- EIB supports Italian materials manufacturer BeDimensional to scale up production of cutting-edge graphene.
- BeDimensional to expand production more than tenfold following inauguration today of Genoa plant.
- EIB financing backed by InvestEU, the investment programme of the European Union.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is offering Italian materials manufacturer BeDimensional SpA financial support to expand production of cutting-edge graphene that promises to help Europe bolster its industrial base and global competitiveness. The EIB is providing €20 million in venture debt financing to BeDimensional to help it become a leading producer of breakthrough two-dimensional crystals known as Few-Layer Graphene (FLG) and Few-Layer Hexagonal Boron Nitride (FLhBN or FLB).
EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and BeDimensional Chief Executive Officer Vittorio Pellegrini announced the financing accord at the inauguration today of the company plant in Genoa that is the world’s first producer of FLG and FLB. BeDimensional plans to build a second plant in Italy to scale-up production of FLG and FLB by 2027.
BeDimensional’s new graphene technologies have shown unprecedented performance in batteries for electric vehicles and a new generation of metal-free engine oils. As a result, the technologies mark a milestone in Europe’s green transition and will herald job creation in Italy’s advanced-manufacturing sector.
“This project is a perfect example of how the EIB can help European innovators scale up new technologies that are critical for the EU’s industrial base and the green transition,” said EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti. “We are contributing to Europe’s technological leadership, reducing our dependence on external suppliers and creating high-skilled jobs.”
With EIB support, which is backed by the InvestEU programme, BeDimensional plans to increase its capacity to produce two-dimensional crystals more than tenfold to over 30 tonnes a year by 2028. Today’s plant inauguration was attended by academics, researchers, members of Italy’s Parliament officials from the Liguria Region and the Municipality of Genoa, executives from BeDimensional’s partner companies and financial-sector representatives.
“We are at the beginning of novel greentech market opportunities,” said BeDimensional CEO Vittorio Pellegrini. “We are excited and grateful that the EIB has decided to join our investors to support our industrial expansion. We are committed to becoming a champion of this emerging market of two-dimensional crystals, securing Europe a leadership position in the production and supply of these advanced materials.”