News

On August 26-27, the SUPREME consortium gathered in Ghent, Belgium, for a two-day joint workshop with sibling projects TRIPLE-A-COAT, NOVA and STOP, bringing together researchers, industry representatives and innovation stakeholders to discuss the future of antimicrobial coating technologies.

Under the theme “Next Generation Antimicrobial Nano-coatings for High-Traffic Surfaces”, the event created a platform for knowledge exchange around key challenges shaping the development and uptake of advanced antimicrobial solutions — including antimicrobial performance, durability, sustainability, safety and pathways towards market adoption.

The workshop started with opening remarks from Prof. Jan Van Impe (KU Leuven), SUPREME Project Coordinator, who welcomed participants and introduced the objectives of the event, highlighting the importance of collaboration across research disciplines and innovation ecosystems to accelerate the development of safe, sustainable and effective antimicrobial coating solutions.

Showcasing SUPREME’s advances in antimicrobial nano-coatings

During the first day, Prof. Jan Van Impe (KU Leuven) presented the SUPREME project, providing an overview of the project’s vision, objectives and approach towards developing multifunctional antimicrobial nano-coatings for a wide range of applications. The presentation highlighted how SUPREME combines advanced nanomaterial development, antimicrobial testing, durability assessment, safety evaluation and industrial validation to address the challenges that currently limit the broader adoption of antimicrobial coatings.

Later in the afternoon, Dr. Elena Merli (Next Technology Tecnotessile – NTT) presented “Antimicrobial surface solutions for demanding sectors”, focusing on the application-oriented perspective of SUPREME developments. Her presentation highlighted the importance of adapting coating solutions to real industrial requirements and ensuring that performance, durability and application needs are considered throughout the innovation process.

Discussing antimicrobial performance, durability, sustainability and safety

The second day of the workshop featured thematic sessions bringing together experts from different fields to discuss the main challenges and opportunities surrounding next-generation antimicrobial coatings.

The first thematic session, “Antimicrobial performance and durability”, was moderated by Simen Akkermans (KU Leuven, SUPREME) and included contributions from SUPREME experts Dr. Vasilis Valdramidis (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) and Dr. Zania Stamataki (University of Birmingham), alongside external experts from the field. The discussion explored how antimicrobial effectiveness needs to be considered together with long-term durability and performance under realistic conditions, reinforcing the importance of testing approaches that reflect the complexity of real-world applications.

The second thematic session, “Sustainability and Safety” brought together experts working on environmental assessment, health impacts and safe-by-design approaches. SUPREME was represented by Prof. Hans Bouwmeester (Wageningen University), who shared insights into the importance of integrating safety considerations throughout the development of advanced nanomaterials. The session highlighted the need for holistic approaches that balance technological performance with environmental and human safety considerations.

From research results to future uptake

Beyond technical discussions, the workshop also addressed the pathway from research results towards exploitation and impact creation. During the Exploitation & Dissemination Workshop, Mariale Moreno (PNO Innovation, SUPREME) facilitated discussions on how research outcomes can be translated into future opportunities using the four projects Key Exploitable Results. The interactive session encouraged participants to exchange perspectives on challenges, opportunities and strategies to maximise the impact of emerging antimicrobial coating technologies.

Knowledge exchange beyond the conference room

In addition to the scientific programme, the workshop included moments for informal networking, including a brewery visit and a poster session where participants could further exchange ideas, present their work and strengthen connections across the antimicrobial coatings community.

The SUPREME consortium would like to thank all speakers, moderators, panellists, partner projects and participants who contributed to making this joint workshop a valuable opportunity for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The presentations and recordings of the sessions are now available for everyone interested in revisiting the discussions and exploring the latest developments in antimicrobial nano-coatings.

📄 Access the workshop presentations: Presentations

🎥 Access the workshop recordings: YouTube Playlist