#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 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.

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.

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.

Sicomin appoints CS Kompozyty as exclusive Distributor for Poland

Sicomin is pleased to announce the appointment of CS Kompozyty as its exclusive distributor for Poland. The partnership will provide Polish composite manufacturers with comprehensive access to Sicomin's broad range of performance epoxy resins, green epoxies, hardeners, and adhesive solutions, supported by local technical expertise and rapid delivery capabilities.

MEL Composites and Carrocerías Ayats collaborate on lightweight composite window frames

MEL Composites is proud to announce its ongoing collaboration with Spanish bus and coach manufacturer Carrocerías Ayats, showcasing the benefits of advanced composite technologies and scalable manufacturing processes originally developed for the sporting goods sector. The joint development of lightweight composite window frame covers demonstrates how MEL’s process innovation can be successfully transferred to the transportation industry to meet new regulatory and performance goals.

Happy Holidays!

Dear reader, the year 2025 is drawing to a close. We are entering what we hope will be a peaceful holiday season, spending time with our families and taking a moment to pause and reflect. We hope we have been able to support you once again this year with relevant news and articles, and we look forward to surprising you with many innovations in the coming year. Enjoy the festive season, stay healthy, and we wish you a happy and joyful holiday season.

Texpertise Focus AI: Messe Frankfurt puts Artificial Intelligence centre stage at its international textile and apparel trade fairs

Under the banner 'Texpertise Focus AI, Messe Frankfurt will place a strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its international textile and apparel trade fairs from 2026 onwards, setting a future-shaping signal for the industry. The initiative highlights the responsible use of AI along the entire textile value chain, from fibre production to the point of sale. The programme will launch at Heimtextil in Frankfurt in January 2026.

Autoneum and Polestar set new benchmarks for passenger experience and sustainability

As the global market leader in sustainable acoustic and thermal management, Autoneum is a key supplier of interior and exterior components for the highly anticipated Polestar 5 model. The successful collaboration between Autoneum and Polestar marks a significant milestone in sustainable automotive engineering: the electric grand tourer sports car features several innovations in lightweight, fully recyclable polyester-based components that ensure a superior driving experience. Polestar 5 was revealed at the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich and is available in 24 markets.