Published 11/17/2023

JEC World 2024 spotlights composites sustainability, innovation

This past year’s JEC Innovation Planets and awards are returning, with new opportunities like Country on Stage, a Building & Infrastructure Planet and more villages dedicated to specific aspects of the industry.

Edited by: Grace Nehls

Senior Managing Editor, CompositesWorld

The forthcoming edition will serve as a focal point for addressing the challenges in achieving sustainability goals within the composites industry. Conferences and panels will spotlight material solutions like natural fibers and recycled products, alongside processes leveraging automation and digitalization.

This past year, JEC World 2023 drew a large audience interested in specific sectors like wind, aerospace and transportation, showcasing research reports and industry case studies. The event boasted 1,200+ exhibitors, 40,200 professional visits and 26 pavilions. There were also 11 Innovation Award and three Startup Booster winners. CW shared some of its own part one, part two and part three technology highlights from the show.

What’s in store for JEC World 2024? In addition to the returning Innovation and Startup Booster Awards, three Country on Stage are to take place on the Agora stage, unveiling characteristics, trends and strategies in Italy, Michigan (U.S.) and France.

For the JEC Innovation Awards, partnered with Kordsa, all companies, R&D centers and their partners can apply before Nov. 26, 2023. Winners will be revealed during a ceremony a month prior to JEC World, on Feb. 8, 2024, in Paris.

The awards jury is comprised of industry luminaries from global companies and research institutions:

Hüseyin Ates, CTO and compounding BU leader, Kordsa
Pr. Alan Banks, innovation and industrial engagement supervisor, Ford Motor Co.
Pr. Christophe Binetruy, professor at Centrale Nantes/Nantes Université
Tamara Blanco, composite materials and processes engineer and expert, Airbus
Dale Brosius, executive VP/chief commercialization officer, IACMI – The Composite Institute
Michel Cognet, chairman of the board, JEC
Dr. Karl-Heinz Füller, manager future exterior and materials, Mercedes-Benz
Dr. Sung Ha, professor at Hanyang University
Guy Larnac, technical domain coordinator for materials, structures and industrialization JTFR, Ariane Group
Pr. Véronique Michaud, head of laboratory for processing of advanced composites (LPAC), EPFL
Pr. Kiyoshi Uzawa, professor/director, Innovative Composite Center, Kanazawa Institute of Technology

For Startup Booster awards, the call for entries is open until Dec. 3, 2023. Following this, 20 startups will be selected by JEC and its partners Airbus, Owens Corning and Mercedes-Benz. Out of the 20 finalists, three winners will be selected during the pitching sessions of the show: one in a “Materials & Products” category, one in a “Process, Manufacturing & Equipment” category and a “Sustainability” award.

The jury of this year Startup Booster contest include:

Jelle Bloemhof, head of composites manufacturing technologies, Airbus
Dr. Karl-Heinz Füller, manager future exterior and materials, Mercedes-Benz
Raphaele Leyendecker, managing director, Techstars
Chris Skinner, VP strategic marketing, composite, Owens Corning

Exhibitors and attendees can also expect the return of the JEC Innovation Planets, showcasing pioneering applications in mobility, aerospace, ground transportation and debuting the Building & Infrastructure Planet. Additionally, dedicated areas like the Natural Fibers Village, Campus Village, the Startup Booster Village, the SME Village and Live Demonstration Area will spotlight specific aspects of the industry. A Discover Composites area will cover the history of composites in the sports industry.

Learn more about JEC here.