#Composites

2025-12-04

JEC World 2026 reveals the list of finalists for the Innovation Awards

Each year, the JEC Composites Innovation Awards recognize collaborative, innovative, and ambitious projects that illustrate the potential of composite materials. Created in 1998, this benchmark program aims to identify, promote, and reward the most innovative composite solutions worldwide. In 28 years, the JEC Composites Innovation Awards have attracted more than 2,200 participating companies from around the world. A total of 269 companies and 811 associated partners have been recognized for the excellence of their innovations.

The competition is open to companies, universities, or R&D centers with a compelling concept or collaborative innovation to present. The JEC Composites Innovation Awards also offer a leading international platform, allowing the selected innovations to benefit from increased visibility among a professional audience attentive to new trends in composites.

For this edition, 154 applications were submitted, of which 33 finalists were selected, and a winner will be chosen in each of the 11 categories:

Aerospace – Parts (DAHER, Flying Whales, Spirit AeroSystems)

Aerospace – Process (Airborne, CTC GmbH - An AIRBUS Company, Leibniz University Hannover)

Automotive & Road Transportation – Parts (ENGEL Austria GmbH, BMW Group, M GMBH, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.)

Automotive & Road Transportation – Process (University of Technology Chemnitz, Gestamp Autotech Engineering Deutschland GmbH, Cygnet Texkimp)

Circularity & Recycling (IDI Composites International, Toray Advanced Composites, Angeloni Group)

Digital, AI & Data (Purdue University, The University of Southern Queensland, AIMEN Technology Centre)

Maritime Transportation & Shipbuilding (Ampelmann Operations, Loiretech Ingénierie, Carbo-Link AG)

Pipes, Tanks & Hydrogen (TWI Ltd, COVESS, CTC GmbH - An AIRBUS Company)

Railway Vehicles & Infrastructure (Stratiforme Industries, Composite Braiding Ltd, G12 Innovation)

Renewable Energies (Synthesites, CSSI New Composite Products Development, METYX)

Sports, Leisure & Recreation (bespline, Toray Carbon Fibers Europe, fenix composites)

Projects will be evaluated by an international jury.

The winners of the JEC Composites Innovation Awards 2026 will be announced at the JEC World Premiere on January 12, 2026, in Paris. This event will also present the highlights of JEC World 2026 and announce the 20 startups selected for the JEC Startup Booster competition.

JEC World Première will be live-streamed online on January 12, 2026.

Launch of the first JEC Forum Middle East

JEC is proud to announce the signature of a strategic collaboration agreement with the OSP and IFC Promosalons, the representative of JEC in the region. The major agreement aims to organize a series of events dedicated to Composite Materials held in Saudi Arabia for the first time in the Middle East starting in June 2025. The events will facilitate the creation of opportunities for local and international companies and accelerate the adoption of sustainable materials across multiple industries in the region.

JEC World 2025: a record-breaking 60th edition driven by innovation and circularity

After 3 dynamic days of intense business interactions, expertise sharing, and knowledge exchange, the 60th edition of JEC World 2025 has reaffirmed the pivotal role of the composites industry in building a more sustainable future. Under the unifying theme “Pushing the Limits,” the event showcased the extraordinary versatility and innovation of composite materials that continue to redefine lightweighting, performance, and design possibilities for an increasing number of applications.

JEC Composites Startup Booster 2025 winners

In just eight years, JEC Composites Startup Booster has established itself as a global reference for entrepreneurship in the composites industry in 2025. Over a hundred entrepreneurs, startups, and university spin-offs submitted their applications, with 20 selected as finalists. From March 4 to 6, these finalists have the opportunity to present their projects before an expert jury on the JEC World stage.

MEL Composites delivers advanced hull infusion for Técnico Solar Boat’s hydrogen-powered São Gabriel 01

MEL Composites has reinforced its partnership with Técnico Solar Boat through the successful hull infusion of the São Gabriel 01, an 8m long, 2.4m wide, hydrogen-powered hydrofoiling vessel. Designed to compete at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge in July 2026, the São Gabriel 01 is the team’s most technically demanding project to date and showcases the future of sustainable marine engineering by combining advanced composite manufacturing with clean energy systems.

Award-winning research for sustainable carbon fibre cycles

Sustainable recycling of carbon fibres is possible through targeted electrochemical surface modification, which makes the sizing of carbon fibres resistant to solvolysis. ITA PhD student Sabina Dann was awarded the MSW Award from RWTH Aachen University for her master's thesis on this development. The award ceremony took place on 12 November 2025 in Aachen.

Eastman introduces Naia™ Lyte at Première Vision Paris, marking a major breakthrough in fiber tenacity for cellulose acetate filament yarn performance

Eastman unveils Naia™ Lyte, a new cellulose acetate filament yarn that represents an important milestone in performance for lightweight and premium fabrics, at Première Vision Paris. Presented for the first time to the international fashion and textile community, Naia™ Lyte expands the capabilities of acetate yarn by introducing enhanced tenacity, unlocking new creative and technical possibilities for designers, mills and brands.

“Action helps us change what we do!”

DAY 0 takes place deliberately before PERFORMANCE DAYS begins. It is conceived as a space for reflection, dialogue and active engagement — a moment to pause before the fair, rethink established systems and address sustainability not as a trend, but as a fundamental transformation challenge. Under the guiding metaphor “Turn the Tap Off”, DAY 0 focuses on root causes rather than symptoms, systemic change rather than isolated solutions, and collective responsibility rather than individual silos.