Seven-figure grant for researcher producing carbon fibre from wood
Michael Hummel, the recipient of the much sought-after ERC Starting Grant, knows that there is a great need for more affordable carbon fibre.
Professor Michael Hummel awarded a Proof of Concept grant from the European Research Council
The ERC grant facilitates the commercialisation of developments that evolved from ERC-funded research projects.
Professor Michael Hummel has received 150 000€ to develop his bio-based carbon fibre Proof of Concept (PoC) ready for commercialisation. Every year the ERC awards grants to help in assisting with such things as developing viability and direction, clarifying intellectual property, market studies and additional research. Hummel received the ERC Starting Grant for his project -Unlocking the Entire Wood Matrix for the Next Generation of Carbon Fibers (WoCaFi)-in 2016.
Professor Hummel’s project aims at creating and scaling bio-based carbon fibres that can be used in composite materials as modern, lightweight and cost worthy solution for replacing metal components in the automotive industry. ‘The carbon fibre reinforced composite (CFRC) elements provide significant weight reduction while maintaining the necessary strength and safety properties needed for cars’, Professor Hummel says.
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The ERC evaluates each PoC proposal based on the following points:
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