NEWSPEC aims at the production of Carbon Fibres (CFs) through very promising low-cost sustainable polyethylene (PE) precursors. PE can be derived from three independent sources: bio-ethanol, synthetic oil and recycled plastics. A main attribute of this project is the use of an available pilot scale facility (HPFC) that allows design and optimization of continuous CF processing and, at a later date, easy scale up to a larger industrial size plant.For PE stabilisation an original dry oxidation method, assisted by Electron Beam Curing (EBC), that introduces heteroatoms at the precursor stage is proposed. The new approach has technical, economic and ecologic advantages thus ensuring very innovative and flexible development of new CFs. Novel strategies for the reduction of the graphitisation temperature via the use of nucleation agents such as cellulose nanowhiskers, CNTs and fine graphite powders are envisaged. The partners will also explore the possibility of surface modification via atmospheric plasma techniques and room-temperature grafting with specific surface-attacking chemicals. Online non-destructive laser Raman probe, that can provide in situ information for the development of the various fibre structures during the processing stages, will be developed and installed at HPFC.Specific carbon composite prototypes will be manufactured and tested by the end-users during the lifetime of the project to ensure the validation of CF functionality for the final components with this ensuring proper exploitation of results. To prove overall environmental and economic sustainability LCA and LCC are implemented within all phases of the project.NEWSPEC brings together the best available expertise in Europe for the development of the PE-CFs up to mature exploitable technology. It consists of RTD performers with well-documented experience in CFs development and industrial end-users who are specialist in the target market segments. Half of the partners are European SMEs.