Advanced materials are materials intentionally designed to exhibit new or improved properties, enabling enhanced functionality, performance, and sustainability compared with conventional alternatives. They underpin strategic sectors and critical technologies. For example, advances in battery materials, lightweight composites and semiconductor materials are helping to improve performance, reduce resource intensity and, in some cases, diversify supply chains by reducing dependence on specific materials or production processes.
At the same time, they raise unresolved issues around dependence and independence, safety, lifecycle impacts, classification and risk assessment (e.g. nanotoxicity, bio-material interactions). Policymakers are therefore examining how to support innovation and deployment while addressing governance and policy considerations related to managing safety, sustainability and lifecycle impacts.
Organised by the OECD Global Forum on Technology, this webinar on advanced materials for strategic sectors will bring together experts from academia, industry, government and the OECD to discuss technological frontiers, strategic sector impacts and emerging policy considerations.
