Conferences
17–22 September 2023, Graz, Austria
The 8th EPNOE International Polysaccharide Conference
Dear EPNOE friends,
It is a great pleasure and privilege to announce that, in collaboration with the Austrian University consortium: UNI Graz, BOKU Tulln, UNI Vienna, UNI Innsbruck, we are organising the 8th EPNOE International Polysaccharide Conference. This event will take place from 17th to 22nd September, 2023 at Graz University of Technology, Austria.
This congress is an initiative of EPNOE—European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence, the Cellulose and Renewable Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the Cellulose Society of Japan (CSJ). The event will be hosted in Graz for the first time.
The ambition of the EPNOE International Polysaccharides Conferences is to bring together those working in academia and industry who are passionate about polysaccharide-related R&D and its applications. Throughout the years, the conference became one of the largest events in the field of polysaccharides, and brings together over 450 researchers from all over the world.
EPNOE Scientific conference will host more than 235 lectures, from them 5 plenary lectures, 18 Key note lectures and app 120 Poster presentations: https://www.tugraz.at/events/epnoe2023/programme/thematic-sessions.
5 Plenary lectures:
- Vincent G.H. Eijsink, Norwegian University of Lifescience: Enzymatic conversion of polysaccharides—from hydrolases to lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs),
- Hiroyuki Yano, Kyoto University: Driving Toward a Sustainable Society with Nanocellulose Vehicles,
- Manuel Coimbra, University of Aveiro: Polysaccharides, a source of clean label strategies for food industry,
- Silvia Vignolini, Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid und Grenzflächenforschung: Cellulose Photonics: From Nature to Applications,
- Didier Letourneur, Université Paris Cité – Université Sorbonne: Clinical use of polysaccharides for molecular imaging and tissue repair: Two examples from research works to the patients.
In the frame of 10 thematic sessions 18 Key note speakers will present their research and development perspectives on:
- Advances in polysaccharide analysis, extraction and characterization,
- Challenges and progress in polysaccharide chemistry,
- Progress in bulk, surface and interfacial interactions of polysaccharides through experimental and computational methods,
- Emerging polysaccharide based (nano)materials,
- Polysaccharide gels, porous materials, emulsion,
- Polysaccharides in food and nutrition,
- Polysaccharides in medical and pharmaceutical applications,
- Composites, textiles and fiber network structures,
- Interactions of plant cell wall polymers,
- Polysaccharides in a sustainable and circular economy.
On the 17th of September, in addition to the main conference, a one-day preconference is organised for students: https://www.tugraz.at/events/epnoe2023/programme/preconference. Two full-day preconference courses for master’s and PhD students are organized. One course is dedicated to the Chemistry and characterization of carbohydrates and the other focuses on Innovation aspects of polysaccharides and translation to the market.
The workshop entitlted “Chemistry and Characterization of Carbohydrates” is offered for master’s and PhD students in the field as a pre-conference of the 8th International Polysaccharide Conference. Four lectures will be given by internationally highly recognised scientists. The following topics will be covered: oxidation chemistry, block polysaccharides, chemical modification of polysaccharides and the structure elucidation of glycans. The lectures will be educational and provide thorough insights with practical tips, tricks and pitfalls, and “do’s and dont’s” in the chemical modification of saccharides.
The course on innovation is implemented by Science Park Graz, one of the leading high-tech incubators in Austria supporting startups. The workshop will be given by Craig Matthews, a Senior Innovation Consultant at Science Park Graz. The workshop covers the journey of a startup, from its initial conception, in three lectures (see below), followed by an interactive workshop “Room 101”, in which participants will learn to sharpen their skills of persuasion. In addition, selected startups will present their experience in founding and running a startup.
The Round-Table event will be organised for the 21st. https://www.tugraz.at/events/epnoe2023/programme/round-tables-21092023. The EPNOE Conference 2023 introduces, for the first time, Round-Table Discussions with five leading networks under the umbrella topic “Circular bioeconomy”. The Round-Table Discussions will be opened by a lecture of Josef R. Wünsch, Chairman of the SusChem, the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry. The perspectives of the future of the ACS will be presented by Wim Thielemans, KU Leuven and those from the Cellulose Society of Japan by Hiroshi Kamitakahara from Kyoto University. Karin Stana Kleinschek will discuss the EPNOE research round map.
The results of the discussions and opinions of introduction lectures and 5 round-table events, which will be organised in parallel, will be summarized in a statement/position paper that will be communicated to relevant stakeholders and the general public. Join discussions alongside invited speakers, industry representatives, the general public, researchers, and policymakers on the global challenges that will shape our future and potential opportunities.
Networks at EPNOE 2023 Round-Table Discussions:
- ESEIA: European Sustainable Energy Innovation Alliance: On the way to climate‐neutrality using Bio‐based Materials
- EUCHIS: European Chitin Society: Chitin and Chitosan to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
- ISEKI-Food Association: Carbohydrates, one the main culprits on ultraprocessed foods and how to overcome it?
- ZELLCHEMING: Association of Pulp and Paper Chemists and Engineers: From Challenges to Opportunities—Paper & Fiber-Based Materials in a Circular Future
- BOLD: International Innovation Community of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO): Co-creation by design: Joining forces for a sustainable future
EPNOE network Education road map will be presented during the scientific conference on the 18.9. 2023.
Social events are included into the conference fee are:
https://www.tugraz.at/events/epnoe2023/programme/social-events
Gala Dinner: The Gala Dinner takes place on Wednesday September 20th at the "Seifenfabrik".
Welcome Reception: The Welcome Reception will be on September 18th at the Auditorium of the University of Graz.
Scientific Beer Workshop: From Polysaccharide to Beer—Scientific Beer Workshop.
