Graphene nanomaterial developed in Olomouc recognised among Europe’s most promising innovations

A nitrogen-enriched graphene nanomaterial (GN3) for energy storage in supercapacitors, developed by researchers at the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) of Palacký University Olomouc, has been included in the European Commission’s Innovation Radar database as a technology with strong commercial potential. The material has been assessed as highly market-ready, with significant potential to create new markets. Palacký University, which coordinated the prestigious European Innovation Council project TRANS2DCHEM, has also been recognised among the project’s key innovators.

CATRIN: Graphene nanomaterial developed in Olomouc recognised among Europe’s most promising innovations

Innovation Radar is a European platform that identifies promising innovations and key innovators emerging from research and innovation projects funded by the European Union.

“This is a great honour and recognition of our work. The excellent assessment within the Innovation Radar platform demonstrates the potential of CATRIN—and of Palacký University as a whole—to transform scientific discoveries into products with strong commercial potential. Recognition by independent experts highlights the technology’s high level of market readiness, which is exceptional even in the context of other outstanding projects supported by the European Innovation Council,” said Jiří Navrátil, Technology Transfer Coordinator at CATRIN.

The nitrogen-enriched graphene electrode material, based on graphene—a two-dimensional material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms—was developed by researchers in Olomouc seven years ago. It originated from Michal Otyepka’s prestigious European Research Council project focused on the 2D chemistry of fluorographene.

In the following years, researchers demonstrated the material’s significant potential for electrical energy storage, particularly in supercapacitors, which represent a promising alternative to today’s widely used lithium-ion batteries. Development of prototype supercapacitors with unique properties began under the prestigious European Innovation Council project TRANS2DCHEM, in collaboration with partners from Bar-Ilan University in Israel and the Italian company ITELCOND. The next logical step was the establishment of the spin-off company Atomiver, which has been operating since 2024.

“The continuous growth in global energy consumption and the rapid expansion of electronic devices are driving strong demand for high-performance, stable energy storage components. Our electrode material is unique because it pushes the current limits of commercially available technologies, particularly in terms of volumetric energy density—the amount of electrical energy that can be stored within a given volume. Compared with existing technologies, our material enables several-fold higher energy density. Its inclusion in the Innovation Radar database encourages us to continue developing the technology and bring it closer to commercial production,” said Michal Otyepka, one of the inventors of the technology and co-owner of the spin-out company.

The material is protected by several international patents, which have been licensed by Atomiver from Palacký University.

“Supercapacitors incorporating our graphene material could one day help ensure the safe operation of large data centres, Internet of Things (IoT) networks, transport systems, grid-scale energy storage, electronics for space applications and implantable medical devices,” added Veronika Šedajová, one of the inventors of the technology.

The significance of the technology was previously recognised when Atomiver was selected for the NATO DIANA accelerator programme, one of only 74 companies chosen from more than 2,600 applicants. The company has also received support from CzechInvest through its Technology Incubation programme.

“We are currently in intensive discussions with investors, who have shown strong interest in the technology, not least because the electrode material we have developed also has considerable potential for applications in other industries,” said Andrew Hladký, Director of Atomiver.

Innovation Radar serves as a platform for investors, entrepreneurs and the wider public to discover emerging technologies.