#Composites

2025-01-23

JEC Composites Startup Booster 2025: the twenty finalists revealed

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

Innovative composite materials showcased by JEC Startup Booster finalists, demonstrating cutting-edge advancements in textiles and sustainability © 2025 JEC

Initiated in 2017, JEC Composites Startup Booster provides an exceptional networking opportunity, offering increased visibility into the future of the composites industry. Held in three regions (Europe, the United States, and Asia), the competition has already fostered the emergence of over 1,100+ innovative projects from more than 60 countries. It has become an essential springboard for participants seeking international opportunities!

This year, the competition is organized with the sponsorship of Airbus, ProxximaTM (An ExxonMobil Product) and Owens Corning as the main innovation partners, and Mercedes-Benz and Swancor as innovation partners.

Pioneering innovations in composites

The JEC Startup Booster 2025 highlights 20 groundbreaking startups advancing products, materials, and manufacturing processes in the composites industry. These finalists represent a dynamic landscape of sustainable materials, digital manufacturing, and cutting-edge recycling solutions.

Among the most textile-relevant startups:

MCVE Technologie (France) – Innovating smart reinforcing fabrics with embedded electrical circuits for composite materials, enabling functionalities like sensors, heaters, and antennas in glass fiber and bio-based textiles.

Phoenix Carbon (UK) – A leader in sustainable woven carbon fiber, producing high-quality recycled composites at half the cost of virgin material while maintaining full performance, catering to industries like textiles, automotive, and aerospace.

ILSUNG Composites (South Korea) – Developing induction-based recycling for carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP), ensuring high-performance fiber recovery and closed-loop sustainability in composite textiles.

These startups—and many others—are redefining efficiency, recyclability, and sustainability in composites, paving the way for a more innovative and eco-conscious future.

SAVE THE DATE!

Two pitch sessions, each featuring 10 presentations, will take place on the Agora stage (Hall 6):

• Tuesday, March 4 , at 10:00 AM for the Products & Materials category

• Tuesday, March 4, at 4:30 PM for the Processes, Manufacturing, and Equipment category

Three winners will be designated by the jury, along with one winner for the sustainable dimension of the project.

The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday, March 5 , at 5:30 PM in Agora 6.

Read more and explore all finalists:

https://www.jeccomposites.com/

JEC World 2026 returns with an unprecedented content program

Recognized worldwide as the leading trade exhibition for composite materials and their applications, JEC World returns on March 10-12, 2026, at Paris Nord Villepinte as the most ambitious edition to date, in line with its motto “Pushing the limits”. As the must-attend event for the composites industry, JEC World will offer an unprecedented program, blending conferences, markets insights, technical sessions, awards, and above all, a unique experience and invaluable connections.

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.

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.

KARL MAYER at JEC: Multiaxial reinforced CFRP pultrusion profiles are picking up speed in the mobility sector

KARL MAYER Technical Textiles will be showcasing exciting new application potentials for multiaxial non-crimp fabrics in combination with the pultrusion process at the upcoming JEC in Hall 5, Booth C 46. The advancement of the tried-and-tested pultrusion process enables the cost-efficient production of complex CFRP multi-chamber profiles, which are used in the CETROVO high-speed metro. The world's first carbon-intensive lightweight rail vehicle of this type is designed for speeds of up to 140 km/h.

Engineering depth and diversity for composites

Airbond is the latest member of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) to receive recognition for contributions to the composites industry. The engineering firm based in Pontypool, South Wales, has just received the Make UK Energy and Sustainability Award for its Lattice 3D Printing project.

Beyond the wardrobe – innovative cotton takes the spotlight

Cotton can do more – a lot more. Cutting-edge textiles and high-tech products made from 100% cotton prove just how powerfully performance and sustainability can come together. That very surge of innovation is front and centre at the 38th Bremen Cotton Conference, taking place March 25–27, 2026, at Bremen’s Parliament on the historic market square – culminating in a bold and dedicated closing session on Friday. In the spotlight: performance upgrades for pure cotton, smart strategies for circular textile waste solutions, and pioneering concepts for demanding technical applications. From natural fibre–reinforced composites to highly effective flame-retardant solutions, cotton steps out of the closet and shows the future potential woven into every fibre.

Keeping print inclusive: Empowering women in the print industry

Across all industries, cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace is increasingly recognised as valuable and essential to long-term success. However, despite the print industry’s significant advancements in technology and innovation, visible representation of women remains limited. As the sector grapples with low recruitment, it’s important to challenge outdated perceptions. Creating real change, however, requires collective effort - no single company can do it alone.

Texprocess 2026: market overview for strategic future investments

At Texprocess 2026, 200 exhibitors from 28 countries will be represented. In a challenging market environment, the leading trade fair is a constant and reflects progress in textile processing – driven by automation, digitalisation and AI. In addition, international start-ups present their ideas and meet partners from industry and research. Techtextil takes place in parallel with an optimised hall layout.