Summary: With the growing attention and interest in humanoid robots, there are still questions around go-to-market strategies for humanoid players. IDTechEx analysis reveals that around 80% of the humanoid products and prototypes in development are designed for industrial settings. This is key as applications settings guide the materials requirements and choices. This article from IDTechEx discusses the key materials considerations for humanoid robots and the challenges ahead.

Hydrogen is described by IDTechEx as 'a key enabler of energy transition' in the latest webinar on green hydrogen. This article covers some of IDTechEx's latest research on the hydrogen sector, as well as the key technologies working behind the scenes.

Creating electronic products that can still be streamlined and use as few materials as possible is one goal for the printed electronics industry. IDTechEx's portfolio of Printed & Flexible Electronics Research Reports and Subscriptions covers in-mold electronics and conductive inks.

Join IDTechEx Technology Analyst Dr Felix Wei on Thursday September 17 for the expert-led webinar, "100 Years of PHAs: Is Biomanufacturing Finally Ready for Take-Off?". Choose your preferred time zone - the webinar runs three times in one day.

Hydrogen is one natural gas that is proving to be a great source of renewable energy as far as decarbonization goals are concerned. Fuel cell vehicles, stationary fuel cells, and green hydrogen production are amongst the areas covered in IDTechEx's portfolio of Hydrogen Research Reports and Subscriptions.

The price of crude oil once again spiked to over US$100/barrel on September 9th 2026, with crude oil exports via the Strait of Hormuz being highly restricted since conflict in the Middle East began in March. IDTechEx believes that these developments provide a significant growth driver for the bioplastics industry in 2026 and beyond.

Thermal runaway and system safety are critical topics when it comes to using lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries in electric vehicles. A key focus for the EV industry is the need to apply fire protection materials to prevent or delay thermal runaway propagating between cells and eventually outside of the battery pack. With growing regulatory momentum and safety standards, this article from IDTechEx looks at the outlook for fire protection materials market.

Industrial biomanufacturing is outgrowing its dependence on corn- and sugarcane-derived feedstocks, with lignocellulosic biomass and C1 gases like methane and CO₂ emerging as scalable, lower-cost alternatives. This shift is set to reduce land-use competition, improve sustainability, and unlock new cost reduction opportunities across the sector.

Thermal management strategies are the underdogs of modern technologies, reducing the risks of overheating in cases where exponentially increasing demand for power can lead to component temperatures rising.

IDTechEx's portfolio of Advanced Materials & Critical Minerals Research Reports is one of its most diverse, covering the latest developments across many advanced materials including conductive inks, graphene, and more.

While the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz has increased petrochemical prices, bioplastics remain consistently more expensive than conventional fossil plastics. In this article, IDTechEx explores how new legislation is required for bioplastics to overcome the green premium and grow their market share by providing secure demand for new capacity expansions by key bioplastics players worldwide.

This article explores the emergence of alternative conductive inks for printed electronics. The rising cost of raw and bulk silver is causing the inflation of conductive inks that rely on silver flakes as a conductive element, and alternatives such as copper ink and carbon inks are being developed.

IDTechEx analyst Dr Haynes assesses the alternatives to fossil-based plastics in this brief video.

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR) will begin rolling out from August 2026, introducing stricter requirements for packaging recyclability, recycled content, transparency, and producer responsibility across the EU. Chemical recycling is expected to play an important role in helping companies comply with these rules by enabling difficult-to-recycle materials, such as multilayer packaging and mixed plastic waste, to be processed into valuable recycled feedstocks. The regulation also establishes ambitious recycled-content targets through 2040, strengthening the case for mass balance accounting approaches that support chemically recycled materials. IDTechEx believes these regulatory changes are likely to be a major driver for the growth and adoption of chemical recycling technologies in the coming decade.

Substituting fossil fuel-based products with bio-alternatives is increasingly feasible as the development of new renewable feedstocks supports the commercial production of bio-based products including plastics, fuels and chemicals.

The production capacity for low-carbon ammonia will grow to 56.5 million tonnes in 2036.

As part of the device miniaturization trend happening worldwide, consumer electronics are becoming increasingly streamlined, with conductive inks, flexible batteries, and other technologies making this possible.

Electric vehicles are continuing to play a vital role in decarbonizing the transport industry as they help with the shift away from fossil fuel reliance with their utilization of battery technologies. This article covers micro EVs, materials, and thermal management.

Cobalt-chromium (CoCr) has long been the gold standard for articulating surfaces in hip and knee implants, but concerns over metal ion release are driving a wave of alternative materials. This article explores how ceramics, ceramic coatings, ceramicized metals, and PEEK are positioning to challenge CoCr's dominance.

The demand for products and services with more sustainable credibility is driving innovations across materials sectors, including gas separation membranes, composite materials for green energy, and next-generation feedstocks.