PHONONIC VIBES SRL

Their core work

Phononic Vibes is a Milan-based technology SME that designs metamaterial-based solutions for vibration and noise control. They develop bio-inspired hierarchical structures — engineered materials with repeating patterns at multiple scales — that can block, redirect, or absorb mechanical waves. Their core applications include acoustic soundproofing panels, railway vibration mitigation, and seismic isolation systems. The company bridges fundamental metamaterial science with real-world engineering problems in construction, transport, and infrastructure protection.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Phononic Vibes entered H2020 in 2019 with a commercial soundproofing product focus (PHOMETAPAN, funded through the SME Instrument), then rapidly expanded into fundamental research on bio-inspired hierarchical metamaterials through the BOHEME consortium (2020). By 2021, they synthesized both threads into BioMetaRail — applying bioinspired metamaterials specifically to railway vibration problems. The trajectory shows a clear shift from general acoustic insulation toward specialized infrastructure vibration control, particularly in transport.

Phononic Vibes is moving from general-purpose acoustic materials toward specialized vibration control for transport and civil infrastructure, making them increasingly relevant for railway, construction, and seismic engineering collaborations.

How they like to work

Phononic Vibes predominantly leads their projects, coordinating 2 out of 3 H2020 engagements — a strong leadership ratio for a small SME. Their consortia are compact (10 unique partners across 5 countries), suggesting they prefer focused teams over large multi-partner structures. This makes them a nimble, hands-on partner who can drive project direction rather than simply contribute a work package.

They have built a network of 10 partners across 5 European countries from just 3 projects, indicating efficient relationship-building. As a Milan-based SME, their partnerships likely span Southern and Central Europe with connections into academic metamaterial research groups.

What sets them apart

Phononic Vibes occupies a rare niche: they are one of very few SMEs commercializing phononic metamaterials for real-world vibration and noise problems. While most metamaterial work stays in university labs, this company bridges the gap between academic research (as seen in BOHEME) and market-ready products (PHOMETAPAN's soundproofing panels). For consortium builders, they offer both deep metamaterial expertise and the commercial drive to push results toward TRL 6+ applications.

Highlights from their portfolio

• BOHEME
  Largest funded project (EUR 97,500) and their only participant role — joining a research consortium on bio-inspired hierarchical metamaterials spanning wave dynamics, seismic isolation, and non-destructive evaluation.
• BioMetaRail
  Demonstrates their strategic focus by combining bioinspired metamaterials with railway vibration control — a specific, high-demand infrastructure application they coordinated themselves.