NEWS

Sharjeel Ahmed Wins Top Research Pitch Award

Sharjeel Ahmed has been awarded 1st Prize in the Research Pitch Competition at Bernal Research Day 2026, organised by YesBernal UL at the University of Limerick. His winning presentation clearly communicated the scientific and industrial impact of the EU‑funded CARBOWAVE project to a broad research audience.

In his pitch, Ahmed showcased how lignin, an industrial wood by‑product generated at nearly 140 million metric tons every year, can be upcycled into high‑value carbon dots. These microwave‑responsive carbon dots enhance the carbonisation phase of carbon fibre production, helping to reduce energy use and support more sustainable manufacturing processes. This approach aligns directly with CARBOWAVE’s goal to advance energy‑efficient, low‑carbon pathways for next‑generation carbon fibres.

Supervision and CARBOWAVE Collaboration

Ahmed’s research is conducted under the CARBOWAVE project at the University of Limerick, supervised by Prof. Maurice N. Collins and Dr. Anne Beaucamp Mc Loughlin. Their guidance, combined with the collaborative environment of the Bernal Institute, supports the development of innovative, bio‑based solutions for advanced materials.

Bernal Institute as a Hub for Research Excellence

Bernal Research Day 2026 once again demonstrated the institute’s commitment to celebrating research excellence, science communication, and real‑world impact across disciplines. By providing a platform for initiatives like CARBOWAVE, the Bernal Institute helps accelerate the translation of sustainable materials research into industrially relevant technologies.

Muhammad Tahir Khan, a CARBOWAVE researcher at the Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, has been recognised for research excellence at Bernal Research Day 2026, earning multiple distinctions for his innovative work on sustainable carbon fibres.

2nd Prize – Research Image Award: “The Ember Dunes of Lignin”

Khan secured 2nd Prize in the Research Image Award with his striking micrograph titled “The Ember Dunes of Lignin.”
The image, resembling glowing desert dunes or an alien landscape, captures the complex microscale architecture of lignin fibres, revealing the hidden beauty of sustainable material precursors.

In the “Thesis in 3 Minutes” (3MT) competition, Khan delivered a clear and concise presentation of his PhD research, showcasing both its scientific depth and industrial relevance.
His talk highlighted how advanced precursor engineering can accelerate the transition toward greener, high-performance composite materials.

Research Focus: Lignin-Based Carbon Fibres in CARBOWAVE

Under the EU‑funded CARBOWAVE project, Khan’s research focuses on optimising precursor blends to enhance the mechanical strength and carbon yield of lignin-based carbon fibres.
This work directly supports the development of more energy-efficient and sustainable carbon fibre production routes, aligning with Europe’s drive toward low‑carbon advanced materials.

Supervision and Research Environment at Bernal Institute

The research is supervised byProf. Maurice N. Collins and Dr. Anne Beaucamp Mc Loughlin at the University of Limerick, within the Bernal Institute’s vibrant interdisciplinary environment.
Bernal Research Day 2026 once again demonstrated the institute’s commitment to fostering research excellence, creativity, and impactful science communication.

New partnership unites EU-funded initiatives to accelerate innovation, knowledge exchange, and the transition to low-carbon, energy-efficient industrial heat solutions.

CARBOWAVE has announced its collaboration with the HEATShift Cluster, a strategic network of EU-funded projects focused on advancing clean energy technologies and improving efficiency in industrial heating. This partnership marks an important step toward reinforcing cooperation among leading research institutions, industry partners, and innovation-driven projects across Europe.

Through this collaboration, CARBOWAVE and the HEATShift Cluster aim to drive forward technological innovation, facilitate knowledge sharing, and support the accelerated transition toward a low-carbon, energy-efficient industrial future. By aligning research efforts and dissemination activities, the partnership seeks to maximize impact and contribute to Europe’s climate and energy objectives.

The HEATShift Cluster actively welcomes projects working in the field of industrial heat decarbonisation and clean energy solutions. By broadening its network, the cluster strengthens collective efforts, fosters synergies among projects, and enhances the visibility and uptake of research outcomes at both policy and industry levels.

Stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to follow the HEATShift Cluster for updates on breakthroughs, joint initiatives, and upcoming collaborations. The cluster brings together prominent partners including the University of Valencia, MUEGGE Group, German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research, Stellantis, Juno Composites Ltd, Fraunhofer IFAM, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, EireComposites, and other leading experts in the field.

For more information or to join the HEATShift Cluster, visit: https://lnkd.in/dQiePCF5

CARBOWAVE partners align on next-phase innovation in microwave-assisted carbon fiber production

Date: 2 December 2025
Category: Project News | Consortium Meeting
Location: Online (Europe-wide)

The CARBOWAVE consortium held its 3rd online project meeting on 2 December 2025, bringing together partners from across Europe to mark 12 months of collaborative progress and to plan the next phase of research and innovation.

The meeting served as a strategic milestone, allowing consortium members to review technical achievements, assess ongoing research activities, and strengthen coordination across work packages. Discussions focused on advancing microwave-assisted carbon fibre production, a key technological pathway aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing the environmental footprint of advanced material manufacturing.

Looking ahead, partners agreed on several priority actions, including the scaling and validation of research results, enhanced digital communication and stakeholder engagement, and the development of impact-driven dissemination materials to strengthen the project’s visibility across European sustainability and innovation communities.

The consortium also reaffirmed its commitment to collaboration, research excellence, and shared innovation, recognising the collective effort of all partners in driving the project forward during its first year.

CARBOWAVE brings together leading academic institutions, research centres, and industry partners, including the University of Valencia, DITF – German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research, Fraunhofer IFAM, University of Limerick, Bernal Institute, Juno Composites, Stellantis, EireComposites, and MUEGGE Group, working together to accelerate sustainable solutions for advanced materials and clean industrial processes.

As CARBOWAVE enters its next project phase, the consortium remains focused on delivering innovative, low-carbon manufacturing solutions that contribute to Europe’s sustainability, climate, and industrial transformation goals.

Driving Novel Approaches in Composite Manufacturing

Valencia, Spain | July 22–23, 2025 — The CARBOWAVE Project held its successful 2nd Consortium Meeting in Valencia, Spain, hosted by the University of Valencia (UVEG) at the picturesque Jardí Botànic de la Universitat de València. The two-day event marked an important step forward in the project’s mission to develop cost-effective, innovative composite materials using advanced microwave-based processing technologies.
Driving Novel Approaches in Composite Manufacturing

Partners from across Europe gathered to assess technical progress and set direction for the next project phase. CARBOWAVE is focused on delivering low-cost, high-performance composite solutions through novel, rapid, and energy-efficient microwave processing, targeting key industrial sectors including automotive, aerospace, and construction.

During the meeting, consortium members presented advancements across several work packages:

• ⚙️ Advanced Material Development
• 🔥 Microwave Heating Treatments and Functional Coatings
• 📢 Dissemination, Communication, and Impact Pathways
• 📊 Project Coordination and Risk Management

The in-person gathering enabled strategic discussions, hands-on collaboration, and alignment around CARBOWAVE’s innovation and manufacturing goals under the Horizon Europe framework.

CARBOWAVE is powered by a strong network of academic, research, and industrial leaders working together to revolutionize composite manufacturing using microwave-enabled technologies. Project partners include:

• Bernal Institute, University of Limerick (Project Coordinator)
• German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF)
• Universidad de Valencia (UVEG)
• Marilena Radoiu, MUEGGE Group
• Centro Ricerche Fiat (CRF)
• Juno Composites Ltd
• ÉireComposites Teo
• Fraunhofer IFAM

Together, they are shaping the future of affordable and innovative material solutions in Europe and beyond.

Project showcases groundbreaking microwave and plasma heating technologies for low-emission carbon fibre production at CINEA-hosted industry event in Brussels.

Brussels, Belgium – The CARBOWAVE project took centre stage at the 1st Clustering Event on Efficient, Sustainable Energy Use in Industry: Unlocking Potential in Heat Conversion and Storage, organised by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).
Representing the CARBOWAVE consortium, Anne Beaucamp Mc Loughlin delivered an impactful presentation highlighting the project’s innovative approach to reducing the energy footprint of composite manufacturing. CARBOWAVE aims to revolutionise carbon fibre production by integrating microwave and plasma heating technologies, offering a more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional methods.
The event brought together a diverse array of EU-funded research and innovation projects, each focused on accelerating the clean-energy transition in industry through advanced materials and clean-tech solutions. With growing emphasis on reducing industrial emissions and boosting energy efficiency, the event provided a vital platform for knowledge exchange and cross-project collaboration.
CARBOWAVE’s participation underscored the project’s commitment to supporting the European Green Deal and advancing climate-resilient, energy-efficient industrial practices.
The presentation attracted significant interest from fellow researchers, policymakers, and industrial stakeholders, highlighting CARBOWAVE’s potential to play a central role in Europe’s green and digital transformation.

At the recent JICI Conference, Natalia Cárdenas Vargas, a researcher specialising in advanced materials, presented new findings that could transform the manufacture of carbon fibre. In a paper entitled “Carbon-Based Suspensions for the Efficient Conversion of Polyacrylonitrile into Carbon Fibres via Microwave Heating,” Ms Cárdenas Vargas described how microwave-assisted processing, combined with carefully formulated carbon‐based suspensions, can accelerate and simplify the conversion of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) into high-performance carbon fibres.

Carbon fibre is prized in aerospace, automotive and renewable-energy applications for its strength-to-weight ratio, yet its conventional production is slow, energy-intensive and costly. By applying microwave heating, Ms Cárdenas Vargas and her colleagues have demonstrated a markedly faster and more energy-efficient route that also lowers environmental impact. Their method promises to reduce processing times, curb emissions and lessen reliance on fossil-based feedstocks, thereby advancing the development of lightweight materials essential to modern engineering.

The work aligns with the broader ambitions of European initiatives such as CARBOWAVE, which seek to deploy microwave and plasma technologies to cut energy consumption and emissions throughout the composites sector. Taken together, these efforts point to a future in which advanced materials can be produced at scale without sacrificing sustainability.

Industry observers will watch closely as the research moves from laboratory demonstrations to larger-scale trials—an important step towards making low-carbon, high-performance composites a mainstream reality.

Introducing CARBOWAVE

“Transforming Carbon Fibre Production with Science, Innovation, and Sustainability”