Participants will help identify priority materials, manufacturing pathways, market applications, and near-, mid-, and long-term opportunities for coal-derived carbon materials.
Coal Innovation & Materials Summit
June 3–4, 2026 | Walter Hall | Ohio University | Athens, Ohio
Coal Innovation & Materials Summit
Advancing U.S. Manufacturing, Energy, and National Security Interests
Convened by Ohio University’s Russ College of Engineering and Technology
Free, invitation-only event
Event Overview
The Coal Innovation & Materials Summit will convene leaders from industry, government, national laboratories, and academia to advance the future of coal-derived and carbon-based materials in the United States.
Coal and carbon-based materials are foundational to U.S. energy systems, advanced manufacturing, defense applications, infrastructure, and strategic supply chains. As the United States works to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on foreign sources of critical materials, coal-derived carbon products represent an important opportunity for innovation, commercialization, and regional economic growth.
Hosted by Ohio University’s Russ College of Engineering and Technology, the Summit will bring together stakeholders across the coal value chain to align around domestic feedstocks, carbon materials production, commercialization pathways, manufacturing scale-up, and national strategy.
Where Strategy Meets Implementation
Coal and carbon-based materials have the potential to play a larger role in the next generation of U.S. manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, and national security applications.
Across the country, researchers, companies, federal agencies, and regional partners are working to advance new uses for coal-derived carbon materials, including graphite, carbon composites, construction materials, and other high-value products. These technologies offer opportunities to strengthen domestic supply chains, create new markets for coal-producing regions, and support U.S. competitiveness in strategic materials and manufacturing. The Coal Innovation & Materials Summit is designed to help align these efforts by bringing together the people and organizations needed to move promising technologies toward commercial deployment.
The Coal Innovation & Materials Summit is intentionally structured to move beyond discussion toward coordinated execution. Through plenary sessions, cross-sector panels, technical breakout tracks, and facilitated working groups, participants will contribute to a set of outputs intended to inform federal investment, industry deployment, project development, and long-term collaboration.
The Summit will focus on four core outcomes:
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A Shared National Framework: Coal-to-Carbon Materials Roadmap
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From Concept to Deployable Projects: Investment-Ready Initiatives
The Summit will help identify high-priority pilot, demonstration, and first-of-a-kind manufacturing opportunities that can be advanced through public-private collaboration.
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Alignment Across Programs: Funding and Policy Coordination
Discussions will explore how federal, state, and regional funding tools — including programs across DOE, DOD, EDA, ARC, and state economic development agencies — can support coal-to-carbon innovation and commercialization.
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Sustained Collaboration: Carbon Materials Working Group
The Summit will help establish a foundation for ongoing coordination among industry, research institutions, policymakers, national laboratories, and economic development partners.
Day One: Strategy, Markets, and Manufacturing Reality
Day One will focus on the strategic importance of coal materials, the market and manufacturing realities facing emerging technologies, and the role of domestic coal-derived feedstocks in strengthening U.S. supply chains.
10 to 11 a.m.: Welcome & Registration
11 a.m. to Noon: Opening Plenary + Q&A: The Strategic Importance of Coal
Noon to 1 p.m.: Lunch
1 to 1:45 p.m.: Coal-to-product Manufacturing and Scale-Up Realities
1:50 to 2:30 p.m.: National Security, Supply Chains, and Strategic Materials
2:45 to 3:45 p.m.:
- TRACK A: Domestic Feedstocks-to-Carbon Technologies
- TRACK B: Manufacturing, Supply Chain Independence & National Security
- TRACK C: Commercialization Pathways & Industry Needs
4 to 4:30 p.m.: Impact: Regional Growth & Economic Opportunity
5 to 6 p.m.: Russ Research Opportunity Center Facility Tour
6 to 8 p.m.: Networking Reception & Dinner
Day Two: Roadmapping, Coordination, and Execution
Day Two will focus on translating Summit discussions into a coordinated path forward. Participants will engage in working sessions around technology pathways, market demand, qualification requirements, capital formation, policy alignment, and project development.
8 to 9 a.m.: Breakfast, Coffee & Networking
9 to 9:45 a.m.: Morning Plenary: Coal Innovation Roadmap: From Research to Commercialization
10 to 11 a.m.:
- TRACK A: Technology & Manufacturing Pathways
- TRACK B: Markets, Demand Signals & Qualification
- TRACK C: Capital, Policy & Project Development
11:15 a.m. to Noon: Closing: From Symposium to Strategy
Noon to 1 p.m.: Lunch
Why Ohio University?
Ohio University is uniquely positioned to serve as a neutral convener and execution partner at the intersection of research, industry, and public policy.
Through its Russ College of Engineering and Technology, Ohio University is advancing research and collaboration in energy, materials science, advanced manufacturing, and commercialization. The University’s work in coal-derived carbon materials positions it as a valuable partner in connecting research capabilities with industry needs, federal priorities, and regional economic opportunity.
Through this Summit, Ohio University will help bring together the stakeholders needed to advance a more coordinated national strategy for coal-derived carbon materials and related manufacturing opportunities.
The Summit reflects Ohio University’s role as:
- A translator between research, markets, capital, and policy
- A catalyst for regional and national project development
- A leader in carbon materials science and applied innovation
From Convening to Execution
The Coal Innovation & Materials Summit is designed to translate cross-sector dialogue into coordinated action.
By bringing together stakeholders from across the coal value chain — including feedstock suppliers, researchers, manufacturers, end users, policymakers, funders, and commercialization partners — the Summit will help identify shared priorities, strengthen collaboration, and advance practical pathways for future project development.
The goal is clear: move promising coal-derived carbon materials technologies from research and innovation toward manufacturing, deployment, and market impact.
Registration
The Coal Innovation & Materials Summit is a free, invitation-only event.
To request an invitation or learn more about participation opportunities, please contact:
Hotel Accommodations
The Ohio University Inn & Conference Center
331 Richland Avenue, Athens, Ohio, United States, 45701
Reservations must be made prior to Friday, May 15, 2026, to receive the discounted rate. Rooms reserved after the release date, or once the block is full, will be accepted based upon availability and at the regular published rate.
