Ceramics is widely perceived as a construction and cladding material, yet this view conceals a far broader and more strategic reality. Advanced ceramic materials sit at the core of today's most critical industries: semiconductors, energy, healthcare, electric mobility, aerospace and defense. Technical and functional ceramics — with unique electrical, thermal, mechanical and optical properties — represent one of the fastest-growing segments in industrial materials, with a global market exceeding $12 billion annually and growth rates of 7-9% per year.
The ceramic clusters of Castellón, Sassuolo and Foshan built their leadership on high-volume, general-consumption ceramics. The transition toward advanced functional materials calls for investment in R&D, new technical capabilities and different business models. While each cluster is already exploring this field, none has yet made a full strategic commitment to technical ceramics.
This panel brings together leading technology and industry experts to demonstrate, through real cases, how advanced ceramic materials are shaping the future of multiple sectors, positioning ceramics not as a commodity but as a 21st-century strategic technology — from tile to semiconductor.
The Challenge
How can the traditional ceramics industry move up the value chain?
The clusters of Castellón, Sassuolo and Foshan have built their competitive advantage around high-volume ceramic production. The strategic question is how much of the transition towards advanced functional materials can be achieved within existing ceramic clusters, and how much will require the development of entirely new industrial ecosystems.
Session Objective
To demonstrate, through real-world examples and insights from leading industrial and technology experts, how advanced ceramic materials are shaping the future of multiple sectors, positioning ceramics not as a commodity, but as a strategic technology of the 21st century, with breakthrough applications in energy, healthcare, electronics and mobility.
