NAWATECHNOLOGIES

Their core work

NAWATECHNOLOGIES is a French SME specializing in advanced carbon nanomaterial and graphene-based technologies, with applications spanning energy storage, electronics, sensors, and composite materials. Based in Aix-en-Provence, they contribute industrial R&D expertise to the EU Graphene Flagship — Europe's largest research initiative on 2D materials. Their work bridges fundamental graphene research and pilot-line manufacturing, positioning them at the transition point between laboratory science and scalable production.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 participation (2018), NAWATECHNOLOGIES engaged broadly across graphene's application spectrum — composites, energy, electronics, photonics, sensors, and biomedical technologies — reflecting an exploratory phase. By 2020, their focus narrowed sharply toward pilot-line development and 2D material manufacturing scale-up, with the 2D-EPL project marking a clear pivot from basic research to industrial production readiness. This trajectory suggests a company that has identified its commercial niche within the graphene ecosystem and is now investing in manufacturability.

NAWATECHNOLOGIES is moving from multi-application graphene research toward industrial-scale manufacturing of 2D materials, making them increasingly relevant for companies seeking production-ready graphene technologies.

How they like to work

NAWATECHNOLOGIES participates exclusively as a partner — never as coordinator — within very large flagship consortia (219 unique partners across 21 countries). This is characteristic of a specialized SME that contributes focused industrial know-how to major European research programs rather than leading them. Their consistent presence across successive phases of the Graphene Flagship (Core2, Core3, 2D-EPL) shows they are a trusted, returning contributor valued for continuity.

Through the Graphene Flagship, NAWATECHNOLOGIES has built connections with 219 unique consortium partners across 21 countries, giving them one of the broadest collaborative networks possible for an SME of their size. This network spans Europe's top graphene research institutions and industrial players.

What sets them apart

NAWATECHNOLOGIES occupies a rare position as an SME embedded in the Graphene Flagship — most participants are large universities or research institutes, making a private company with manufacturing ambitions particularly valuable. Their progression from broad research participation to pilot-line work means they can bridge the gap between academic graphene science and commercial production. For consortium builders, they offer the combination of deep flagship experience, industrial perspective, and agility that large partners cannot provide.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GrapheneCore3
  Received EUR 1.48M in EC funding as part of the third phase of Europe's billion-euro Graphene Flagship, indicating sustained trust and a significant SME contribution.
• 2D-EPL
  Focused on building an experimental pilot line for 2D materials — the critical step between lab research and industrial manufacturing, running through 2024.