Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden has overseen the EU’s largest research initiative to date, the Graphene Flagship, which has a budget of one billion euros. It is time to emphasize the path of graphene, a single sheet of carbon, from the lab to society. In addition to a high number of new products, patents, and companies, the research initiative is expected to generate approximately 38,000 employment opportunities in Europe by 2030.
Graphene is being used to enable the next generation of technology in a wide range of fields: from transport to biomedicine, electronics to energy. The Graphene Flagship has helped Europe stay at the forefront of this technological revolution, facilitating the commercialisation of graphene over the past ten years. Image Credit: Graphene Flagship | Dallara Automobili Spa
The media are encouraged to participate in the findings, examine graphene-based products, and meet academics and entrepreneurs at the Svenska Mässan/Gothia Towers in Gothenburg, Sweden, during the Graphene Week conference, which runs from September 4th to September 8th, 2023.
The event announces the findings of the WifOR Institute’s widely anticipated economic impact report. Figures include a 14.5-fold return on investment and the creation of 81,000 employment worldwide by 2030. The primary findings include considerable contributions to Europe’s GDP and €5.9 billion in gross value added (GVA).
Some of the Graphene Flagship’s most successful initiatives will also be showcased during the event.
Showcasing Graphene Products and Prototypes
Graphene Week, the annual scientific meeting of the Graphene Flagship, will include an open pavilion showing graphene goods and prototypes, a press conference, the Graphene Innovation Forum, which will provide an industrial perspective on graphene technology, and more.
These platforms will make it easier to have discussions about the past, present, and future of graphene research and commercialization in Europe, emphasizing the project’s key accomplishments in addition to its transition to the new Horizon Europe phase, the EU’s main funding program for research and innovation, where it will continue its research.
The 18th iteration of the week-long conference will feature more than 200 lectures and sessions on the fundamentals, uses, and production methods of graphene. This year's conference will mark a decade of innovation and commercialization in the field of 2D materials along with advancements made in using graphene to help achieve some of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Presenting Profound Results Stemming from the Project
Jari Kinaret, the director of the Graphene Flagship, will address the project's future plans and highlight the project’s ground-breaking findings during the conference. Other speakers will include Delphine Pommier from Thales TRT in France, addressing graphene-based high-speed optoelectronics, Vincenzo Palermo, head of CNR-ISOF in Italy, who will speak on the production of 2D composites, and many others.
We will be joined by over 400 participants from over 40 countries across the globe. Together we create an outstanding program with over 200 talks, including five plenary sessions and eight parallel sessions. We are very lucky to be able to host this edition in Sweden, home of Chalmers University of Technology, which has been so imperative to this project’s success.
Jari Kinaret, Director, Graphene Flagship
The Graphene Flagship also invites the media and influential people to tour the Graphene Pavilion at Gothia Towers. Graphene composites used to build a sports car will be on display during the event.
A point-of-use water filter with hollow graphene fibers for filtering emerging contaminants, a graphene composite pipe with integrated sensors for fire and rupture detection, and graphene-enhanced perovskite solar cells that are more affordable and effective than the current state-of-the-art panels are some other graphene demonstrators that will be made available.
The project’s accomplishments and the impact it will have on the European industry can be highlighted during Graphene Week.