IG18125 - Technical, commercial and societal innovations on aerogels towards circular economy (IG18125)

Europe is currently facing challenges linked to the restricted access to resources (scarcity of raw materials and higher costs of energy) in the new environmental paradigm of circular economy and green technologies. As a result, novel European policies range from the identification of a list of critical raw materials (CRMs) to the implementation of strategic projects for economic recovery and transformation (Next Generation EU), including key enabling technologies exploitation as well as energy and cost-efficient resources and processes. Hereinto, circular economy is an approach towards a more sustainable management of resources by the reuse and recycling of products combined with the valorisation of wastes.
ECO-AERoGELS will position aerogel technology in the forefront of the technical solutions facing the current European environmental and circular economy contexts. Innovations will focus on: (i) the product, with new sources from the biorefinery approach, the valorisation of wastes and the recycling of materials; (ii) the process, with its integrations with rationale use of raw materials and energy, as well as the use of emerging green technologies, and the reprocessing of aerogels for the next use; and (iii) the applications, for energy-efficient uses, personalized solutions, and water/air remediation. The research and resulting innovations of ECO-AERoGELS will arise from the ideas cross-fertilization through networking within the consortium, the collaboration through scientific missions and the efficient communication between innovators, including industrial players and business developers. Disruptive technical and commercial innovations will be identified and a business plan for valorisation and exploitation will be generated.
ECO-AERoGELS will also contribute to the dissemination of the research and innovation outcomes resulting from this CIG and to the long-term sustainability of the created international community and European scientific-technological ecosystem generated with the CA18125 Action. A workshop on ECO-AERoGELS outcomes will be allocated at an international conference. A training school will merge knowledge on aerogel technology and circular economy principles. Results from this CIG will be communicated to the society through an opinion paper, a review article, and a a dedicated website as well as in social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, RG). During the CIG, the steps to create an strong international association on aerogels will be carried out, starting with online/hybrid meetings for discussions about its format. One of the objectives of this CIG is to have the inaugural meeting during the ECO-AERoGELS workshop taking place during the CIG's lifetime.