TECHSCALE Conference Showcases Top Results
How has the TECHSCALE project, part of the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Programme, advanced after its first year? This question, among others, was addressed at a conference held from September 17 to 20 in Liblice, with the participation of all partners. The event aimed to not only reflect on the progress but also to strengthen the collaboration. With the presence of international guests, the participants were introduced to the latest trends in single-atom catalysis and the integration of artificial intelligence.
“I know from personal experience that expert meetings generate fresh ideas and foster collaboration. That’s why we organized this conference, and it turned out to be an excellent decision. Beyond the flawless organization, thanks to Jiří Čejka’s team from Charles University, I was thrilled by the number of outstanding results presented. Atomic engineering is pushing the boundaries of nanosciences, opening up groundbreaking possibilities in areas ranging from catalysis to sensing and medicine. I’m also encouraged by the enthusiasm of young scientists, who continued to engage in discussions until late in the evening,” said Michal Otyepka, the project coordinator from CATRIN.
The conference hosted 62 participants from both the Czech Republic and abroad. The programme was organized into nine sections. In addition to 8 lecture sessions, there was a poster presentation where 25 posters showcased various research results. A total of 22 lectures were delivered, including three plenary sessions. An invited talk by Gianfranco Pacchioni from Università Milano-Bicocca on “A Few Questions About Single Atom Catalysts: When Theory Helps” was a highlight. Lars Schaaf from the University of Cambridge discussed machine learning’s role in a new era of catalyst modelling, while Kristina Tschulik from Ruhr-University Bochum presented advanced electrochemical techniques for electrocatalysts.
“The conference was a true melting pot of ideas from the diverse scientific areas encompassed by TECHSCALE, with broad international participation. I greatly appreciated the contributions of our foreign colleagues, whose involvement was invaluable. I left feeling energized and inspired,” said Martin Pumera from CEITEC – BUT, a lead scientist in the work package on sensing, biosensing, and biomedicine.
The TECHSCALE project is tackling some of the most pressing global challenges, including climate change, the energy crisis, and enhancing quality of life. In collaboration with Charles University and C E I T E C Brno University of Technology , the project employs a wide array of methods and scientific approaches from both the natural and social sciences to achieve its objectives.
