Scandium is primarily used in aluminum-scandium alloys, which significantly enhance the strength, durability, and thermal stability of aluminum while keeping weight low. These high-performance alloys are applied in aerospace components, defense materials, and high-end sports equipment such as bicycle frames, baseball bats, and lacrosse sticks. The addition of scandium to aluminum also improves weldability and resistance to corrosion and cracking, making it valuable in marine and automotive applications.

Scandium is also used in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), where scandium-stabilized zirconia exhibits high ionic conductivity, enabling more efficient energy conversion at lower operating temperatures. This makes it suitable for clean energy systems and portable power sources.

In lighting, scandium iodide is used in metal-halide lamps to produce a bright, sunlight-like illumination, which is ideal for film production, stadium lighting, and large-area outdoor lighting.

Additionally, scandium serves as a catalyst in the petroleum industry for alkylation processes and in research settings for specialized chemical synthesis. Its unique properties also make it useful in certain electronic devices and advanced ceramics.