofit system designed to enable conversion of existing building glazing without full window replacement. This development materially expands potential addressable markets within commercial and governmental building modernization programs. Film Technology Advancement – Black Particle Variant: During 2025, significant progress was made in development of a black particle variant of SPD film designed to improve optical uniformity, aesthetics, and integration into automotive glazing systems. Early OEM evaluations have been positive, and commercialization remains subject to qualification cycles. Marketing Activities and Licensee Support: Because the Company operates under a licensing model and does not manufacture finished products directly, its marketing and market-development activities are focused on supporting licensee commercialization efforts and expanding awareness of SPD-Smart technology among OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, architects, engineers and other industry decision makers. The Company participates in major automotive, aerospace and architectural industry conferences, trade exhibitions and technical forums to support licensee programs and engage directly with potential customers. Events in which the Company and/or its licensees have participated include: ● Consumer Electronics Show (CES) ● Automotive Glazing Summit (including Berlin and Detroit; the Company’s Chief Executive Officer served as conference chairman and keynote speaker at the Detroit, Michigan event in November 2025) ● International CTI Automotive Glazing USA Conferences ● International CTI Conference – Automotive Glazing Europe ● IAA Mobility (formerly Frankfurt International Motor Show) ● Geneva International Motor Show ● Munich Auto Show ● Auto Shanghai ● North American International Auto Show (Detroit Auto Show) ● Paris Motor Show ● Automotive Glazing Summit Europe ● Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) ● NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) ● EBACE (European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition) ● Farnborough International Airshow ● Paris Air Show ● GlassBuild America ● Greenbuild International Conference & Expo ● AIA Conference on Architecture ● Advanced Building Skins Conference ● Autonomous Vehicle Interior Design & Technology Symposium ● Disruptive Growth & Healthcare Conference 9 In addition to conference participation, the Company supports licensee marketing efforts through: ● Joint presentations and technical discussions with OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers ● Support of evaluation programs and integration initiatives ● Development of educational and technical materials for architects and engineers ● Publication and presentation of independent performance data ● Engagement with standards-setting organizations, including ASTM International The Company maintains an SPD-SmartGlass Design Center at its headquarters in Woodbury, New York, where OEMs, architects and other stakeholders can evaluate SPD-Smart technology alongside alternative dynamic glazing technologies. The Company also operates a referral and lead-generation program directing business inquiries to appropriate licensees. Commercial success depends primarily on licensee execution, OEM adoption decisions, certification processes and product development cycles. While the Company supports these activities, it does not control the timing or scale of product launches by licensees or their customers. Research Frontiers believes that SPD products will be strongly preferred over competing technologies once a direct comparison is available to potential buyers. Research Frontiers continues to encourage its competitors to participate in public forums where consumers of electronically tintable products can see the relative performance of products that are available. Licensees of Research Frontiers: The Company’s licensees are currently categorized into four main areas: materials for making films (emulsions), film, lamination of film to glass or plastic, and end-products. Emulsion makers produce and combine the necessary materials (i.e. SPD particles and various liquids and special polymers) from which SPD-Smart films are made. The film makers coat a thin layer of emulsion between two sheets of plastic film, each of which has a transparent conductive coating. This emulsion is then partly solidified to form an SPD film that allows users to control the amount of light, glare and heat passing through this film. The end-product licensees then integrate this film into a variety of SPD-Smart products or make electronic systems to control such SPD-Smart products. Some of these end-product licensees do their own lamination of the SPD light-control film to glass or plastic, and some outsource this lamination to other companies. The names of Research Frontiers’ licensees, and the year that their license agreements were entered into, are available on the Company’s SmartGlass.com website and with its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Licensees of Research Frontiers that incorporate SPD technology into end-products will pay Research Frontiers a royalty of 10-15% of net sales of licensed products under license agreements currently in effect and may also be required to pay Research Frontiers fees and minimum annual royalties. Licensees that sell components (such as SPD emulsion or film) or lamination services to other licensees of Research Frontiers do not pay a royalty on such sale or service, and Research Frontiers will collect a royalty from the licensee incorporating these components into their own SPD-Smart end-products. Research Frontiers’ license agreements typically allow the licensee to terminate the license after some period of time and give Research Frontiers only limited rights to terminate before the license expires. The current licensees of Research Frontiers are listed on the Company’s website, and licenses granted by the Company are non-exclusive and generally last as long as Research Frontiers’ patents remain in effect. Due to their bankruptcy filings or other termination of their general business activities or for other reasons, the Company does not believe that American Glass Products, Polaroid Corporation, Kerros Limited, ThermoView Industries, BRG Group, MDV, Hanamac, SPD Technologies, SPD Systems, and Film Technologies International are pursuing business activities with respect to SPD technology. Some of the Company’s other licensees are currently inactive with respect to SPD technology, but may hereafter become active again. The Company plans to continue to exploit its SPD-Smart light-control technology by entering into additional license and other agreements with end-product manufacturers such as manufacturers of flat glass, flat panel displays and automotive products, and with other interested companies who may wish to acquire rights to manufacture and sell the Company’s proprietary emulsions and films. Although the Company believes based upon the status of current negotiations that additional license agreements with third parties will be entered into, there can be no assurance that any such additional license agreements will be consummated, or of the extent to which any current or future licensee of the Company will produce or sell commercial products using the Company’s technology or generate meaningful revenue from sales of such licensed products. 10 The Company’s plans also call for further development of its technology and the provision of additional technological and marketing assistance to its licensees to develop commercially viable SPD-Smart products and expand the markets for such products. The Company cannot predict when or if new license agreements will be entered into or the extent to which commercial products will result from its existing or future licensees because of general economic conditions and the risks inherent in the developmental process and because commercialization is dependent upon the efforts of its licensees as well as on the continuing research and development efforts of the Company. Competitive Technologies: The Company believes that SPD light-control technology, in which particles move under the influence of an electric field, has certain performance advantages over other “smart glass” technologies. The Company believes that pricing and product performance are the two main factors critical to the adoption of smart glass products. Because the non-SPD smart glass technologies listed below do not have published, consistent pricing or cost data that can be relied upon, the Company cannot accurately report its price position relative to these other technologies. In terms of product performance, the Company believes that SPD-SmartGlass technology offers numerous advantages over other smart glass technologies as discussed below. Variable light transmission technologies can be classified into two basic types: “active” technologies that can be controlled electrically by the user either automatically or manually, and “passive” technologies that can only react to ambient environmental conditions such as changes in lighting or temperature. One type of passive variable light transmission technology is photochromic technology; such devices change their level of transparency in reaction to external ultra-violet radiation. As compared to photochromic technology, the Company’s SPD technology permits the user to adjust the amount of light passing through the viewing area of the device, rather than the viewing area of the photochromic device merely reacting to external radiation without control by the user. In addition, the reaction time necessary to change from light to dark with SPD-Smart technology can be almost instantaneous, as compared to the much slower reaction time for photochromic devices. Also, unlike SPD technology, photochromic technology does not function well at the high and low ends of the temperature range in which smart windows and other devices are normally expected to operate, nor does photochromic technology perform well in vehicles or other enclosed settings where existing glass is blocking incoming ultra-violet light which is required for photochromic devices to operate. Similarly, thermochromic smart windows are passive systems which change their light transmission properties as sunlight heats or cools the glass. Because the light transmission properties of thermochromic systems are not controlled by the user, their ability to adapt to the specific needs of occupants is very limited. For example, thermochromic glazings will remain tinted on hot days even when occupants desire more daylight to enter the building or when they want to preserve their views. SPD-Smart windows, which require very low amounts of power to operate, allow for much greater control of incoming light, glare and heat and can be adjusted to any level of light transmission from dark to clear at any time. In addition, SPD-Smart windows can block up to 99.5% of incoming light, a level many times darker than thermochromic systems. The added advantage offers much higher levels of privacy and control over incoming solar energy. Companies involved in thermochromic technology include Pleotint, Suntek and Ravenbrick. Active, user-controllable technologies, sometimes referred to as “smart” technologies, are generally more useful than passive technologies because they allow the user to actually control the state of the window. This control is achieved with a manual adjustment, or automatically when coupled with a timer or sensing device such as a photocell, motion detector, thermostat or other intelligent building system. There are three main types of active devices which are compared below: ● Electrochromic devices (EC) ● Liquid crystal devices (LC) ● Suspended-particle devices (SPD) 11 Electrochromic Technology: Electrochromic windows and rear-view mirrors use a direct current voltage to alter the molecular structure of electrochromic materials (which can be in the form of either a liquid, gel or solid film) causing the material to darken. When compared to electrochromic devices, SPD technology is expected to have numerous potential performance and manufacturing advantages, including some or all of the following: ● significantly faster response time, especially compared to larger electrochromic glazings ● ability to precisely “tune” an infinite number of intermediate light-transmission states ● consistent and uniform switching speed regardless of size of glazing area ● more reliable performance over a wider temperature range ● higher contrast ratios and the capability of achieving darker shaded states for large area product applications ● unpowered state is dark, maximizing solar heat gain benefits when the room, office or vehicle is not in use ● lower electrical current drain ● higher estimated battery life in applications where batteries are used ● no “iris effect” (where light transmission changes first occur at the outer edges of a window or mirror and then work their way toward the center) when changing from clear to dark and back again ● SPD technology is a film-based technology that can be applied to plastic, acrylic, and chemically strengthened glass as well as glass, and which can be applied to curved as well as flat surfaces ● available in single panels for retrofitting existing windows, skylights and doors Many companies with substantially greater resources than Research Frontiers such as 3M, Gentex Corp., Pilkington, PPG Industries, Saint-Gobain and other large corporations have pursued or are pursuing projects in the electrochromic area. While some of these companies have reportedly discontinued or substantially curtailed their work on electrochromics due to technical problems and issues relating to the expense of these technologies, at least four companies (Gentex, PPG Industries, View (formerly known as Soladigm), and Sage Electrochromics) are or have been working to commercialize electrochromic window products. In May 2012, Saint-Gobain acquired Sage Electrochromics and combined all of their respective electrochromic manufacturing and developmental efforts. In late 2020, View announced that it was trying to become a public company by merging with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (“SPAC”) CF Finance Acquisition Corp. II (Nasdaq: CFII). It subsequently filed for bankruptcy protection. Other electrochromic suppliers and developers include Ambilight and Halio (a joint venture between AGC and Kinestral which has also filed for bankruptcy protection or liquidation). Liquid Crystal Technology: To date, the main types of liquid crystal smart windows have been produced by Taliq Corp. (a subsidiary of Raychem Corp. which has since discontinued its liquid crystal operations and licensed its technology to others), Asahi Glass Co., Gauzy, Nippon Sheet Glass, Saint-Gobain Glass, iGlass Projects Pty Limited, Polytronix, Inc., DMDisplays, and 3M (which has also reportedly discontinued its liquid crystal film making operations). Additional suppliers of liquid crystal / PDLC-based ‘switchable’ glazing and films include Chiefway and Merck KGaA (through its eyrise® / Licrivision® liquid crystal window technology). Liquid crystal windows only change from a cloudy, opaque milky-white to a clear state, are hazy when viewed at an angle and have no useful intermediate states. As compared to liquid crystal windows, SPD-Smart windows are expected to have some or all of the following advantages: ● have less direct and off-angle haze 12 ● in its intermediate tinted states provides shading without loss of view ● operates over a wider temperature range ● uses less power ● higher contrast ratios ● reduction in the amount of light transmitted rather than simply scatter it ● permits an infinite number of intermediate states between a transparent state and a dark blue state, rather than typically just two states ● offers superior solar heat gain control In the flat panel display market, further development (such as the achievement of faster switching speeds sufficient for full-motion video applications) is required if the Company expects to compete against display technologies that are currently being used commercially such as liquid crystal displays (“LCDs”) and organic light-emitting diodes (“OLEDs”). Some of the advantages that SPD displays might have include the ability to make displays without using sheet polarizers or alignment layers, and lower light loss and a corresponding reduction in backlighting requirements. However, such products need additional product design, engineering or testing before an evaluation of the commercial potential of such SPD-SmartGlass products can be determined and when, or if, its licensees may begin to penetrate the flat panel display market. LCDs and other types of displays, liquid crystal windows, as well as electrochromic self-dimmable rear-view mirrors, are already on the market, whereas products incorporating SPD technology (as well as electrochromic windows) have only begun to appear in the marketplace. Therefore, the long-term durability and performance of SPD-Smart displays have not yet been fully ascertained. The companies that manufacture LCD and other display devices, liquid crystal windows, and electrochromic self-dimmable rear-view mirrors and windows, have substantially greater financial resources and manufacturing experience than the Company. There is no assurance that comparable systems having the same advantages of the Company’s SPD technology could not be developed by competitors at a lower cost or that other products could not be developed which would render the Company’s products difficult to market or otherwise render our products obsolete. Research and Development: As a result of the Company’s research and development efforts, the Company believes that its SPD technology is now, or with additional development will become, usable in a number of commercial products. Such products may include one or more of the following fields: “smart” windows, doors, skylights and partitions; variable light transmission eyewear such as sunglasses and goggles; self-dimmable automotive sunroofs, windows, sun visors, and mirrors; display cases/frames; and instruments and other information displays that use digits, letters, graphic images, or other symbols to supply information, including scientific instruments, aviation instruments, automobile dashboard displays and, if certain improvements can be made in various features of the Company’s SPD technology that increases switching speed to the levels needed for video applications, portable computer displays and flat panel television displays. Even though the Company’s SPD technology has much faster switching speeds than electrochromic technology, current switching speeds are not fast enough for such video applications. The Company believes that most of its research and development efforts have applicability to products that may incorporate the Company’s technology. At its current state of development, the Company’s technology has been judged sufficiently advanced by various of its licensees and their customers for them to proceed with the development, introduction and sale of SPD-Smart products. However, the Company is continuously investing in research and development because it believes that further improvements will result in accelerated and increased market penetration. The Company intends to continue its research and development efforts for the foreseeable future to improve its SPD light-control technology and thereby assist our licensees in the product development, sales and marketing of various existing and new SPD-Smart products. 13 During the past few years, the Company and/or its licensees have made significant advances relating to materials to enable (1) improved stability of SPD emulsions, (2) a wider range of light transmission, (3) improved film adhesion and cohesion and (4) increased durability of SPD films/laminates, and (5) cost reductions. These advances have resulted in patents being issued to the Company by the US Patent Office and by foreign patent offices, in addition to other patents and patent applications that are pending worldwide. The Company has devoted most of the resources it has heretofore expended to research and development activities with the goal of producing commercially viable SPD products and has developed working prototypes of SPD-Smart products for several different applications, with primary emphasis on smart windows for various industries. In addition to working with the Company’s licensees, Research Frontiers has also expanded its efforts to also work directly with some of our licensees’ major customers. Research Frontiers’ main goals in its research and development include: ● developing wider ranges of light transmission and quicker switching speeds ● developing different colored particles ● reducing the voltage required to operate SPDs ● obtaining data and developing improved materials regarding environmental stability and longevity ● quantifying the degree of energy savings expected by users of the Company’s technology including the degree that SPD technology can control heat and its contribution to energy savings directly and through daylight harvesting strategies in sustainable building designs ● continually striving to improve the performance and reducing material/production costs associated with making SPD-Smart products In January 2025, the Company’s SPD-film producing licensee, announced that the introduction of engineering samples of a black particle variant of SPD-Smart film designed to improve optical uniformity, aesthetic integration, and performance in automotive and architectural applications. The Company believes this advancement enhances competitiveness versus alternative smart glass technologies.and further expands the markets, design flexibility, and aesthetic freedom for customers for SPD-Smart products. Early evaluations by automotive OEMs have been positive. Gauzy is completing the work needed to put the black SPD into mass production on its existing production lines. Commercialization timing remains dependent on OEM qualification and production validation processes. There can be no assurance that ongoing particle development efforts will result in commercially deployable products or improved performance characteristics. Excluding non-cash expenses of approximately $21,000 and $5,000, respectively, associated with the grant of stock options to the Company’s technical personnel, Research Frontiers incurred approximately $588,000 and $565,000 during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, for research and development costs. Research Frontiers plans to engage in substantial continuing research and development activities to invest in future improvements in SPD light-control technology and to expand for its licensees the capabilities of SPD-Smart technology and the markets for SPD-Smart products. Patents and Proprietary Information: Research Frontiers has and continues to make substantial investments to develop, license and protect its intellectual property position. The Company’s United States patents expire at various dates from 2026 through 2037, and its foreign patents expire at various dates from 2026 through 2037. 14 Since 1965, Research Frontiers has actively worked to develop and license its own SPD technology, which it protects using patents, trade secrets and know-how. Although patent and trade secret protection is not a guarantee of commercial success, Research Frontiers currently has hundreds of patents and patent applications worldwide. In addition, the Company has received royalty-free perpetual licenses, with the right to sublicense others, of smart glass related intellectual property (including patents and patent applications) from various former licensees. Research Frontiers also has current patent applications worldwide that, if granted, would add a significant number of additional patents to its portfolio. The Company believes that its SPD light-control technology is adequately protected by its patent position and by its proprietary technological know-how. However, the validity of the Company’s patents has never been contested in any litigation. The Company also possesses know-how and relies on trade secrets and nondisclosure agreements to protect its technology. The Company generally requires any employee, consultant, or licensee having access to its confidential information to execute an agreement whereby such person agrees to keep such information confidential. Rights Plan: In February 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a Stockholders’ Rights Plan (the “Rights Plan”) and declared a dividend distribution of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of Company common stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 2003 (“Record Time”) and authorized the issuance of one Right in respect of each share of Common Stock issued after the Record Time and prior to the Separation Time. The Rights Plan was readopted and extended in December 2022 until February 11, 2033. “Separation Time” shall mean the earlier of the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as the Board of Directors may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation Time that otherwise would have occurred) following but not including (i) the date on which any Person commences a tender or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in such Person’s becoming an Acquiring Person, and (ii) the date of the first event causing a Flip-in Date to occur; provided that if any tender or exchange offer referred to in clause (i) of this paragraph is cancelled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation Time without the purchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto, such offer shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, never to have been made. Subject to certain exceptions listed in the Rights Plan, if a person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of, or commences a tender or exchange offer for, 15% or more of the Company’s common stock, unless redeemed by the Company’s Board of Directors, each Right entitles the holder (other than the acquiring person) to purchase from the Company $80 worth of common stock for $40. If the Company is merged into, or 50% or more of its assets or earning power is sold to, the acquiring company, the Rights will also enable the holder (other than the acquiring person) to purchase $80 worth of common stock of the acquiring company for $40. During 2022, the Company extended the expiration of the Rights which will now expire at the close of business on February 11, 2033, unless the Rights Plan is extended by the Company’s Board of Directors or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed by the Company at a price of $.0001 per Right. The Rights are not exercisable during the time when they are redeemable by the Company. The above description highlights some of the features of the Company’s Rights Plan and is not a complete description of the Rights Plan. A more detailed description and copy of the Rights Plan has been filed with the SEC and is available from the Company upon request. Available Information: Our principal executive offices are located at 240 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, New York 11797, our telephone number is (516) 364-1902, and our Internet website address is www.SmartGlass.com. We make available free of charge on or through our Internet website our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements on Schedule 14A, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC. 15