CED-Pro-NANO: A European Centre for Nanofiber Innovation

Project overview

CED-Pro-NANO is a proposed Centre of Excellence for the research, development and pilot production of advanced polymer nanofibers. Developed by M-TEchX EU, the project is designed to connect scientific research, digital simulation, pilot manufacturing and application testing within one integrated facility.

The centre will support the development of MAGIC FIBER™ and other advanced nanofiber solutions for filtration, oil absorption, thermal and acoustic insulation, water treatment, electromagnetic shielding, infrared protection, agriculture and non-clinical biomedical applications.

The challenge

Developing a new nanofiber material currently requires companies to work across separate laboratories, simulation platforms, pilot facilities and testing centres. This fragmentation increases development costs, extends validation cycles and makes it difficult to maintain complete traceability between a formulation, its production parameters and its final performance.

Europe also has limited access to integrated pilot-scale nanofiber infrastructure, increasing dependence on non-European research and production capabilities.

The proposed solution

CED-Pro-NANO brings the entire development process under one roof:

• Molecular and polymer modelling

• AI-assisted materials discovery

• Laboratory formulation and screening

• Pilot meltblown production

• Controlled finishing and prototyping

• Advanced material characterization

• Application and performance testing

• Digital-twin validation

• Series 0 prototype production

Every experiment will be digitally traceable, connecting the raw-material batch, formulation, machine configuration, process data, test results and final prototype.

A facility designed around the complete workflow

The centre is planned for a narrow 15 × 110-metre site. To preserve fire access, maintenance routes and safe logistics, the feasibility study proposes a 10 × 90-metre building with a partial first floor.

The resulting facility will provide approximately 1,230 m² of usable space, including:

• Polymer and formulation laboratories

• Pilot meltblown production hall

• ISO 8 transition areas

• ISO 7 critical prototype-finishing areas

• Characterization and testing laboratories

• AI, VR and digital-twin workspace

• Quality, data and project-management areas

• Dedicated technical and utility spaces

From digital design to physical validation

CED-Pro-NANO is designed as a closed-loop research environment. Scientists will first model materials and production behaviour digitally, then test formulations at laboratory scale before moving successful concepts onto the pilot production line.

Results from microscopy, thermal analysis, mechanical testing, filtration testing and other instruments will feed back into the digital models. This allows the team to refine materials faster, reduce unnecessary trials and create reproducible development records.

The proposed digital ecosystem includes:

• BIOVIA Materials Studio

• COMSOL Multiphysics

• ANSYS Fluent and Polyflow

• Citrine Platform or Microsoft Discovery

• NVIDIA Omniverse

• Unity Industry and Microsoft HoloLens

• Dassault 3DEXPERIENCE

• Integrated LIMS, ELN and QMS systems

Research platforms

Filtration

Nanofiber media developed for efficient particle capture with controlled airflow resistance and improved chemical or thermal stability.

Oil and chemical absorption

Selective, hydrophobic materials designed to absorb oils while limiting water uptake, with research focused on retention, reusability and safety.

Thermal and acoustic insulation

Ultra-light nanofiber layers developed for buildings, transportation systems and industrial equipment.

EMI and infrared protection

Functionalized polymer, graphene and multi-material structures researched for electromagnetic shielding and infrared management.

Water treatment

High-flux nanofiber supports and functional membranes developed for improved retention, fouling control and pressure stability.

Biomedical and agricultural materials

Non-clinical prototypes for controlled-release systems, scaffolds, protective agricultural materials and other specialized applications.

Designed for industrial translation

The centre will combine a flexible laboratory module with a modular meltblown line capable of operating between approximately 0.5 and 30 kg per hour.

Its purpose is not conventional mass production. CED-Pro-NANO will help technologies advance from laboratory proof of concept toward pilot validation, industrial qualification and Series 0 production—allowing partners to verify performance before investing in full manufacturing capacity.

European impact

CED-Pro-NANO will give universities, SMEs and industrial partners access to advanced nanofiber development infrastructure within Europe. The centre is expected to reduce development risk, shorten the path from research to production and support European technological sovereignty in advanced materials.

The mature operating model targets:

• Six active research platforms

• 40–60 pilot campaigns per year

• 8–12 prototype families

• 25–35 validated testing methods

• At least three technologies validated at TRL 6–7

• 30–50 researchers and technicians trained annually

• A 20–30% reduction in trial materials and development time for selected platforms

Key figures

€10M
Target investment budget

1,230 m²
Planned occupied floor area

0.5–30 kg/h
Flexible pilot-production capacity

24 months
Estimated implementation period

6 platforms
Mature research target

TRL 4 → TRL 6–7
Planned technology progression

Project status

CED-Pro-NANO is currently presented as a concept-level feasibility project for funding preparation. Its layout, budget and technical scope demonstrate that the centre is feasible within the identified site and investment ceiling, subject to final engineering, permitting, funding validation and supplier quotations.