Project description
Making glasses from colour-changing film
Photochromic materials, which react reversibly to light, are receiving increased and serious attention by scientists. These materials are also widely used in the ophthalmic sector. The EU-funded ChromicGlass project aims to validate the commercial feasibility of fast responsive photochromic technology and translate it into consumer products in the eyewear and architecture sectors. These fast responsive photochromic films are based on nanoencapsulation of the photochromic dyes. They provide the speed, transparency and other technical requirements that have been hindering the widespread use of photochromic materials. The project's goal is to ensure these fast films are commercially available by 2022.
Objective
Photochromic materials capable of undergoing reversible colour changes upon irradiation of light have potential
revolutionary applications as optics and electronic devices, information displays and as smart materials. Due to technical
limitations it has been so far a niche technology in most markets and currently 80% of their current commercial use is in the
ophthalmic sector.
Through this SME Instrument project, we at Futurechromes aim to validate the commercial feasibility of our proprietary fast
responsive photochromic technology and translate it into consumer products in the eyewear, and architecture sectors. Our
fast responsive photochromic films based on nanoencapsulation of the photochromic dyes, provides the speed,
transparency, and other technical requirements, which have been hindering the widespread use of photochromatic materials.
Moreover, our technology can be easily adapted to current manufacturing processes thus envisioning affordable fabrication
costs.
Building on a real market demand and partnerships with industry end-users in the ophthalmic sector already established, our
technology has been validated to TRL6 as a forerunner to this project. Over the course of this Phase 1 SME Instrument, we
will perform a feasibility study to define our product manufacturing strategy and to validate the economic viability of our
product in the target end-user markets. Our goal is to ensure that our films are commercially available by 2022. We will
develop on our business plan, whereby the commercial targets are to reach annual turnover of 8.15M€ by 2024 achieving 1.5% of our initial target market and incorporating 12 new full-time employees within the period 2019-2024.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
08018 Barcelona
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.