Many new materials are constantly being developed and researched, and the results suggest enormous potential for innovative technological advances
Official opening of Webit Summer Edition 2023, on June 28, at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia (Bulgaria) is an exciting opportunity for leaders, experts and all those interested in new materials and trends in their use to meet and exchange ideas.
Many new materials are constantly being developed and researched, and the results suggest a huge potential for innovative technological advances in various fields such as energy, electronics, biomedicine, construction, agriculture, etc. Some of these new materials that are gaining attention recently are:
Graphene is an ultra-light material made of a single layer of carbon atoms; it has significant electrical conductivity, extremely low resistance, and tens of times the strength of steel with potential applications in electronics, military, and more.
Aerogels are extremely light and porous materials with low density, low thermal conductivity and excellent thermal insulation properties with potential applications in construction, environmental protection, etc.
Shape-memory alloys are materials that can “remember” their original shape and return to it when heated; they have high strength, low magnetic loss, and excellent flowability with potential applications in aerospace, electronics, and more.
Nanocellulose is a light, strong and sustainable material produced from plant fibers; has good biocompatibility, water-holding capacity, and a wide range of pH stability with potential applications in construction materials, biomedicine, etc.
Bioplastics are plastics produced from renewable sources of biomass, such as corn starch, sugar cane or potato starch; they are naturally degradable and reduce dependence on fossil resources, i.e. less environmental pollution with potential applications in packaging, agriculture, etc.
During the last edition of Webit Founders Games in January 2023, ELEPHANT IN A BOX, an innovative materials company from the United States, was among the finalists of the competition. The company’s mission is to revolutionize the furniture and construction industry. Founded in 2020 by Daniela Terminel and Reham Khalifa, the lady-led startup takes honeycomb structures from airplanes and racing cars to sofas and sectionals by developing and patenting HoneyComb Support Technology (HoST). The products are made of paper, the material is 100% biodegradable and recyclable. They take up minimal space during transport and storage when compressed. The production process involves significantly fewer components, making it simpler and faster. From the customer’s point of view, the products are stronger, easier to move and also kinder to the environment.
Visionary Review of TOP 10 Tech Trends:
1.Future of Impact
• Energy
• Planet & Climate Tech
• Smart Cities
• Mobility
• New Materials
• Food & AgTech
2.Future of business
• Web3
• Marketing
• SaaS
• FinTech, Defi
• Big/Small Data
• Defense
• Space
• Logistics
• Ecommerce
• ESG
3.Future of Health
• Synthetic Biology
• BioTech
• LifeScience
• Therapeutics
• Digital Health
• Wellness
• Longevity
4.Future of Entertainment
• Digital Media
• Neo Content
• AI Companions
• MarTech / AdTech
• Fashion
5.Future of Work
• Robotics
• AI, ML
• EdTech
• Metaverse
• Collaboration
• Brain Machine Interfaces
• Enterprise
• Voice, Haptics
• Ambient AI Computing
Source: Webit (https://www.webit.org/2023/impact/)
