ExcellMater Conference: a scientific event in the field of biomaterials and biomedicine, exchange of experiences and socializing in the modern environment of the Science and Technology Park in Belgrade
The international conference “EkcellMater Conference 2024: Innovative biomaterials for new medical devices” was successfully held on April 10–12, 2024. at the Science and Technology Park in Belgrade as the final event of the ExcellMater project. The main organizer was the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy of the University of Belgrade (FTM), and partner organizations University of Eastern Piedmont in Italy (UPO), Aalto University in Finland (AALTO) and AO Institute Davos in Switzerland (ARI) participated in the conception of the scientific content of the conference. Several sessions presented, the latest results in the field of biomaterials engineering, especially for applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, in systems for testing antitumor drugs, wound dressings, antimicrobial medical devices, as well as for applications in orthopedics and dentistry. The conference gathered around 100 participants and guests from 14 countries with over 70 papers presented and published in the journal Hemijska industrija. During 3 ExcellMater sessions, the results obtained during the project were presented with special emphasis on young researchers who presented joint research during visits to partner institutions in the form of dynamic short lectures and posters. Young researchers also had the opportunity to participate in the competition for the best presentation in front of a committee consisting of prof. Andrea Kokis (UPO), prof. Đorđe Veljović (FTM), Dr. Jovana Zvicer (FTM) and prof. Silvia Spriano (Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy). Congratulations to Natalija Stojanović (University Hospital Aachen, Germany) for the best oral presentation, Jelena Petrović (FTM) for the best short presentation and Fara Dao and Rani Zarean Hafdaran (UPO) for the best poster presentation!
The conference presented the results of two European projects “Precision medicine for musculoskeletal regeneration, prosthetics, and active aging – PREMUROSA” (GA 860462) and “Antimicrobial Integrated Methodologies for orthopedic applications – AIMed” (GA 861138), funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020. Within these sessions, the latest research in the field of bioactive orthopedic and dental implants, i.e. methodologies for functionalization of biomaterials in terms of antimicrobial activity, which are very relevant to the topic of the ExcellMater project, were presented and attracted considerable attention from the conference participants.
On the first day of the conference, a round table dedicated to the experiences in the preparation and management of “Twinning” projects within the Horizon 2020 program, i.e. Horizon Europe, was organized, while the participants registered for this session presented their projects as poster presentations. Participants were able to learn about guidelines for designing this type of project, as well as good project management practices.
Finally, the modern ambience of the Science and Technology Park located in the Zvezdara Forest provided a pleasant atmosphere for participants to get to know each other and socialize during the conference breaks.
The conference represents a significant scientific event in the field of biomaterials and biomedicine, but also a useful promotion of Belgrade and the local scientific community as a good organizer of scientific meetings and a hospitable host.
Participants on the first day of the conference in front of the Science and Technology Park Belgrade
Prof. Petar Uskoković, Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, at the opening of the conference
Prof. Gordana Vunjak-Novaković, Columbia University
Audience at the opening of the conference
Young researchers (from left to right): Rana Zarean Hafdaran (University of Eastern Piedmont “Amedeo Avogadro”, Italy), Nina Tomić (Institute of Technical Sciences of SASA), Alessandro Calogero Scalia (University of Eastern Piedmont “Amedeo Avogadro”, Italy), Ivana Banićević i Mia Milošević (Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade), Mari Laluka (Politecnico di Torino, Italy) and Jelena Petrović, Tamara Matić and Marija Milivojević (Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade)
Awards for the best presentations: prof. Silvija Sprijano (Politecnico di Torino, Italy), prof. Đorđe Veljović and prof. Bojana Obradović (Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade), Natalija Stojanović (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) awarded for the best oral presentation and dr Jovana Zvicer (Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade)
Round table on “Twinning” projects. Panelists: prof. Lia Rimondini (University of Eastern Piedmont “Amedeo Avogadro”, Italy), prof. Dejan Bezbradica (Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade), dr Ivana Gađanski (Institute BioSens) and prof. Bojana Obradović (Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade)
Management board of the ExcellMater project: prof. Mauro Alini (AO Institute Davos, Switzerland), prof. Lia Rimondini (University of Eastern Piedmont “Amedeo Avogadro”, Italy), prof. Michael Gasik (Aalto University, Finland) and prof. Bojana Obradović (Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade)
More pictures can be found at https://www.excellmater2024.tmf.bg.ac.rs/gallery/
