Panel Discussion Ⅰ- Material Intelligence for Circular Economy: From Digital Material Traceability to Sustainable Value Creation

Session Chair: Dr. Alireza Moghayedi, University of the West of England, UK

Panel Discussion Information:

The transition towards a circular economy requires not only the development of advanced functional materials but also new approaches for tracking, managing, and recovering material value across complex supply chains. Emerging digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Product Passports (DPPs), Blockchain, Digital Twins, and Digital Material Banks (DMBs) are creating new opportunities to transform material traceability into actionable intelligence that supports resource efficiency, circularity, and sustainable value creation. However, significant challenges remain regarding interoperability, governance, scalability, data quality, and real-world implementation across different sectors.
This session will explore how digital and technological innovations can enable material intelligence throughout product lifecycles, supporting circular economy objectives in industries such as construction, manufacturing, electronics, energy storage, polymers, and advanced materials. The discussion will examine the role of digital traceability, lifecycle data management, AI-driven decision-making, blockchain-enabled transparency, and circular business models in enhancing material recovery, reuse, and value retention.
The session targets researchers, industry practitioners, policymakers, technology developers, material scientists, sustainability professionals, and circular economy stakeholders interested in the intersection of materials, digital innovation, and sustainability.
Expected outcomes include identifying current challenges and emerging opportunities in digital material management, sharing best practices and cross-sectoral experiences, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and developing recommendations for future research, policy, and industry implementation pathways that accelerate the transition from digital material traceability to sustainable value creation.

Panel Discussion Keywords:

•Circular Economy

•Material Intelligence

•Artificial Intelligence (AI)

•Digital Product Passports

•Material Traceability

•Digital Material Banks

•Blockchain

•Digital Twins

•Resource Recovery and Reuse

•Sustainable Value Chains