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This November, the Adriatic coast became the backdrop for a gathering of scientists and innovators working at the frontiers of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense. The International Workshop on Advanced Technologies and Mobile Laboratories for Countering Chemical Threats, held in Split, Croatia from 3 to 5 November 2025, brought together leading experts to exchange knowledge on how emerging technologies can better detect, identify and mitigate chemical threats in real-world settings.

Among the distinguished speakers was Prof. Fabiana Arduini, a key RELIANCE partner and professor at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, who was invited as a Plenary Speaker. Her lecture, titled “Paper-based electrochemical (bio)sensors as smart, sustainable, and robust advanced detection and identification systems”, captured both the scientific innovation and the pressing need for practical, eco-friendly sensing solutions.

Paper-Based Sensors: A Fusion of Simplicity and Sophistication

In her talk, Prof. Arduini’s highlighted the potential of paper-based electrochemical (bio)sensors as smart, sustainable and robust analytical tools for the detection and identification of chemical and biological warfare agents, viruses and essential oils.  

Drawing on insights from her influential review article “Electrochemical paper-based devices: When the simple replacement of the support to print ecodesigned electrodes radically improves the features of the electrochemical devices” (Current Opinion in Electrochemistry, SI: Emerging Opinions, 2022) [Arduini, F. Curr. Opin. Electrochem. 2022, 101090], Prof. Arduini highlighted how paper’s unique properties like porosity, flexibility, and biodegradability transform the design of the paper-based electrochemical (bio)sensors, which have emerged as highly attractive analytical devices due to their sustainable features. Unlike conventional polyester-based electrodes, paper-based devices can be safely incinerated after use, significantly minimizing waste and contamination risks.

Moreover, these devices have demonstrated remarkable versatility, including their simple integration with vertical microfluidics and their ability to act as multifunctional reservoirs that can:
i) contain reagents,
ii) preconcentrate target analytes, and
iii) synthesize nanomaterials within the paper network.

Prof. Arduini also demonstrated how these devices can overcome the limitations of conventional printed sensors by enabling direct detection of chemical and biological agents, viruses, and volatile compounds in aerosol or solid samples, without requiring additional sampling systems. This feature is especially crucial in time-sensitive or resource-limited environments, where fast and reliable identification can save lives.

From Laboratory Innovation to Defense Applications

In the final part of her plenary lecture, Prof. Arduini showcased recent achievements of her research group in developing paper-based electrochemical (bio)sensors for defense applications, such as:

• Origami paper-based biosensors for SARS-CoV-2 detection on surfaces, designed to provide rapid, on-site monitoring of viral contamination.
• Paper-based electrochemical sensors for essential oil detection, developed to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of functionalized materials, including coatings and surfaces, such as those explored within the RELIANCE project.

These examples demonstrate how paper-based sensing technology is not limited to laboratory use but can serve as a practical tool in various sectors — from health and environmental monitoring to defense and materials science.

Connecting RELIANCE Innovation with Global Efforts

The workshop in Split, organized by the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb and supported by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, created a unique setting for cross-disciplinary exchange between academia, industry and defense stakeholders. It underscored how collaborative European research projects like RELIANCE contribute to a broader ecosystem of innovation aimed at ensuring safety, sustainability and resilience.

The emphasis on sustainability, miniaturization and field applicability aligns with RELIANCE’s mission to create next-generation solutions for safer, cleaner and more responsive materials and systems.

Three EU-funded projects RELIANCE, NOVA and NANOBLOC, successfully hosted the Next-Gen Nanocoatings: Accelerating Antimicrobial Innovation with Modeling & AI workshop during the Smart Materials and Surfaces (SMS) Conference in Rome. The event was held on 30 October and brought together leading researchers, industry experts and materials science stakeholders to explore the future of antimicrobial surface technologies.

Held at the Courtyard by Marriott Rome Central Park, the workshop featured a dynamic agenda focused on scientific excellence, industrial relevance and real-world impact. The Communication and Dissemination lead of RELIANCE Ana Hristova, Europroject – Tinexta Innovation Hub, opened the day with welcoming remarks, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative nanocoating solutions to address global health and sustainability challenges.

Spotlight on Innovation

The morning session highlighted the three flagship projects:

• RELIANCE showcased its smart-response bio-based nanocoatings for healthier environments.
• NOVA introduced novel approaches to antimicrobial surface design.
• NANOBLOC presented real-world applications of protective nanocoatings.

These presentations underscored the diversity of approaches being pursued across Europe to combat microbial threats through advanced materials design.

Computational Modeling, AI and Data Management

The afternoon sessions explored how predictive modeling and machine learning accelerate the discovery and optimization of nanomaterials. Talks by Georgios Leonis, UPATRAS and Thibaut Soubrié, PRESTE demonstrated how AI is reshaping material science. A session on Research Data Management (RDM) emphasized the importance of robust data practices for scaling innovation, in alignment with the FAIR prinicples.

Safety, Sustainability & Industry Perspectives Speakers Elisa Feyles from the University of Turin and Guillermo Ormazabal from Tekniker addressed the environmental and toxicological dimensions of nanocoatings, reinforcing the need for responsible innovation. The final session featured industrial case studies from Arcelik and Molecular Plasma Group, offering insights into commercialization pathways and real-world deployment.

We are pleased to invite you to the Next-Gen Nanocoatings: Accelerating Antimicrobial Innovation with Modeling & AI workshop, taking place during Smart Materials and Surfaces 2025 in Rome on 30 October 2025!

The full-day event, organized by three leading Horizon Europe projects – RELIANCE, NOVA and NANOBLOC – will explore cutting-edge advancements in antimicrobial nanocoatings. Through a unique blend of digital modeling, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles, the event will highlight the synergistic power of digital tools and advanced materials science to reshape innovation, from fundamental research to real-world industrial deployment.

This workshop is an exceptional networking opportunity, designed to bring together scientists, industry leaders and policymakers in our collective mission to strengthen antimicrobial resilience. The day is tailored to a diverse interdisciplinary audience of researchers, innovators, regulators and industry practitioners!

Learn more about the workshop’s mission, sessions and main topics here

All workshop participants are entitled to a conference fee discount.

Register at Setcor – Home by creating an account first. To receive the discount code, email Ms. Alexia Nardin at alexia.nardin@setcor.org with the subject RELIANCE-NOVA-NANOBLOC joint workshop.

Download the infographic

Every project exists within its environment, and its success is, to some extent, influenced by external factors – this is especially important for innovative projects that cannot rely on the example of existing ones. This makes PESTLE an important tool in support of innovative projects, such as RELIANCE.

WHAT IS PESTLE?
PESTLE is a strategic management tool that contains a simple structure that enables a systematic assessment of external factors that can potentially impact the project’s success.

As its name suggests, PESTLE is about assessing the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors connected to the project’s objectives. It helps in understanding the project’s macro-environment, identifying potential threats and opportunities for innovation, and supporting marketing and communication strategies.

• Political factors refer to elements such as political stability in the region, the regulatory environment, funding policies, and R&D incentives. These are particularly important for research projects relying on public funding. These aspects will also impact the investment levels, which in turn affect the market uptake of the innovative products.
• Economic factors include aspects such as economic growth/slowdown, business investment, interest and inflation rates, public spending, spending habits, labour costs, raw material costs, and exchange rates. These elements will impact the market uptake of innovations.
• Social factors involve population growth, age, lifestyle, attitudes, and opinions. Their characteristics are determinant for the success of an innovation in the market.
• Technological factors include factors such as the level of innovation in the area, the technological maturity of the market concerned, technological awareness, and new ways of communicating.
• Legal factors include consumer rights and laws, as well as product labelling and product safety standards. They are particularly important for innovative products.
• Environmental factors relate to environmental changes that can affect business practices, as well as to the environment-related policies.

WHEN TO START WITH PESTLE?
PESTLE can be highly valuable from the very conception of the research project. From early stages, it helps identify the opportunities that the environment offers and the threats that can challenge the project and its results.

PESTLE should be conducted at important milestones of a research project to reassess the project’s feasibility in a constantly evolving world.

Contributor: Dr. Arbesa Shehu Gremaud, HES-SO, Switzerland

RELIANCE partners came together on July 9^th in the vibrant city of Ghent for a highly productive two-day meeting to report on significant work progress and achieved results. The dynamic sessions were rich in exciting technical updates that underscored the project’s forward momentum in the development of advanced antimicrobial materials aimed at creating safer spaces. The meeting served as a beneficial platform for partners to update on various work packages and discuss future strategies, demonstrating the project’s continued evolution towards its ambitious goals. Key highlights from the technical sessions included remarkable progress in textile validation and the development of two novel families of antimicrobial additives.

Partners reported excellent results in the creation of protective clothing for the medical and pharmaceutical applications. This involved the careful selection of fabrics suitable for these demanding environments, which underwent advanced treatments and were rigorously tested and validated for properties such as antimicrobial effectiveness and water repellency. The consortium was happy with the outcome, confirming promising prototypes that demonstrate strong potential for real-world use in safeguarding health.

Meanwhile, work package 2 has successfully advanced the synthesis of two new additive families: smart-released Cu-SMIN encapsulating essential oils for targeted, sustained antimicrobial action and Cu-SMIN, which harnesses antimicrobial peptides for potent contact-killing performance. Early testing delivered impressive antimicrobial activity with the AMP-based formulation showing more than 80% inhibition against the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and above 70% inhibition against E. coli. The team is now working towards scaling up production of each additive, for broader application.

Upon technical discussions’ conclusion, our hospitable host Centexbel gave us an interesting tour of their cutting-edge textile research, testing and validation facilities and processes. The day concluded with the consortium partners also enjoying Ghent’s rich culture, with a guided tour of the city center and refreshing stops at popular drink and dine locals, offering delicious food and delightful social time. We were introduced to some of Ghent’s most iconic landmarks, including the majestic Gravensteen Castle, the historic Ghent Belfry – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and medieval bell tower symbolizing the city’s independence – and the magnificent St. Bavo’s Cathedral, home to the legendary Ghent Altarpiece. This masterpiece by the Van Eyck brothers is renowned as one of the most influential works of early Northern Renaissance art, celebrated for its intricate detail and groundbreaking use of oil paint.

Adding to the charm of the experience was Ghent’s unique dusk setting at the confluence of the Lys and Scheldt rivers, which weave through the city and lend a serene and romantic atmosphere to its lively streets and historic architecture.

As RELIANCE continues to push the boundaries of smart, sustainable surface technology, meetings like these are vital touchpoints for sharing knowledge and reinforcing the strong partnerships and spirit of collaboration driving the project forward.

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.