Month: June 2025

On 23 May 2025, the RELIANCE project was featured at the 1^st Swiss Sustainable Polymer Conference (SSPC) in Fribourg, Switzerland. This inaugural event marked a significant milestone as the first nationwide Swiss platform dedicated to fostering dialogue and collaboration between science and industry in the field of sustainable polymers.

The conference brought together researchers, industry representatives, startups, and public stakeholders, offering a rich programme of expert presentations, laboratory tours, and innovation showcases focused on the sustainable transformation of the plastics industry.

RELIANCE was presented by Prof. Roger Marti from The School of Engineering and Architecture (HEIA-FR), who introduced the project through a poster and a dedicated booth. The presentation highlighted RELIANCE’s ambitious work in developing bio-based, circular-by-design polymers, and its contributions to the European Union’s green transition goals. The booth attracted strong interest, especially from stakeholders eager to understand how RELIANCE’s approach can contribute to a more sustainable, low-carbon polymer economy. The event provided an excellent platform to raise awareness of the project, foster connections with like-minded initiatives, and explore potential avenues for collaboration.

Key Themes of the SSPC Conference:

Circular economy and sustainable design

The circular economy is a transformative model that aims to eliminate waste and promote the continuous use of resources. Key principles of this concept were explored, including the prevention of waste through design, the retention of products and materials in use, and the regeneration of natural systems. Case studies of successful initiatives of circular economy were presented, demonstrating the economic, environmental and social benefits of this sustainable approach.

Biopolymers

Biopolymers are a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. This section covered the development, applications and environmental benefits of biopolymers. Presentations covered different types of biopolymers, their biodegradability and the potential they offer for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. The session also addressed key challenges in production, performance and market acceptance.

Recycling

In this session, the latest technologies and methods for recycling polymers were explored. Presentations showcased mechanical and chemical recycling processes, innovations in sorting and processing technologies, and the economic and environmental benefits of effective polymer recycling. The focus was on overcoming current challenges and scaling these technologies to make a significant impact on reducing plastic waste.

Check the poster presented during the conference here.

On June 5, 2025, the RELIANCE project was showcased during the Master’s Degree Open Day hosted by the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, in Rome.

The event served as a platform to present RELIANCE as a significant example of the opportunities offered through European-funded research initiatives. The presentation focused on the project’s core objectives, including enhancing data-driven research, ensuring reproducibility, and collaborative infrastructures in science. These goals align closely with the European Union’s broader agenda for open science and innovation.

Students attending the Open Day were invited to engage in meaningful dialogue with RELIANCE researchers, exploring how involvement in European projects can positively influence academic and professional pathways. Discussions centered on the practical impact of EU-funded research in fostering innovation, promoting international collaboration, and supporting interdisciplinary careers.

The participation of RELIANCE at the event reinforced the university’s commitment to bridging academic learning with real-world research. It also inspired future scientists to contribute to transformative initiatives shaping the future of science.

This premier event for the biosensor community, the largest in the field, celebrated its 35^th anniversary with a lineup of high-quality plenary speakers and oral talks. Taking place from 19 to 22 May 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal, this meeting has catalysed interactions gathering a wide range of stakeholders to further this ever-expanding area.

The programme also featured daily plenary presentations followed by parallel sessions comprising a rigorously selection of submitted papers and interactive poster sessions.

The main topics of the conference encompassed:

• Bioelectronics (including biocomputing, biofuel and photovoltaic cells, and electronic noses)
• Commercial biosensors, manufacturing and markets
• Nucleic acid-based sensors and aptasensors
• Enzyme-based biosensors
• Immunosensors
• Lab-on-a-chip, multiplexed and multimodal sensors
• Microfluidics and immobilisation technology
• Wearable biosensors and personal mobile health
• Nano biosensors, nanomaterials & nanoanalytical systems
• Natural & synthetic receptors (including MIPs)
• Organism-, whole cell- and organ-based biosensors
• Printed biosensors and microfabrication
• Proteomics, single-cell analysis and cancer-cell detection
• Signal transduction technology
• Single molecule detection
• Theranostics, implantable, ingestible and resorbable sensors
• CRISPR-based biosensors
• Novel transducers
• Synthetic biology for biosensors
• AI and machine learning in biosensors

Our partners from the University of Rome Tor Vergata (UNITOV) presented RELIANCE results with a poster titled ‘Electrochemical paper-based device for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 on the surface’ that highlighted the importance of paper-based immunosensors for detecting viruses on surfaces.

The method applied by UNITOV utilizes magnetic beads as a support for the sandwich-type immunological chain, which, due to its high surface/volume ratio, enables the loading of a high number of antibodies, thereby improving sensitivity. For electrochemical measurements, they functionalised the working electrode by drop-casting with carbon black, demonstrating improved sensitivity using this affordable nanomaterial.

Download poster here.

Happening on 8 May 2025, the INFOHappening Coating, Finishing & Printing took place in Centexbel facilities, located in Zwijnaarde, Belgium. Focusing on discovering innovative, environmentally conscious solutions in materials science and industrial technology, the event showcased a diverse range of innovations aimed at advancing sustainable materials and circular economy solutions.

Key topics included recent breakthroughs in coating and finishing technologies, such as the development of durable water-repellent and antimicrobial finishes for textiles, and eco-friendly flame-retardant coatings tailored for mycelium-based panels. They also explored the use of plasma technology to enhance textile functionality and adhesion, as well as smart textiles designed for harvesting waste heat. The programme also highlighted the use of renewable aromatics in textile coatings and the development of biobased, sustainable polyurethanes. Additionally, it delved into the transformation of large-format prints into clean resources through deinking technologies and examined the role of industrial symbiosis and extended producer responsibility (EPR) in fostering effective circular economy practices.

The RELIANCE project was featured in the conference through a presentation by project partner Centexbel. Brecht Demedts delivered a talk titled “Combined Durable Water-Repellent and Antimicrobial Finish for Textiles”, showcasing Centexbel’s cutting-edge research within the scope of RELIANCE. The presentation also explored the broader landscape of textile coating innovations, with a focus on the development of textiles that repel water and combat microbes using copper-doped mesoporous silica nanoparticles. These advanced coatings are designed to provide both water repellency and antimicrobial protection, aligning with the RELIANCE project’s mission to foster sustainable and high-performance textile technologies.