The highly anticipated concluding events of the first funding phase of SPP 2416 took place at the University of Murcia, Spain, on May 14-15 as two satellite events of the 15th International Conference of the European Chitin Society (EUCHIS 2026). The events were dedicated to showcasing innovative ideas and impactful chitin-/chitosan-related research at the interface of chemistry, biology and materials science.
Immediately following the closing ceremony of EUCHIS 2026 conference on May 14, the Code𝛘 Exhibition commenced with four invited talks delivered by distinguished speakers from Germany and the United States. The program continued with a Women in Science panel discussion before concluding the day with a social dinner in a friendly and engaging atmosphere.
On the following day, the Young Researchers Symposium (YRS) provided a platform for young researchers and early-career scientists to present their latest discoveries, exchange knowledge and foster interdisciplinary collaborations. The symposium featured 19 talks and 22 posters representing research institutions from eight different countries and covering a broad spectrum of chitin-/chitosan-related research topics, including analytical and characterization techniques, pharmaceutics, biomaterials and biological sciences.
The satellite events successfully demonstrated the fascinating and interdisciplinary nature of chitin/chitosan research, highlighting exciting findings from both Code𝛘 and non-Code𝛘 projects as well as the diverse applied aspects of the field.
Code𝛘 coordinator Prof. Hans Merzendorfer would like to thank all participants, the YRS organizing team, the local organizing committee of the EUCHIS 2026 conference as well as the EUCHIS Board for making these events such a success.
With this Code𝛘 Exhibition, we successfully conclude the Code𝛘-organized events of the first funding period of the Priority Programme. We are now preparing for the next round of proposal submissions for the upcoming funding phase to build upon the exciting results achieved so far and to further strengthen the unique collective expertise and synergy within the Code𝛘 network in pursuit of advancing chitin- and chitosan-related research.
