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GrapheneCore1 · Project

Industrial-Grade Graphene Materials Ready for Mass Production Across Multiple Sectors

manufacturingPilotedTRL 6
graphene-flagship.eu

Think of graphene as a super-material — a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like chicken wire that's stronger than steel yet flexible as plastic. Europe's biggest research effort brought together 194 partners across 24 countries to figure out how to actually make this stuff at industrial scale, not just in tiny lab samples. They built pilot production lines pumping out graphene at 5-25 kg per day, created flexible circuit boards and sensors, manufactured real aerospace parts from graphene composites, and even prototyped implantable medical devices. The goal was to move graphene from "amazing lab curiosity" to "something factories can actually buy and use."

By the numbers
€89,000,000
EU contribution to this project phase
€1,000,000,000
Total Graphene Flagship budget over 10 years
194
Consortium partners
24
Countries involved
71
Industry partners in the consortium
31
SME participants
5-25 kg/day
Bulk graphene production capacity demonstrated
300 mm
Web width for roll-to-roll graphene growth
1.5 m/hour
Continuous graphene growth speed achieved
82
Total project deliverables
10
Physical demonstrators delivered
The business problem

What needed solving

Most manufacturers know graphene could transform their products — lighter composites, faster-charging energy storage, flexible electronics — but they cannot source it reliably at industrial quantities with consistent quality. Lab-scale graphene is abundant; factory-scale graphene with tailored properties for specific applications barely exists. Companies need a bridge between the promising science and actual production-ready materials and components.

The solution

What was built

The project built 10 physical demonstrators including flexible printed circuit boards, a flexible radio transceiver, a real aerospace leading edge part from graphene composites, a pilot production line for graphene supercapacitors, bulk graphene production at 5-25 kg/day, roll-to-roll continuous graphene growth equipment (300 mm wide, 1.5 m/hour), flexible sensor arrays, and prototypes of implantable medical devices. In total, 82 deliverables were completed.

Audience

Who needs this

Flexible electronics and PCB manufacturers looking for next-generation bendable componentsAerospace composite suppliers seeking lighter and stronger structural materialsEnergy storage companies developing fast-charging supercapacitor productsMedical device companies exploring graphene-based implantable neural interfacesIndustrial coating and materials companies wanting to add graphene product lines
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Electronics & Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing
mid-size
Target: PCB manufacturers and flexible electronics producers

If you are an electronics manufacturer struggling with rigid circuit boards that limit product design — this project developed flexible printed circuit boards with graphene-related materials and a flexible radio transceiver module. With 71 industry partners already involved in validation, these components open the door to bendable consumer electronics, wearable devices, and compact 5G components.

Aerospace & Advanced Composites
enterprise
Target: Aerostructure and composite parts manufacturers

If you are an aerospace supplier looking for lighter, stronger composite materials — this project manufactured an actual horizontal tail leading edge using graphene-enhanced composites. The production process was developed and demonstrated on a real aerostructure part, not just a lab coupon. This could reduce aircraft weight while improving structural performance.

Energy Storage & Supercapacitors
any
Target: Battery and energy storage system producers

If you are an energy storage company looking for faster-charging alternatives to lithium-ion batteries — this project built a pilot production line for graphene-based supercapacitors using spray-deposition. They also demonstrated bulk graphene production at 5-25 kg per day, which means the raw material supply chain is forming. Supercapacitors charge in seconds and last millions of cycles.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does it cost to access graphene materials or components from this project?

The project data does not include pricing for graphene materials or licensing fees. However, the project demonstrated bulk production at 5-25 kg per day and roll-to-roll continuous growth on 300 mm wide foils at 1.5 m/hour — both indicators that costs are moving toward industrial affordability. Contact the consortium for current pricing.

Can these graphene technologies be produced at industrial scale?

Yes — the project specifically targeted industrial scale-up. They demonstrated bulk graphene production at 5-25 kg per day with tailored properties, continuous roll-to-roll graphene growth on 300 mm web width metal foil at 1.5 m/hour, and a pilot production line for graphene supercapacitors. These are factory-level production methods, not lab techniques.

How does IP and licensing work for these technologies?

With 194 partners including 71 industrial companies and 31 SMEs across 24 countries, IP arrangements are complex and likely vary by work package. Based on available project data, the consortium includes both material producers and end-users, so licensing paths likely exist for different parts of the value chain. Direct engagement with the coordinator at Chalmers University (Sweden) is recommended.

Is this ready for my production line or still experimental?

It depends on the specific technology. The pilot line for supercapacitors and bulk graphene production at 5-25 kg/day are closest to production-ready. The flexible PCB and radio modules have working demonstrators. The implantable medical devices are at prototype stage. Based on available project data, most components sit between TRL 5-6.

What happened after the project ended in 2018?

GrapheneCore1 was the second phase of a 10-year, €1,000,000,000 Graphene Flagship initiative. Subsequent phases continued beyond 2018 with further industrialization. The project website at graphene-flagship.eu tracks ongoing progress and commercial spin-offs from the 194-partner consortium.

Are there regulatory hurdles for graphene products?

The project developed prototypes for regulated sectors including aerospace (leading edge aerostructure parts) and medical devices (implantable devices for recording and stimulation). Based on available project data, regulatory certification was not completed within this phase, meaning additional testing and approval steps would be needed for these applications.

Can my company join or collaborate with this consortium?

The core project has ended, but the Graphene Flagship is a 10-year initiative with evolving membership. With 194 partners across 24 countries and 37% industry participation, the consortium actively seeks industrial partners. The project website graphene-flagship.eu is the entry point for new collaborations.

Consortium

Who built it

This is one of the largest EU research consortia ever assembled, with 194 partners across 24 countries and a total flagship budget of €1 billion. The industry presence is substantial: 71 industrial partners (37% of the consortium) and 31 SMEs, meaning the research is not purely academic — it has serious commercial intent. The coordinator, Chalmers University in Sweden, manages a balanced mix of 85 universities, 35 research institutes, and the industrial block. Countries span from established tech hubs (DE, FR, UK, NL) to emerging markets (BG, EE, HU, PL). For a business looking to adopt graphene technology, this consortium represents a ready-made supply chain — from raw material producers to component makers to system integrators — already working together and sharing knowledge.

How to reach the team

Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden — reach out via the Graphene Flagship website or university research office

Order a report on this consortiumSee CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA AB profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the right graphene technology team for your specific application? SciTransfer can match you with the relevant work package leads from the 194-partner consortium. Contact us for a tailored briefing.

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