Focusing on three different applications of sol–gel functional materials holding the potential to replace widely employed commercial products with significant economic and technical benefits, this study offers an original perspective on open challenges in sol–gel material science and technology. The applications discussed were selected on the basis of their societal and economic relevance and do not intend to represent the field of sol–gel material in general. The conclusions, however, are of general value and will hopefully aid young researchers and new companies to succeed in their efforts to commercialize chemical innovations based on sol–gel-derived functional materials. Highlights Focusing on three different applications of sol–gel functional materials, this study offers an original perspective on open challenges in sol–gel science and technology. Technical and economic obstacles have limited the industrial uptake of sol–gel functional products to replace conventional products generally based on polymers. For silica-based sol–gel functional products to become ubiquitous in fields today dominated by polymers, the direct route to obtain silicon alkoxides from waste organic (or inorganic) silica must be commercialized on large scale.