Graphene Flagship and Tetra Pak Hold Joint Marketplace Event

The Graphene Flagship, one of the largest research endeavours funded by the European Commission, is joining forces with its new associate member, Tetra Pak, as part of a Graphene Marketplace event to be held on 27-28 October 2019. In the historic venue of San Carlo Church in Modena, Italy, a public lecture will show how Tetra Pak is planning to use graphene. The event will be joined by Konstantin Novoselov, Physicist and 2010 Nobel Prize Laureate, who will explain the potential of graphene technology.

Following the public lecture on Sunday, the Graphene Marketplace event will take place at Tetra Pak's facilities in Modena, Italy, on Monday. Graphene Marketplaces are an initiative launched by the Graphene Flagship to promote graphene applications with industrial partners. Marketplace events are organised in collaboration with partners to showcase the cutting-edge research and development in the Graphene Flagship, with the aim of exploring new possibilities for graphene related materials.

"Graphene has the potential to revolutionise a range of processes and industries," explained Novoselov. "Since Graphene's first isolation in 2004, we have seen tremendous success and marketplace application of the material within electronics and automotive industries, I'm looking forward to the next phase of the Graphene Flagship and exploring potential innovations in the packaging industry."

Tetra Pak became a Graphene Flagship Associated Member in June 2019. The marketplace event will solidify this alliance and bring together experts in the field of graphene technology alongside Tetra Pak's experts in food packaging.

The event will welcome important stakeholders in the Graphene Flagship, including Graphene Flagship Vice Director Vincenzo Palermo, Science and Technology Officer Andrea Ferrari from Graphene Flagship partner Cambridge University, UK, and Alberto Bianco from the Graphene Flagship partner CNRS, France. All of these speakers will share their expertise around the applications of graphene, its use in production and potential impact on health and the environment. Prototypes will be present from other industry partners of the Graphene Flagship, such as Airbus and Fiat, to demonstrate other commercial applications of graphene.  

On 29 September 2019, a related event will take place and welcome industries from the Consortium Research Centre and Technological Innovation (CRIT) to the Tetra Pak offices. CRIT supports companies developing process and product innovation by enabling technology transfer between member companies, through organised exchanges of best practices. This day will encourage collaboration of different stakeholders, academic experts and various industries, all of whom are exploring the application and potential of graphene. 

"One of the main drivers of Tetra Pak joining the Graphene Flagship is our ambition for innovation," explained Sara De Simoni, VP Tetra Pak, Equipment Engineering. "As the only representative from the packaging industry, our membership puts us at the forefront of cutting-edge research. 

"Being an Associated Member of the Graphene Flagship will allow us to tap into the highest-level research centres, experts, Nobel prize laureates and producers of graphene that are fundamental to ensuring the development of quality innovation."

"This joint event is yet more clear evidence that the Graphene Flagship is proceeding towards its goal as planned, supporting EU companies in adopting graphene-based technologies," Palermo added. "The number of prototypes we can showcase increases year after year, as well as the interest from European industries from aerospace to packaging."

The Graphene Marketplace will strengthen the Graphene Flagship's connection to industry, demonstrating tangible examples of the latest research and prototypes one step closer to the factory floor.