Materials

Energy efficiency is the invisible backbone of industrial decarbonization. Whether in electric mobility, clean energy systems, or advanced manufacturing, the ability to manage heat effectively determines both performance and sustainability. Yet, insulation, one of the simplest levers for efficiency, remains underserved by innovation and dominated by low-performance materials.

This is the fourth and final part of the four-part series which will dive deeper into Advanced Materials. This series would not have been possible without the research conducted by Sanjana Vijay, Research Analyst Intern at Speciale Invest, whose effort significantly shaped its content.

When researchers at the University of Manchester first isolated graphene in 2004, it sparked global excitement. A single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice—thinner than paper, stronger than steel, more conductive than copper, and nearly transparent—graphene appeared to be a once-in-a-generation material.

In our previous post, we provided an overview of the advanced materials landscape. In this piece, we focus on one of its most commercially mature and widely adopted applications: sealants and adhesives.

From mobility and electronics to infrastructure and energy, advanced materials are enabling a new wave of performance, efficiency, and sustainability. As investors in deep science and emerging technologies, we see them not as a vertical but as a horizontal platform — one that quietly powers progress across industries.In this piece, we define what advanced materials are, explore where and how they’re being adopted, and examine the capital flows accelerating their development.