Pioneering Sustainable Nanoelectronics: Blue Synergy Celebrates the Successful Conclusion of the NANOMAT Project
The Horizon Europe-funded NANOMAT project has successfully concluded, marking a transformative milestone in the evolution of European technology by establishing the entirely new domain of flexible power RF nanoelectronics.
For decades, flexible electronics were restricted by emitted power levels peaking around 500 milliwatts, leaving a significant technological gap for demanding applications such as conformal antennas for avionic radars and lightweight flexible antennas for satellite Internet of Things arrays, which require power levels approaching or exceeding ten watts. By heterogeneously integrating carbon-based nanomaterials, wide-bandgap III-nitrides, RF MEMS, and innovative organic cooling platforms, the initiative successfully delivered pioneering flexible transceiver components and circuits that bridge this critical power gap.
Throughout the project’s lifecycle, the consortium developed two prototypes of escalating innovation and complexity to validate the technology. The first was a medium-power, Ka-band hybrid integrated proof of concept tailored specifically for satellite communications. The effort then culminated in a second demonstrator, which was a high-power, X-band fully monolithic flexible RF transceiver designed for next-generation avionic radars.
Within this highly interdisciplinary framework, Blue Synergy proudly led the key tasks dedicated to environmental sustainability and circular economy integration, ensuring that these technological leaps did not come at an ecological cost while incorporating circularity principles into their development. More specifically, our team spearheaded comprehensive Life Cycle Assessments and Life Cycle Costing analyses, embedding eco-design principles directly into the early stages of the prototypes’ development. We rigorously evaluated potential environmental impacts across the entire life cycle of the RF transceiver devices, analyzing impact categories such as climate change, human toxicity, resource depletion, and cumulative energy demand. Simultaneously, our economic assessments identified vital cost reductions spanning the planning, acquisition, operation, and disposal phases of the new technologies.
Furthermore, Blue Synergy formulated robust circularity strategies to measure and facilitate the transition toward a circular economy within the targeted value chain. This involved analyzing key performance indicators focused on the efficient use of materials, mitigating supply chain risks, monitoring material scarcity, and establishing dedicated recovery and recycling pathways to responsibly manage the end-of-life phases of these advanced flexible devices.
Patricio Cano, Sustainability Engineer at Blue Synergy, stated: “working in the NANOMAT was a great opportunity to contribute to the development of pioneering flexible RF nanoelectronics while integrating environmental sustainability and circular economy principles from the early stages of technological development. It was also a highly rewarding experience to collaborate with an excellent European consortium at the forefront of next-generation deep-tech innovation”.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the project coordinator, Thales, as well as to the entire European consortium for their exceptional collaboration, dedication, and technical excellence. This remarkable success reinforces Blue Synergy’s steadfast commitment to fostering sustainable innovation and supporting high-impact European research across next-generation deep tech and nanoelectronics.
