From September 18 to 20, 2024, the 4th International Conference on Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) brought together experts from around the world to Saarbrücken, Germany. Researchers and professionals in material science, synthetic biology, biotechnology, and biophysics gathered to exchange knowledge, explore the latest advancements, and discuss the technical and environmental benefits—and challenges—of engineered living materials.

On the first day of the conference the EIC ELMs Portfolio Symposium brought together projects to present their latest achievements and engage with regulators under a strategic plan to drive progress.

“Seeing such a big community around ELMs come together was really rewarding. It was great to see the EU’s support through all the projects in the portfolio that joined in and shared their cutting-edge ideas.”

Massimo Vassalli, PRISM-LT’s scientific coordinator.

Hosted by the INM-Leibniz Institute for New Materials, the event featured key speakers like Jamie Davies from the University of Edinburgh and Chao Zhong from the Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, China. Our very own Manuel Salmerón-Sánchez, from the University of Glasgow and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), also shared his expertise on topics like stem cells, bacterial engineering, and biocompatible materials, adding invaluable insights to the conversation. His talk “Bacteria-based materials in cell engineering” highlighted PRISM-LT’s commitment to advancing this exciting field.

Representing the University of Glasgow, our scientific coordinator, were present Massimo Vassalli, Laura Sabio Rodríguez, Graham Day, and Alex Trubert. Maria Clara Gomes from the University of Aveiro also attended. Martina Baumann from Radboud University presented her poster on “Ethical and Social Aspects of ELMs in the Food Sector – The Example of Cultured Meat,” showcasing her research on media portrayals of cultured meat and the outcomes of public debates on the topic

We really enjoyed the talks from the invited speakers—there was a great range of topics in a conference that was so focused on ELM development. Everyone was eager to share their experiences and open to networking.