EuroNanoForum attracts 1,100 delegates to Riga

EuroNanoForum took place in Riga, Latvia from 10 to 12 June 2015. The forum, which is the biggest event of its kind in Europe, has been held every second year since 2013 in the country holding the rotating European Union presidency.

Approximately 1,100 delegates attended the event. The Czech exhibition pavilion featured the companies Contipro, SVCS and INGMedical. Elmarco, InoCure and the Czech Technical University (CTU) were also on hand. Speakers at the conference included Liliana Berezkinová of Nanopharma, Zora Střelcová of TESCAN Orsay Holding and Lenka Bajarová of Amires.

Dow Corning Corporation, 3M, BASF, Daikin, Grupo Antolin and Airbus were among the global brands participating in EuroNanoForum.

The Czechs primarily presented new methods of producing nanofibres. Contipro demonstrated its 4SPIN device, which makes it possible to produce oriented nanofibres, while Student Science displayed its own technology and is newly involved with CTU, whose device is now patented.

The plenary part of the forum was focused on the role of nanotechnologies and advanced materials in the reindustrialisation of Europe and the socioeconomic impact of using such technologies and materials. Emphasis was placed mainly on existing applications of nanotechnologies and advanced materials in various sectors such as healthcare, clean technologies, consumer goods and transportation. Other topics of discussion included means of financing and forms of cooperation, as well as intellectual property and regulation.

EuroNanoForum is financed by the European aid programme Horizon 2020. Within the European Commission, the area of nanotechnology is in the purview of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, which was represented at the conference by Clara de la Torre, Rudolf Strohmeier and Christos Tokamanis.