Surfaces and interfaces are everywhere around us: they represent the point of contact between materials and the external world, and it is precisely within these thin layers that crucial phenomena occur, influencing our daily lives. From chemical reactivity to the functionality of technological devices, and even to the interaction between materials and biological systems, the properties of surfaces determine the performance, efficiency, and durability of many objects we use every day. Surface science is an extremely interdisciplinary field. In chemistry, for instance, many fundamental processes such as catalysis and electrochemical reactions take place on surfaces. In modern electronics, increasingly smaller devices—down to the nanoscale—and two-dimensional materials require ever more precise control of their interfaces. Likewise, in plasmonics, the optical properties of surfaces make it possible to manipulate light in innovative ways, opening new perspectives for sensors and photonic technologies. In the medical field, surfaces play a key role in the design of biocompatible materials: prostheses and implants must interact safely and effectively with the human body, and this largely depends on their surface characteristics. When the dimensions of materials are reduced to the nanoscale, surfaces become even more important: a large fraction of atoms is exposed, making the material’s behavior strongly dependent on what happens at the interface. For this reason, understanding and controlling surfaces is essential for developing new technologies. Alongside the most advanced applications, there are also areas of great cultural and industrial impact, such as the conservation of cultural heritage—where the study of surfaces helps preserve works of art and historical artifacts—and the analysis of phenomena such as adhesion and friction, which are fundamental in fields ranging from mechanics to materials engineering. In summary, studying surfaces means understanding and controlling the point where materials meet the world: a thin boundary, yet one rich with possibilities.


Chair: Paolo Ossi (PoliMi), Mario Rocca (UniGe), Letizia Savio (UniGe)

Invited:
Sergio Tosoni, UniMIB Tema (provisional) - Nanoparticles supported on oxide surfaces for catalysis
Pierangelo Metrangolo, PoliMI - Nanostructure and interface engineering with proteins, polymers, and surfactants in theranostics

Magnetic confinement thermonuclear fusion aims to produce energy by fusing light nuclei (deuterium and tritium) within an extremely hot plasma, confined by magnetic fields. The main configurations are the tokamak (the most advanced, such as ITER) and the stellarator (more stable but complex, e.g., Wendelstein 7-X). In these machines, the fuel is heated until it forms a plasma, a high-energy state of matter in which atoms are completely ionized. The plasma must be heated to temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius for fusion to occur. It is clear from the above that making thermonuclear fusion a flexible and clean energy source is not without challenges, including the need for advances in both plasma physics and materials science, as well as other complex engineering obstacles. Participants in the session will discuss the main issues related to the development of fusion energy through international scientific research, in the context of implementing national and international projects.


Chair: Espedito Vassallo (CNR Milano), Samuele Dal Bello (Consorzio RFX)

Invited:
Mario Merola, ITER Organization, 13067 St Paul Lez Durance, France - The ITER Project: Status, New Baseline and Prospects
Gian Mario Polli, DTT S.c.a r.l. ENEA, Fusion and Nuclear Safety Department - DTT: Overview and Status of the Project

This session aims to share experiences, new ideas and knowledge on cutting-edge micro- and nanotechnology applications across two critical domains: life science and precision agriculture.
By bringing together scientists, engineers, and practitioners from diverse disciplines, we will explore synergies between these fields and promote innovative solutions for global health and food security challenges through an interdisciplinary approach.
The session will address advanced nanomaterials and micro/nanodevices designed for early-stage diagnosis, targeted therapies, and disease prevention, alongside transformative applications in sustainable agriculture and food production systems. Key topics include nanotech-enabled biosensors and lab-on-chip platforms for both rapid medical diagnostics and real-time monitoring of agricultural parameters.
In the biomedical domain, particular attention will be given to applications in cancer detection, nanocarrier systems for drug delivery, point-of-care devices, and personalized medicine strategies that leverage the unique properties of nanomaterials at the molecular and cellular level.
In the agricultural sector, the session will cover innovative sensing platforms for monitoring soil quality, crop health and environmental conditions; detection systems for plant pathogens and nutrient deficiencies; nanotechnology strategies for crop protection and smart packaging solutions for food preservation.
We welcome contributions spanning fundamental research, applied technologies and case studies demonstrating real-world implementation in either biomedical or agrifood sectors.


Chair: Fabrizio Giorgis (PoliTo), Sergio Ferrero (PoliTo), Fabio Palumbo (CNR Bari)

Invited:
Ilaria Rea, ISASI Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems-CNR Napoli - Hybrid Nanostructured Platforms for Diagnostics and Therapy
Romolo Laurita, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università di Bologna - Prospects for the Use of Cold Plasma Technologies in the Agriculture Field

Recent progress in vacuum technology is enabling new developments in pumping systems, vacuum diagnostics and large-scale facilities. In particular, the impact of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Additive Manufacturing (AM), on improving vacuum systems and processes will be explored: AI tools are paving the way for vacuum diagnostics and predictive maintenance of components; AM is enabling enhanced design freedom and advanced control of material microstructure, facilitating the development and optimization of complex, high-performance vacuum components with tailored properties. Complex vacuum systems and processes involving fusion plants, particle accelerators and interferometers are taking advantage of the integration of the above-mentioned and other complementary technological innovations to answer to the more and more challenging requirements from the field.


Chair: Beatrice Busetto (SAES), Fabrizio Siviero (SAES)

Invited:
Carlo Scarcia, CERN - Vacuum and materials engineer 
Affiliation: CERN - The technological challenges of 3G gravitational wave detectors beam tube vacuum systems: materials and vacuum tools towards a cost-effective design solution
Paul McNeely, Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik -Vacuum Pump Options for a Long Pulse NBI on W7-X 

The energy transition remains at the heart of global efforts to combat climate change and build resilient, sustainable energy systems. This session will delve into the latest technological breakthroughs in renewable energy, with a focus on Production, Storage and Environment.
This section focuses on the advances on photovoltaic technologies and the emerging proofofconcept ideas that drive innovation, from novel materials and device architectures, towards scalable solutions to nextgeneration PV performance. More recent progresses towards high-efficiency solar (perovskite, bifacial), advanced battery storage, and green hydrogen, driven by AI optimization and decarbonization goals will be discussed.
Special attention will be given to innovative energy storage solutions, including lithium-ion and solid-state batteries, supercapacitors for high-power and fast-response applications, green hydrogen storage systems, and grid-scale energy storage technologies. The session will also discuss progress in smart grids and demand response systems, enabling dynamic and decentralized energy management.
Additionally, we will address the challenges and opportunities in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), with a focus on electrochemical CO? conversion technologies that transform emissions into high-value products like construction materials or synthetic fuels. Case studies on pilot projects and industrial applications will demonstrate the economic and environmental viability of these solutions.
Finally, the session will highlight systemic integration strategies for all these technologies, aiming to reduce overall energy consumption, increase efficiency, and minimize environmental impact across the energy lifecycle. We will also explore the regulatory, economic, and social dimensions shaping the transition, including incentive mechanisms, community engagement, and policies for a just energy transition.


Chair: Maria Miritello (UniCT), Stefano Lettieri (UniNa), Pietro Zaccagnini (PoliTo)

As the semiconductor industry moves deeper into the "More than Moore" paradigm, Heterogeneous Integration (HI) and Additive Manufacturing (AM) are converging as game-changing pillars for innovation. HI addresses the limitations of traditional scaling by combining separately optimized components – such as logic, memory, sensors, photonics, power devices – into high-performance, multifunctional systems. Meanwhile, AM is redefining the boundaries of fabrication, not only for microelectronics, by enabling the precise deposition of materials, complex geometries and customized structures for innovative electronic components, sensors and MEMS devices.
In this session, we explore how HI and AM act in synergy to unlock new possibilities in microelectronics and beyond. Additive technologies – ranging from 3D printing of functional materials to advanced direct-write and nano/micro-fabrication techniques – are no longer just complementary to traditional processes; they are becoming foundational for heterogeneous integration itself. By enabling rapid prototyping, reducing material waste, and supporting unconventional designs, AM is accelerating the development of advanced packaging, embedded systems, and even non-electronic applications like biomedical devices and smart materials.
Key topics include: advanced packaging architectures and system integration, thermal management and signal integrity, co-design and design innovation, materials and processes in hybrid fabrication flows.
By leveraging the design flexibility of additive manufacturing and the functional diversity of heterogeneous integration, this session highlights how these paradigms are not just evolving microelectronics – they are shaping the future of AI, 6G, high-performance computing, and beyond, while enabling cross-disciplinary innovation in fields like healthcare, energy, and IoT.


Chair: Valentina Bertana (PoliTo), Stefano Stassi (PoliTo), Andrea Cosola (PoliTo)

This session aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in membrane science and technology for both gas and liquid separations. Contributions will address fundamental and applied aspects of membrane-based processes, with a particular focus on transport mechanisms, material design, and performance optimization.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, gas separation processes such as carbon capture, hydrogen purification and storage, and selective gas transport, as well as liquid-phase applications including water treatment, desalination, and purification of complex mixtures. Emphasis will be placed on innovative membrane materials, including polymeric, inorganic, hybrid, and nanostructured systems, and their role in enhancing selectivity, permeability, and long-term stability.
The session welcomes both theoretical and experimental contributions. Theoretical studies focusing on transport phenomena, modelling, and simulation at different scales are encouraged, alongside experimental investigations addressing membrane fabrication, characterization, and process performance.
By bringing together researchers working across disciplines, this session aims to foster discussion on emerging challenges and opportunities in membrane science, promoting the development of next-generation solutions for sustainable separation and purification technologies.


Chair: Enrica Fontananova (CNR-CS), Maria Grazia De Angelis (UniBo)

Invited:
Bart Van der Bruggen di KU Leuven
Maria-Chiara Ferrari, dell’Università di Edimburgo

Vacuum coating technologies are now a strategic lever for improving the performance, durability, and added value of industrial components. This workshop provides a practical overview of the main vacuum deposition processes, with a focus on established technologies such as PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition), which are widely used in manufacturing. The objective is to give participants a concrete understanding of the application benefits of these processes, including the enhancement of surface properties (wear resistance, corrosion resistance, friction), the optimization of production costs, and the extension of product life cycles. Key process parameters, operational challenges, and criteria for selecting the most suitable technologies based on specific industrial needs will be examined. Through real examples and case studies, the workshop will highlight how to effectively integrate coating technologies into existing production processes, supporting product innovation and business competitiveness. The workshop is intended for engineers, technicians, and production managers interested in implementing or optimizing advanced coating solutions within their industrial environments.