The World Gold Council has established itself as the authority on the technology markets for gold
In the technology sector we create value by supporting the current uses of gold and by accelerating the emergence of new technologies.
In order to be successful in these activities, the World Gold Council has established itself as a respected and credible authority on the use of gold in technology. Our expertise is utilised by manufacturers, end-users, the research network and other key stakeholders in the industry.
By continuously monitoring the global research landscape for new gold-based innovations and technology, we are able to identify and progress with key market development initiatives.
Current uses
Gold is used in a diverse range of industrial applications. From catalysts to nanotechnology, gold is often the material of choice for advanced technological applications.
However, sometimes the exceptional technical performance offered by gold is overlooked due to cost pressures. We seek to bring balance to the material selection process, communicating through relevant channels to the various stages of the value chain. We educate decision makers about the technical advantages of gold, in order to maintain gold’s position as the material of choice in numerous industrial applications.
An example of our work relates to the electronics sector, where gold demand exceeds 300 tonnes per year. The electronics industry continues to view gold as a key material for many components and applications, especially in transport, telecommunications, information technology and other high performance and safety critical applications. Where the circuitry is complex or the required reliability is high, gold is still the preferred choice.
Emerging technologies
As well as working with existing users of gold, we also look to create additional demand by partnering with industry to more effectively to support emerging technologies. We work with other world-class organisations and companies, both large and small, who are leaders in their field. Partnering with organisations enables us to accelerate the rate at which promising innovation is turned into practical new uses of the metal, stimulating greater demand.
Early-stage technologies often struggle to attract the interest of investors capable of bringing them to market. We believe our role is to help relevant gold-based technologies bridge this ‘funding gap’, so that many of them ultimately evolve into successful commercial uses, bringing societal benefits. Where appropriate we make direct investments in promising technologies, where this will help new technologies to overcome hazards on the road to commercialisation.
