Case Studies

At the quantum level, fundamental particles have counterintuitive properties. They can exist in multiple states simultaneously, a phenomenon, termed “superposition” (electrons or photons can be both “1” and “0” at the same time), or be correlated in a nonclassical way, no matter how far apart they are (the so-called “entangleme...

Urban electronic waste (e-waste) contains elements critical to both modern technology and the European economy. Many of these, such as lithium used in batteries, or samarium used in permanent magnets, are produced outside of Europe. As these elements are responsible for the functionality of a technology, they are often referred...

Humidity at unsuitable levels can cause unwanted effects in a range of industrial and commercial sectors. In food production, high humidity can stimulate the growth of bacteria, mould, and fungi, causing food spoilage. During semiconductor production, humidity in process gases even at trace level can compromise quality, product...

Advanced manufacturing is recognised as a critical technology for the EU’ s economic security, and, since 2023, the EC’s Chips Act has mobilised over 80 billion euros in semiconductor manufacturing and R&D. Thousands of steps are required to produce silicon wafers and it is important that these are defect free and function as ...

In 2021, the European Commission adopted the EU Action Plan “Towards a Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil” - a key deliverable of the European Green Deal. As the maritime sector accounts for 14 % of the EU’s CO2 emissions from transport, regulations like the FuelEU Maritime Initiative (adopted in 2022) have been created to ...

Advanced industrial manufacturing is considered by the EU to be a Key Enabling Technology as this sector is an important driver for European employment and prosperity. One factor limiting the miniaturisation of electronics is battery size. An emerging area that could address this is piezoelectric nanowires. These are sub-micron...