EIB Supports BeDimensional with €20 Million to Boost Graphene Production and Green Tech Innovation in Europe

EIB Supports BeDimensional with €20 Million to Boost Graphene Production and Green Tech Innovation in Europe

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided €20 million in financing to BeDimensional SpA, an Italian materials manufacturer, to expand production of advanced graphene and other two-dimensional materials. This investment, backed by the InvestEU programme, will help BeDimensional scale up production of Few-Layer Graphene (FLG) and Few-Layer Hexagonal Boron Nitride (FLB), which are crucial for green technologies like electric vehicle batteries. The new production plant in Genoa is the first of its kind, and BeDimensional plans further expansion to meet growing demand, supporting Europe’s green transition and strengthening its industrial base.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 18-Oct-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide €20 million in financing to Italian materials manufacturer BeDimensional SpA to significantly scale up its production of cutting-edge graphene and other advanced two-dimensional materials. The funding, supported by the InvestEU programme, will enable BeDimensional to expand its output of Few-Layer Graphene (FLG) and Few-Layer Hexagonal Boron Nitride (FLB), key components in technologies that are essential to Europe’s green transition and industrial competitiveness.

The announcement was made during the inauguration of BeDimensional’s new plant in Genoa, which is the world’s first producer of FLG and FLB. The company plans to build a second plant in Italy by 2027, aiming to increase production capacity more than tenfold to over 30 tonnes per year by 2028. These advanced materials have demonstrated unprecedented performance in electric vehicle batteries and sustainable technologies, contributing to Europe’s efforts toward environmental sustainability and the creation of high-skilled jobs in Italy’s advanced manufacturing sector.

“This project showcases how the EIB can support European innovators in scaling up breakthrough technologies crucial for the EU’s industrial base and green transition,” said EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti. “Our investment will help secure Europe’s technological leadership and create high-skilled employment opportunities.”

BeDimensional’s CEO, Vittorio Pellegrini, expressed excitement for the collaboration with the EIB, saying, “We are grateful for the EIB’s support as we expand our capacity to lead Europe in the production of two-dimensional crystals, marking the beginning of a new era of green technology.”

Graphene’s revolutionary potential spans industries such as energy storage, smart textiles, and battery technology. In particular, its role in enhancing battery performance for electric vehicles is expected to accelerate the adoption of sustainable transport solutions across Europe, aligning with the EU’s decarbonization goals.

Background information

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It finances sound investments that contribute to EU policy. EIB projects boost competitiveness, foster innovation, promote sustainable development and improve social and territorial cohesion while supporting a fair and rapid transition towards climate neutrality. Over the past five years, the EIB Group has provided more than €58 billion in financing for projects in Italy.

The EIB provides a long-term Venture Debt product tailored to meet the specific funding needs of rapidly growing innovative companies. This financing structure features bullet repayments and compensation tied to the equity risk of the investees, complementing existing venture capital investments. Since 2015, the EIB has invested €6 billion in Venture Debt, backing over 200 companies and realising over 50 exits. For more information on Venture Debt, click here: Venture debt (eib.org)

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps to mobilise private investment for the European Union’s strategic priorities such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings all EU financial instruments previously available for supporting investments within the European Union together under one roof, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme has three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is allocated through implementing partners that will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

BeDimensional is a leading producer of Few-Layer Graphene (FLG) and Few-Layer Hexagonal Boron Nitride (FLhBN or FLB). Its mission is to scale up production of these two-dimensional crystals for industrial use at competitive costs, revolutionizing manufacturing with more efficient and sustainable materials. As a spin-off from the Italian Institute of Technology’s Graphene Labs, BeDimensional leverages deep scientific expertise to drive rapid industrialization. Its patented process produces FLG and FLhBN with atomic-level thickness, the highest quality on the market, which can easily be integrated into any material to enhance performance and durability. BeDimensional’s technologies are applied across industries, in energy storage and conversion products, smart textiles, paints, coatings, and composite materials. Its growth potential has attracted major investors, including Eni Next and venture capital funds like CDP Venture, Eureka! Venture, and Nova Capital. The EIB investment follows BeDimensional’s collaboration, since its founding, with the EU’s Graphene Flagship, the community’s largest investment in research and development dedicated to bringing 2D materials to market.

Media Contact:

Lorenzo Squintani
l.squintani@eib.org
+352437982528

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SOURCE: European Investment Bank