Advanced materials research for industrial applications and society
Advanced materials, including nanomaterials, are designed to have new or enhanced properties and improved performance over conventional materials in products and processes. Europe is strong in developing advanced materials. However, new opportunities need to be seized to safeguard industrial leadership and strategic autonomy, as well as reducing Europe’s environmental footprint. Advanced materials are a spectrum of evolving technologies with proven potential and a revolutionary impact on fields like ICT, energy and mobility, life sciences, healthcare, cosmetics, food, consumer goods, and manufacturing, once research is translated into ground-breaking, sustainable and competitive products, and production processes.
Materials for the future
The use of nanotechnologies in advanced materials will play a critical role in addressing the challenges identified by the European Green Deal. The successful deployment of these key enabling technologies will enhance the competitiveness of EU industry by contributing to the development of innovative and improved products and/or more efficient processes that will respond to the societal challenges of today and in the future. Europe aims to secure and increase its position in the global market by promoting widescale cooperation in and across many different value chains, in various industrial sectors, to scale up these technologies into safe, sustainable, and viable commercial products. In this respect, risk assessment and management, as well as responsible governance, are emerging as crucial factors for the future impact of nanotechnologies on society, the environment, and the economy.
Pioneering EU-funded research leads the way
This new Results Pack on Advanced Materials highlights seven Research and Innovation (RIA) and two Innovation Action (IA) EU Horizon 2020 funded projects. It focuses on high-performance engineered advanced materials that hold great promise for a variety of industrial fields, including medicine, electronics and energy, among others, and are helping to secure EU leadership in these high growth global markets. The Repair3D and M3DLoC projects employ nanotechnology and additive manufacturing to create advanced 3D-printed products from carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers and polymeric microfluidic devices that can perform inexpensive, high-performance assays of clinical samples. STARSTEM developed a new technique able to image stem cells at clinically relevant levels for treating osteoarthritis. GREENSENSE focused on nanocellulose-based films, coatings, and inks, leading to innovative cellulose-based biosensing platforms for analysing drugs of abuse (DOA). NanoBat developed gigahertz radiofrequency nanotechnologies for lithium-ion batteries, to support Europe’s shift to electric vehicle mobility. ZEOCAT-3D developed new technology for directly converting methane sources into high-value aromatic compounds – benzene and naphthalene – and hydrogen. CARMOF demonstrated an effective hybrid post-combustion CO2 capture process, based on 3D-printed structured adsorbents. NanoInformaTIX integrated databases and models to optimise the assessment of exposure and toxicity associated with engineered nanomaterials. SABYDOMA built high-throughput online platforms where nanomaterials are manufactured and screened at the point of production.
