On 10 June 2026, the ACCORDS project brought together researchers, industry representatives, data scientists and safety assessment experts from across Europe and beyond for the online workshop “From Imaging to Insight: A FAIR Knowledge Infrastructure for Integrated Characterisation and Safety Profiling of Graphene-Family Materials.”

The event provided an overview of the project’s latest achievements in the characterisation of graphene-family materials (GFMs), highlighting how advanced imaging techniques, interoperable data management and FAIR principles can support safer innovation and more reliable safety assessment of advanced materials. The session also included a live demonstration of the ACCORDS Knowledge Infrastructure (KI), a key project outcome designed to transform complex experimental data into reusable knowledge for researchers, industry and regulators.

Advancing the Characterisation of Graphene Materials

Opening the event, ACCORDS Coordinator Prof. Damjana Drobne (University of Ljubljana) introduced the project’s vision and its focus on addressing the challenges associated with the characterisation and safety profiling of graphene-family materials through advanced imaging approaches.

Unlike many previous initiatives, ACCORDS has concentrated on correlating different imaging techniques and linking them with established physicochemical and biological characterisation methods. This integrated approach aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of material properties while supporting robust safety assessment strategies.

The workshop showcased how the consortium has evaluated a range of imaging and non-imaging methods to characterise graphene materials across different applications and lifecycle stages, from raw materials to final products.

Bridging Research and Industrial Needs

Representing the industrial perspective, Alexander Doolin (Haydale) discussed the growing importance of reliable characterisation methods as graphene-based products move towards large-scale commercialisation.

He highlighted the challenges faced by industry when assessing raw materials, monitoring functionalisation processes and ensuring consistent product quality. Standardised and transferable characterisation workflows are becoming increasingly important not only for product performance but also for regulatory compliance, occupational safety and market acceptance.

The presentation emphasised how ACCORDS is helping to bridge the gap between advanced laboratory characterisation and practical industrial quality-control requirements.

Understanding Material Complexity Through Imaging

The workshop also explored the role of imaging techniques in revealing the complex morphology, structure and chemistry of graphene-family materials.

Dr. Vasile-Dan Hodoroaba (BAM) presented the project’s work on correlated physicochemical characterisation, explaining how imaging methods can be used to evaluate key descriptors such as lateral size, thickness, number of layers, aggregation state, porosity and structural defects. A recurring theme throughout the presentation was the importance of sample preparation and the challenges associated with obtaining reliable quantitative measurements for highly heterogeneous materials.

The results generated within ACCORDS are contributing to a more harmonised understanding of graphene characterisation and helping establish common frameworks for reporting material properties.

Supporting Safe and Sustainable Innovation

A significant part of the workshop focused on the relationship between material properties and biological responses.

Prof. Mary Gulumian (North-West University, South Africa) presented the project’s efforts to correlate physicochemical characteristics with toxicological outcomes, supporting the development of safer and more sustainable graphene materials.

The work includes evaluating the applicability of existing OECD test guidelines to graphene-family materials and identifying potential methodological limitations, particularly regarding sample preparation and assay interference. The findings are expected to contribute to future standardisation efforts and facilitate the regulatory acceptance of test data.

From Images to Knowledge

The second half of the workshop focused on one of ACCORDS’ most innovative outcomes: the development of a FAIR Knowledge Infrastructure capable of connecting protocols, datasets, images and publications into a single interoperable environment.

Dr. Kerstin Jurkschat (University of Oxford) outlined the challenges associated with image acquisition, annotation and machine-learning readiness, highlighting the need for curated image repositories and standardised workflows to support future AI applications.

Building on this, Dr. Barry Hardy (Edelweiss Connect) presented the conceptual foundations of the Knowledge Infrastructure, emphasising the distinction between data, knowledge, evidence and understanding. He explained how FAIR principles are being applied not only to datasets but also to protocols, methods and evidence, creating a foundation for reproducible science, transparent risk assessment and future AI-assisted decision-making.

The ACCORDS Knowledge Infrastructure includes:

• Structured repositories for protocols, datasets and image collections;
• Harmonised metadata and interoperability standards;
• Material characterisation passports and reporting tools;
• APIs enabling integration with external applications;
• Resources supporting future AI and machine-learning workflows.

Live Demonstration of the ACCORDS Knowledge Infrastructure

During the live demonstration, Asmaa Ali (Edelweiss Connect) guided participants through the platform, showing how researchers can upload protocols, link materials and datasets, manage image repositories and generate material passports and reports.

The demonstration illustrated how the Knowledge Infrastructure supports traceability, collaboration, data reuse and FAIR compliance while providing practical tools for data exploration, reporting and future knowledge mining activities.

The platform represents a significant step towards creating a sustainable digital ecosystem for advanced materials characterisation and safety assessment.

Looking Ahead

As ACCORDS enters its final months, the workshop provided a valuable opportunity to share progress, gather feedback and explore future applications of the project’s results.

The consortium reiterated its commitment to making the Knowledge Infrastructure, datasets, protocols and associated tools publicly accessible, supporting broader adoption by the scientific community and stakeholders working in advanced materials, nanotechnology and Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) approaches.

The event concluded with an invitation to researchers, industry representatives and regulatory stakeholders to engage with the project and explore how FAIR data infrastructures can accelerate the safe development of next-generation materials.

Watch the Recording

Missed the event or would like to revisit the presentations?

The full workshop recording is available on the ACCORDS YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcaU7PG-qnc

Discover how ACCORDS is transforming advanced materials characterisation by connecting imaging, data, knowledge and safety assessment within a FAIR and interoperable framework.