Welcome message
Dear Participants,
It is our great pleasure to welcome you to Lisbon for the 23rd International Sol-Gel Conference, taking place from 31 August to 4 September 2026, at the Instituto Superior Técnico (Técnico) of the University of Lisbon. We are delighted to bring more than 300 leading scientists, researchers, industry representatives and early-career professionals from 39 countries, united by a shared interest in inorganic and organic–inorganic hybrid materials developed through sol-gel and related soft-chemistry routes.
For more than four decades, the International Sol-Gel Conference has connected fundamental research with technological breakthroughs and industrial innovation. Sol-Gel 2026 continues this tradition with a broad and exciting programme covering the chemistry and fundamentals of sol-gel processes, materials design and characterisation, nanostructured, hybrid, composite, bio-inspired and bio-sourced materials, as well as applications in health, bio-medicine, energy, environmental protection, cultural heritage, catalysis, sensors, coatings and optics. This year’s conference also looks firmly towards the future. Particular attention will be given to environmentally responsible materials and processes, green chemistry, use of digital tools, advanced manufacturing, process scale-up and the industrialisation of sol-gel technologies.
On 31 August, the workshop “Bridging Academia and Industry: Translating Sol-Gel Research to the Real World”, organised by members of the Early-Career Researcher (ECR) of the ISGS, will address the opportunities and challenges involved in transforming research outcomes into practical applications and commercial impact. This discussion will be further developed during the round table “The Organisational Culture Gap: Why Academia and Industry Often Speak Different Languages”, taking place on 2 September.
Sol-Gel 2026 will foster interaction across disciplines, generations and sectors, creating opportunities for collaboration between academia and industry and for early-career researchers and students to engage with leading experts. Indeed, several emerging early-career researchers have been invited to speak at the conference, and the ISGS ECR will also have the opportunity to meet, as well as exchange ideas and present their activities to the wider sol-gel community.
Check the Program at a Glance
See moreConference Topics
- Chemistry and fundamentals of the sol-gel process
- New characterization and modeling techniques for sol-gel materials
- Structure and morphology control
- Hybrid and Composite Materials
- Environmentally conscious Sol-Gel materials
- Bio-inspired and bio-sourced sol-gel materials
- Smart Materials
- Health and medical applications
- Energy applications
- Environmental applications
- Functional and protective coatings and thin-films
- Optic, photonic and optoelectronic applications
- Electronic, magnetic and ferroelectric applications
- Catalysis and sensors applications
- Sol-Gel for Heritage preservation.
- AI in Sol-Gel processes
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Scalability and industrialization of sol-gel technology
Stay in the loop
Conference Venue
IST Congress Centre
Located at the Alameda Campus of Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, the IST Congress Centre is a modern venue designed to host conferences, seminars, and academic events.
Its central location within one of Portugal’s leading universities adds a vibrant academic atmosphere, making it a distinguished choice for national and international events.
Partner with us to inspire discovery and innovation!
See moreAbout Lisbon
The Light that led Explorers
Renowned for its light and stunning location on the northern bank of the Tagus River, Lisbon was once the gateway to the world, where great explorers embarked on journeys to new territories.
