We are pleased to share that our new COMET module has been approved for funding!
Under the title “Renewable Materials for Energy Harvesting and Energy Storage – Renew4EHS”, this ambitious project brings together expertise from all areas of Wood K plus. The focus lies on developing electronic systems made from renewable materials that are not only high-performing and energy autonomous but also environmentally sustainable:
At the end of June 2025, The Austrian program “Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies” (COMET) has approved funding for six new COMET modules. The six newly approved COMET modules represent a total investment volume of EUR 22.5 million. They focus on high-risk projects beyond the state of the art and are dedicated to key future fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum engineering, bioeconomics, and sustainable energy. The submissions demonstrate both thematic breadth and scientific depth – and underscore the attractiveness of the funding line. The statements from the ministers and the managing directors of the FFG regarding this funding can be found in the official press release on the FFG website.
https://www.ffg.at/presse/startschuss-fuer-13-neue-comet-initiativen
From Wood K plus, the project titled “Renewable Materials for Energy Harvesting and Energy Storage – Renew4EHS” has been approved for funding, with a total project volume of
EUR 3.75 million. The project will run for four years, from 2026 to 2029, and bring together partners from across Europe and beyond. The consortium includes 14 industry partners and four scientific institutions, reflecting a strong commitment to interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration. Renew4EHS is supported by contributions from all areas of Wood K plus, making it a cross-cutting initiative within the center. We are excited to embark on this ambitious research effort, which is closely aligned with our long-term sustainability goals.
Below is a short abstract outlining the project’s main objectives and scope.
The Renew4EHS project aims to develop high-performing, energy-autonomous electronic systems from renewable and biodegradable materials. By integrating substrates such as bacterial nanocellulose and fungal mycelium with conductive carbon-based inks, the project targets fully sustainable triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerators for energy harvesting. Complementary to this, sodium-ion capacitors with bio-based separators will be designed to enable efficient, rapid, and stable energy storage.
The core research goals include:
- Development of biodegradable substrates for energy systems
- Formulation of recyclable, carbon-based conductive inks
- Realisation of sustainable energy-harvesting technologies
- Design of sodium-ion capacitors using renewable materials
- Integration of self-powered, environmentally friendly electronic systems
Renew4EHS supports the transition toward sustainable digitalisation and circular economy by enabling sensor-driven AI applications in fields such as structural health monitoring, wood construction, textiles, and smart process automation