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As the computing power of artificial intelligence chips hits limits due to cooling issues, as new energy batteries seek to improve their endurance, and as brain-computer interface technologies require more biocompatible materials, the global industry is turning its attention to one and the same material – graphene. Recently, reporters learned from several experts that this single-layer two-dimensional material composed of carbon atoms, after years of exploration in industrial applications, is now entering an era of widespread use thanks to its excellent electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Due to the need for customization, it has broad prospects for industrial application. In the past, graphene was considered a material that existed only in theory. Scientists generally believe that the intense thermal vibrations of carbon atoms at room temperature prevent single-layer carbon atoms from remaining stable, causing them to break down into tiny spherical structures. However, in 2004, British physicist Andre Geim and his student Konstantin Novoselov successfully separated graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, from graphite using a roll of ordinary tape. This “tear” not only led to the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics, but also opened the door to two-dimensional materials. Konstantin Novoselov, one of the discoverers of graphene, said: “Graphene has been applied in various fields such as batteries, electronic devices, and heat management, and it has also led to breakthroughs in areas like carbon capture and hydrogen energy.” I believe that in the future, more Nobel Prizes may be awarded in the field of graphene. ”Graphene is not a single material, but rather a “family of materials”. As Gao Chao, a professor at Zhejiang University and founder of Hangzhou Gaoyi Technology, said: “Graphene with different forms, molecular structures, and defects exhibits varying properties, which provides broad prospects for its industrial application.” ”Whether it is perfect single crystals grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), functionalized graphene oxide prepared by redox methods, or mechanically exfoliated powders, each form can find its application in specific scenarios. This “customization based on needs” feature enables graphene to be adapted to the requirements of different industries, laying the foundation for its large-scale industrial application. Moving toward pragmatism: a shift from \"industrial flavor enhancers\" to \"vitamins\". Liu Zhongfan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, described the current graphene industry as having \"great prospects but a long way to go.\" He pointed out that as a new and emerging industry, graphene is still in the initial stages of development as a whole. Li Yichun, president of the China Graphene Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance, divides the development of the graphene industry into three phases: from 2013 to 2015 was the period of \"investment fever\" in this industry ； From 2015 to 2018 was a period of relatively rational adjustment in investment ； In 2018, Huawei’s smartphones began to use graphene-based cooling technology, marking the entry of the industry into a phase of high-quality development that focuses on practical application value and addressing **major needs. He believes that graphene’s role in the industrial chain is shifting from that of an “industrial seasoning” to that of a “vitamin,” with its practical value continuing to increase. This evolutionary process is also confirmed on a global scale. “The graphene industry has gone through a phase of intense enthusiasm followed by a return to rationality; today, capable companies are rapidly driving the development and industrialization of this sector. ”Konstantin Novosholov pointed out that a few years ago, the applications of graphene were mainly limited to concepts such as battery composites and thermal management; whereas now, high-tech products such as optoelectronic applications, modulators, and photodetectors are gradually making their way to the market, and the industry is showing an increasingly healthy development trend. At the practical application level, graphene has made the transition from a concept to a practical technology. In the field of new energy, it acts as a conductive additive to improve the performance of lithium batteries, enabling their large-scale commercial use ； In the field of hydrogen energy, the commercial application cost of graphene aerogel hydrogen storage tanks has been significantly reduced ； In the field of electronic chemicals, graphene thermal interface materials provide a robust thermal management solution to enhance AI computing performance ； In the field of biomedicine, the world’s first clinical implantation of a graphene brain-computer interface has been successfully carried out. Through collaborative innovation, a positive circular ecosystem can be established; the healthy development of industries relies on the support of such a favorable ecosystem. China’s graphene industry has developed a comprehensive support system ranging from **strategic to local policies. According to Wang Hongchang, assistant secretary-general of the New Energy Chamber of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and secretary-general of the Energy Storage Committee, as the technologies for the preparation and application of graphene materials continue to mature, a positive cycle of technological breakthroughs, practical implementation in various applications, and scale expansion has emerged in the field of new energy. However, the industry faces issues such as high production costs, low levels of standardization, and difficulties in expanding downstream applications; the key to overcoming these challenges lies in \"collaborative innovation\". Liu Zhongfan believes that the development of the graphene industry cannot succeed through individual efforts alone; there is an urgent need to establish an ecosystem for collaborative innovation among academia, industry, research institutions, and end-users. This requires scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to \"share the same ship and bear shared responsibilities,\" while also necessitating coordination between the government and the market to create a reliable environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. Gao Chao emphasized: “As graphene moves from the laboratory to the market, collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions can accelerate the transformation of innovative technologies into industrial applications.” In the future, it is necessary to continuously innovate the industry-academia-research mechanism, so that researchers can not only serve as the main force in research and development but also become the driving force behind industrialization, thereby facilitating the implementation of more new application scenarios. ”Li Naihu, director of Chint Group’s Research Institute and vice president of Chint Electric, added that while higher education institutions focus on knowledge-driven approaches, enterprises pay more attention to market-driven factors. By establishing joint R&D centers with universities and research institutes, it is possible to combine the demands of the market with the R&D resources available in universities, thereby promoting technological and product innovation together. At the same time, innovative achievements can also be incubated within the company to facilitate their industrial application. Driven by quality, shaping new paths for future industries – Li Yichun predicts that over the next decade, graphene will enter an era of widespread application. He further explained that as silicon-based technologies approach their physical limits, carbon-based materials, particularly two-dimensional materials such as graphene, are expected to play a key role in driving the next generation of information technology advancements. The EU’s Graphene Roadmap (2023 edition) states that by 2030, the global demand for graphene is expected to rise to as much as 170,000 tons per year, indicating a huge potential for production. Reporters have learned that the key areas for graphene growth over the next decade are already clear. Firstly, in the field of heat dissipation, as the demand for AI computing power surges, chip cooling has become a key bottleneck. Graphene-based heat dissipation technology has been adopted by giants such as NVIDIA and Huawei, and it is expected to give rise to a market worth hundreds of billions in the next decade. Secondly, carbon-based chip technology is beginning to take shape. In 2024, Chinese and American researchers jointly developed the world’s first functional semiconductor made of graphene, whose carrier mobility is 10 times that of silicon. Thirdly, our country is at the global forefront in the original research and development of graphene fibers and similar materials, which have the potential to replace existing high-end composite materials such as carbon fiber. Konstantin Novosholov noted that over the next decade, the graphene industry will focus on three key areas: sustainable development, healthcare, and communications. With the continuous development of various new battery technologies, graphene may play an important role in them. In the field of communications, particularly quantum communication, the terahertz frequency band has attracted significant attention with the development of 6G technology. Antennas made of graphene material can play an irreplaceable role in terahertz systems. Furthermore, Europe has invested significant resources in conducting in-depth research on the applications of graphene in healthcare. “The development of the graphene industry requires international cooperation and complementary strengths. For enterprises, especially small and medium-sized ones, only by possessing the necessary industrialization and manufacturing capabilities can they achieve sustainable development in business and the market. ”Francesco Bonacelsso, a member of Italy’s **Research Council and one of the planners of the EU’s Graphene Flagship Program, said. Wang Hongchang believes that from high-efficiency energy storage batteries to flexible photovoltaic materials, and from intelligent thermal management to mild catalytic carriers, the deep integration of graphene with new energy sources is not only a key factor in reviving emerging industries but also an important breakthrough for gaining an advantage in the global competition in new energy technology. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan, as graphene is adopted on a larger scale in various applications within the new energy sector, China’s graphene industry will accelerate its transition from leading in terms of scale to leading in terms of quality.