Message from the FEMS President

Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini FEMS President (2024–2025)

It has been an honour to serve as FEMS President over the past two years. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead this outstanding organisation and would like to sincerely thank the members of the FEMS Management Committee and Board for their constant support, as well as all our Member Societies for their engagement and commitment to the FEMS mission.

During my term, FEMS strengthened interaction among materials scientists and engineers across Europe through the successful organisation of FEMS Junior EUROMAT 2024 in Manchester (UK) and FEMS EUROMAT 2025 in Granada (Spain). FEMS EUROMAT 2025 was a particular highlight of my tenure as FEMS President—an impressive event that set a new benchmark for our conferences. I extend my special thanks to the Conference Chair, Prof Rodrigo Moreno, and Co-Chair, Asst Prof Anna Zervaki.

In collaboration with the FEMS Strategic Advisory Group, we continued the FEMS Industry Symposium series. We have agreed that these symposia will take place regularly in the years between FEMS EUROMAT conferences, and details of the next symposium will be announced soon.

A key objective of my presidency was to enhance FEMS international visibility. To this end, we signed Memoranda of Understanding with the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB), the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS), and The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), opening new opportunities for joint activities that will benefit our members and the wider materials community.

We also strengthened FEMS role within the European materials science ecosystem through engagement with EU policymakers and participation in major initiatives, including the European Advanced Materials Academy.

I warmly congratulate Prof Paula Vilarinho, our new FEMS President, and Prof Rodrigo Moreno, our new Vice-President for 2026-2027. I look forward to working with them, continuing my involvement with FEMS asImmediate Past President, and meeting many of you at the FEMS Junior EUROMAT in Trikala, Greece, in July 2026.

I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a joyful holiday season, health, happiness, and success in the New Year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Prof Aldo R Boccaccini
FEMS President (2024–2025)

Message from the Immediate Past President

Asst Prof. Anna D. Zervaki Immediate Past President, FEMS (2024–2025)

As I conclude my time on the FEMS Board, I do so with sincere gratitude. Being elected to serve as FEMS President in 2022–2023 was a great honour and a highlight of my professional journey.

The past two years, in the role of Immediate Past President, and my close cooperation with the Management Committee and the Board have been equally rewarding. I am deeply thankful for the trust of the FEMS community and for the many colleagues whose commitment, openness, and shared passion made this journey so meaningful.

I leave with warm memories, lasting appreciation, and strong confidence in the future of FEMS—because once FEMS, always FEMS.

Asst Prof Anna D Zervaki
Immediate Past President, FEMS (2024–2025)

FEMS EUROMAT 2025 – Highlights

FEMS EUROMAT 2025,18th European Congress and Exhibition on Advanced Materials and Processes [/author_info] [/author]

FEMS EUROMAT 2025, held in Granada, Spain, brought together the European and international materials science community for an outstanding week of scientific exchange, collaboration, and celebration. Hosted by SOCIEMAT – Sociedad Española de Materiales, the conference once again demonstrated the unique spirit of EUROMAT: excellent science, strong community engagement, and a shared vision for the future of materials science and engineering.

The opening day featured two outstanding plenary lectures:

• Prof Mário Ferreira, recipient of the FEMS European Materials Gold Medal 2025, spoke on Sustainable and Smart Materials for Corrosion Protection.

• Prof Sergio T Amancio Filho, recipient of the FEMS Materials Innovation Medal 2025, with a lecture on Engineering Hybrid Structures: Advanced Joining Meets Additive.

Throughout the week, participants enjoyed a rich scientific programme, including inspiring plenary lectures by leading researchers such as Dr-Ing Sarah Fischer, winner of the FEMS Materials Science & Technology Prize 2025, Prof Rosa Menéndez, Prof Franz Faupel, Prof Dr Stefan Pogatscher, and Prof Sarah Haigh. Parallel sessions covered the full breadth of materials science and engineering, complemented by poster sessions and informal networking moments.

A special highlight was the FEMS Industry Workshop, endorsed by E-MRS, on Materials Assisted by Digital Science: Revolution, Benefits and Risks for Industry, which sparked lively discussions on the transformative role of digital tools in both research and industry.

EUROMAT 2025 also placed strong emphasis on community building and future talent. The FEMS General Assembly, held in hybrid format, brought together representatives of FEMS Member Societies to review ongoing activities and discuss the future direction of the Federation.

Another key moment was the FEMS Master Thesis Award 2025, where six outstanding finalists presented their work. The award recognised excellence among young researchers nominated by FEMS Member Societies.

The results were:

• Winner: Marta Zarzuela Amor (SOCIEMAT, Spain)

• 2nd Place: João Lopes Miranda (SPM, Portugal)

• 3rd Place: Antonios Sarikas (HSSTCM, Greece)

Their participation highlighted the strength and diversity of emerging talent across Europe.

The week concluded with the closing ceremony, including awards for the best posters and the announcement of future venues: FEMS Junior EUROMAT 2026 in Trikala (Greece) and FEMS EUROMAT 2027 in Graz (Austria).

FEMS warmly thanks the Congress Chairs Prof Rodrigo Moreno and Asst Prof Anna Zervaki, the managing and scientific committees, all speakers and participants, and especially SOCIEMAT for their excellent organisation and warm hospitality.

FEMS Junior EUROMAT 2026

2–16 July 2026 | Trikala, Greece

FEMS Junior EUROMAT 2026 will take place in Trikala, Greece, from 12 to 16 July 2026. Organised by the Hellenic Metallurgical Society (HMS), this flagship event brings together students and early-career materials scientists and engineers from across Europe and beyond.

The conference will continue its mission to inspire, develop, and celebrate the next generation of materials researchers, offering a high-quality scientific programme combined with unique opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional development.

Important Dates

• Deadline for abstract submission: 10 January 2026
• Notification of review results: 23 February 2026
• Early registration deadline: 15 May 2026

Registration is now open, and participants are encouraged to submit their abstracts and secure their place at this key event for early-career researchers.

👉 Mark your calendars and join us in Trikala for FEMS Junior EUROMAT 2026.
More information: https://junioreuromat2026.fems.eu

FEMS EUROMAT 2027

19th European Congress and Exhibition on Advanced Materials and Processes
12–16 September 2027 | Graz, Austria

FEMS EUROMAT 2027, the 19th European Congress and Exhibition on Advanced Materials and Processes, will take place from 12 to 16 September 2027.

The Call for Abstracts will open in July 2026, with the abstract submission deadline set for 31 January 2027. Further details on the scientific programme, venue, and organisation will be announced in due course.

👉 Save the date and stay tuned for more information:
https://euromat2027.fems.eu

FEMS News & Strategic Initiatives

FEMS and TMS sign MoU to establish the joint Early Career Leaders International Scholar Programme

FEMS and The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) have formalized their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement establishes a framework to strengthen international cooperation between the two societies, with a particular emphasis on supporting early-career researchers and fostering transatlantic engagement in materials science and engineering. More information: https://fems.org/fems-and-tms-sign-mou-to-establish-the-joint-early-career-leaders-international-scholar-programme/

Within this context of growing collaboration, FEMS wishes to highlight TMS2026 – the 55th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, one of the major international events in materials science and engineering.

TMS2026 – 55th Annual Meeting & Exhibition
📅 15–19 March 2026
📍 San Diego, California, USA

Details on registration and travel, the technical programme, workshops and short courses, and social events are available at:
👉 https://www.tms.org/TMS2026

FEMS encourages its members to explore this opportunity and to engage with the broader international materials science community through this important event.

FEMS and E-MRS sign first-ever Memorandum of Understanding

The Federation of European Materials Societies (FEMS) and the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on joint activities.

As an initial step, the MoU outlines the organization of joint FEMS-E-MRS symposia within the framework of E-MRS meetings and EUROMAT conferences. Additional joint initiatives are expected to follow, with the potential to significantly influence the landscape of materials science both in Europe and worldwide.

Joint E-MRS–FEMS Symposium on Artificial Intelligence in Materials Science & Engineering successfully held in Brussels on 23 January 2025

Co-organised by the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) and the Federation of European Materials Societies (FEMS), this significant event was conducted under the auspices of the European Commission DG Research & Innovation Directorate E – Prosperity.

This symposium marks the first major collaboration between E-MRS and FEMS in nearly a decade, showing a renewed commitment to interdisciplinary research and European partnerships in materials innovation.

In this context, FEMS is pleased to promote the 2026 E-MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit, organised in collaboration with the Foundation Jean-Marie Lehn. The event will take place from 25 to 29 May 2026 at the Convention & Exhibition Centre of Strasbourg, France.

The E-MRS Spring Meeting is a major international forum for materials research, bringing together scientists, engineers, and industry representatives to discuss recent advances across a broad range of topics.

FEMS looks forward to the active participation of its community in helping shape an outstanding E-MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit 2026.

Key date

• Abstract submission deadline: 21 January 2026

👉 More information:
https://www.european-mrs.com/meetings/2026-spring-meeting-exhibit

FEMS and ESB sign Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration

The Federation of European Materials Societies (FEMS) and the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB) have formalized their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement marks an important step towards fostering synergies between the two societies, encouraging cross-disciplinary research, and promoting joint activities that benefit their respective communities. More information: https://fems.org/collaborations/partnerships/

              Launch of the European Advanced Materials Academy

FEMS congratulates the European Commission and the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) on the launch of the European Advanced Materials Academy (AMAcademy), officially presented during the EIT Education & Skills Days 2025 in Brussels.

This initiative is a key contribution to the EU’s Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership Strategy and the forthcoming Advanced Materials Act (2026) — both central pillars of Europe’s Clean Industrial Deal and the Union of Skills agenda.

👉 Learn more: European Advanced Materials Academy – European Commission

              FEMS online event on 29 January 2025 exploring the intersection of AI and Materials Science, co-chaired by Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini and Dr. Gerhard Hackl

On 29 January 2025, the Federation of European Materials Societies (FEMS) hosted an insightful online event exploring the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Materials Science. The event was co-chaired by Prof Aldo R Boccaccini, FEMS President, and Dr Gerhard Hackl, FEMS Strategy Advisory Group (SAG) Chair. Bringing together leading experts from industry and academia, the discussion highlighted AI’s transformative potential in materials research, its challenges, and the opportunities it presents for accelerating innovation in the field.

The event also introduced the AI in Industry Symposium, which took place at FEMS EUROMAT 2025. FEMS remains committed to fostering discussions on emerging technologies like AI and their influence on materials science.

Communication Award for Excellence in Materials Science and Engineering
– Deadline for nominations: 1 April 2026

FEMS invites nominations for the Communication Award for Excellence in Materials Science and Engineering, recognising early-career materials scientists or engineers who have demonstrated outstanding communication of materials research. The award celebrates individuals who combine significant scientific contributions with the ability to effectively communicate their work to diverse audiences.

Eligibility: Active members of FEMS Member Societies at an early-career stage, with most of their research conducted at a European university, institute, or company.

Nominations must be submitted by FEMS Member Societies and include an entry form, a short video presentation by the nominee, supporting documents, and letters of support.

The winner will receive a certificate, €1,500, a fee waiver to attend FEMS EUROMAT 2027, and an invitation to publish in the European Journal of Materials. Shortlisted nominees will receive a fee waiver to attend FEMS Junior EUROMAT 2026 to present their work.

👉 More information: https://fems.org/fems-awards/fems-communication-award-for-excellence-in-mse/

FEMS Master Thesis Award

Deadline: 1 April 2026

Established in 2018, the FEMS Master Thesis Award is a Europe-wide competition designed to showcase and recognise the best Master thesis in Materials Science and Engineering from across FEMS Member Societies. Each FEMS Member Society may nominate one candidate per year, selected through its own national or local competition.

The 2026 fnal will take place during FEMS Junior EUROMAT 2026, where finalists will present their work thesis in a 10-minute oral presentation, followed by a short Q&A session with the judging panel. The overall winner will be announced during the conference.

Prizes:

• All finalists receive a fee waiver to attend FEMS Junior EUROMAT 2026 and a certificate
• Cash prizes for the top three finalists:
  • 1st place: €1,200
  • 2nd place: €1,000
  • 3rd place: €800

Nominations are co-ordinated by FEMS Member Societies, which also cover travel and subsistence costs for their selected candidate.

📩 For enquiries: secretary@fems.org
👉 More information: https://fems.org/fems-awards/fems-master-thesis-award/

Austria
ASMET – The Austrian Society for Metallurgy and Materials

Czechia
CSNMT – Czech Society for New Materials and Technologies

France
SF2M – Société Française de Métallurgie et des Matériaux

Germany
DGM – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde

2025 was a successful year for the German Materials Society (DGM), marked by a broad range of activities – from expert training courses and scientific conferences to active committee work. Whether in academia, industry, or early career stages, there was something for everyone in the materials science and engineering community.

In 2026, DGM will continue this momentum with a strong lineup of conferences covering the diversity of materials science and engineering. A particular highlight will be the Materials Science and Engineering Congress (MSE 2026) in Darmstadt – one of Europe’s largest cross-disciplinary events in the field. Other conferences will focus on bioinspired materials, magnetic materials, residual stresses, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, additive manufacturing, and aluminium alloys.

With these events, DGM aims to foster dialogue, share cutting-edge research, and strengthen international collaboration across disciplines and generations.

DVM – Deutscher Verband für Materialforschung und -prüfung e.V.

Greece
HMS – Hellenic Metallurgical Society

The Hellenic Metallurgical Society (HMS) is pleased to share three key milestones marking our activities in 2025:

1. HMS hosted the full-day International Workshop in Kalamata (26 June 2025), “Advanced Methods for Simulation and Characterization of Metallic Materials,” featuring distinguished international scientists and software developers. The participants explored advanced modelling and characterization methods across multiple length scales, covering methods at large-scale facilities, design of alloys and heat treatments, additive manufacturing, electron microscopy, and thermodynamic simulations.

2. The 9th International Conference of HMS took place in Thessaloniki on 3–4 November 2025, and it was co-organized with the Physical Metallurgy Laboratory of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. This year’s event stood out for its strong engagement of young scientists, who represented more than 50% of all delegates. Their enthusiastic participation and high-quality contributions enriched the scientific programme and highlighted the growing momentum of the next generation of materials scientists. The conference successfully brought together academia, engineering and industry.

3. In 2025, HMS has also been actively organizing the next major FEMS event: FEMS Junior EUROMAT 2026, to be held in Trikala from 12–16 July 2026. This flagship conference will support and inspire the next generation of materials scientists.

HSSTCM – Hellenic Society for the Science and Technology of Condensed Matter

The Hellenic Society for the Science and Technology of Condensed Matter (HSSTCM) is a Greek non-profit scientific society founded in 1981. Its main objective is to promote the exchange of new developments and achievements in the field of Condensed Matter and Materials Science, and to support their applications. During 2025, HSSTCM took the following actions and organized the following events: – On the 13th and 14th of December, HSSTCM, together with the National Hellenic Research Foundation, organized the Online “Workshop on Computational Materials Science-2025”. This is the 11^th workshop in a series that started in 2015 and the 7^th that is focused on computational methods in Materials Science. Talks focused on the latest theoretical and simulation methods in computational materials science and light–matter interactions offered to mainly young scientists (MSc, PhD students and Post-Doctoral Fellows) [https://cms25.eie.gr/] – HSSTCM covered the registration fees of a young scientist for his participation in the 39^th Pan-Hellenic Conference on Solid State Physics and Materials Science held in Paphos-Cyprus (September 2025) [https://fsk2025.cut.ac.cy/] – On the 2^nd of February, HSSTCM organized the on-line competition for the Best Greek MSc Thesis Award in the field of Condensed Matter and Materials Science-2024. The winner, Mr Antonios Sarikas, represented HSSTCM at the FEMS Master Thesis final, which took place during the FEMS EUROMAT Conference (Granada, Spain, September 2025) [https://fems.org/fems-awards/fems-master-thesis-award/2025-fems-master-thesis-national-finals/antonios-sarikas/]

Hungary
MAE – Hungarian Society of Materials Science

Italy
AIM – Associazione Italiana di Metallurgia
ASSOCOMPOSITI – Italian Industry Association for Composite Materials

2025 has been a great and eventful year for AIM, with more than 30 courses and conferences. Among them, the most anticipated and successful was the 7th ESTAD 2025, held in Verona in October, which counted over 850 participants from all around the globe; this conference encouraged professional networking and promoted innovations in the steel applications field.

AIM closed 2025 with the International Workshop DTMI 2025 on digital tools for the metallurgical industry in Bergamo at the end of November, during which two prestigious awards were assigned: Carlo Longaretti Award at its 3rd edition and Tiziano Valente Thesis Award for the first time.
In 2025, AIM organized 32 events: 1 national conference, 5 international conferences, and 26 study days/courses for academics, industry professionals, and students, all aimed at enhancing knowledge across various fields of metallurgy (e.g., Materials for nuclear applications, Titanium, Sustainability of aluminum alloys, etc.), including a special event on Women in Metallurgy. The total number of participants was 2.602.
2026 will be just as exciting and full of events, and we’re really looking forward to it. Next year also marks AIM 80th anniversary, which will be celebrated throughout the year and especially with the 41st AIM National Conference, to be held in Brescia on 9-11 September and chaired by Prof. Annalisa Pola.

AIM is also organizing several international conferences, among which EEC 2026, on electric steelmaking, and EMECR 2026, on CO2 reduction, Conferences, that will jointly be held in Milan on 11-13 May, WCCM 2026, on condition monitoring and NdT, planned in Milan on 25-28 August and ICRF 2026, on Ingot Casting, Rolling and Forging, to be held in Bardolino-Verona on 13-15 October.
Regarding our journal, La Metallurgia Italiana (Scopus cited), renewal of the scientific committee is in the making.

Latvia
LMRS – Latvian Materials Research Society

Lithuania
LtMRS – Lithuanian Materials Research Society

The Netherlands
BvM – Bond voor Materialenkennis / Society for Materials Knowledge (NL and B)

Norway
NMS – Norsk Materialteknisk Selskap

Poland
PTM – Polish Materials Science Society

Polish Materials Science Society (PTM) organizes the National Day of Materials Engineering that brings together universities and research institutes across Poland. Every edition gathers over 3,000 participants. The 2026 edition, “Cosmic Materials“, will focus on materials for the space industry and extreme conditions, showcasing how Polish materials engineers contribute to safer missions and sustainable technologies for the next generations.  Participants will explore materials and their role in future technologies through lectures, lab tours, and hands-on workshops. This highlights the social impact of materials engineers, encouraging young people to consider materials engineering as an exciting path for study.

Join us at the 22nd Advanced Materials and Technologies Conference (AMT’2026), one of Europe’s leading events in materials science, held on June 14–17, 2026, in Łódź, Poland. AMT’2026 brings together world-class researchers and industry leaders to discuss breakthrough advances in nanomaterials, metallurgy, biomaterials, low-emission technologies, and AI-driven materials engineering. During this event, we will also celebrate the 70th anniversary of Professor Natalia Sobczak – previous FEMS Board member and Vice-President of the Polish Academy of Sciences. 
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect, present your work, and shape the future of materials science – visit and register at the website: https://amt2026.syskonf.pl

Portugal
SPM – Sociedade Portuguesa de Materiais

In 2025, the Sociedade Portuguesa de Materiais (SPM) further consolidated its role as a leading scientific society at national and European levels. A key milestone was the official recognition of SPM’s activities as being of a scientific nature for the 2025–2027 biennium, granted by the Portuguese Government (Despacho n.º 11941/2025, Diário da República, 10 October 2025).

Scientific dissemination and community engagement remained central to SPM’s mission. Materiais 2025, held at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, welcomed over 300 participants and included the attribution of the SPM Career and Recognition Award and multiple thesis awards. SPM also celebrated World Materials Day 2025 at the University of Beira Interior, featuring workshops, poster sessions, and invited industry lectures. Portuguese excellence was further highlighted by national successes at the European level, including a 2nd place at the FEMS Master Thesis Award 2025 and the attribution of the FEMS Materials Gold Medal 2025 to Prof. Mário Ferreira.

Throughout the year, SPM organized and co-organized numerous seminars, training courses, and webinars across diverse fields, from semiconductor materials and microelectronics to corrosion, surface engineering, and cultural heritage materials. In parallel, SPM launched a new website with a renewed visual identity, reinforcing its digital presence and communication with the community. International cooperation was strengthened through initiatives such as the Iberian Industrial Workshop and joint training activities with sister societies.

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, SPM is actively preparing future events, including Materiais 2027, and remains strongly committed to scientific excellence, education, and European collaboration within FEMS.

Serbia
Materials Research Society of Serbia

Slovakia
SNMT – Society for New Materials and Technologies in Slovakia

Slovenia
SDM – Slovenian Society of Materials

Spain
SOCIEMAT – Sociedad Española de Materiales

2025 started with an important new chapter for SOCIEMAT with the election of its new Board: Rodrigo Moreno (President), Daniel Sola (Vice President), and Gloria Rodríguez (Secretary). The Board also incorporated new members, whose mission is to represent the broad range of materials research fields. Their shared goal is to strengthen our community and promote materials science across Spain and beyond.

This year, we successfully held the 3rd edition of the Advanced Corrosion Course, ALESCORR, consolidated as a key training event for professionals and researchers working in corrosion and the National Science Communication Congress, MATERDIVULGA, highlighting the value of bringing materials science to the public and the tools to make it accessible. Moreover, SOCIEMAT celebrated World Materials Day with activities in several cities, featuring lectures, awards, and a variety of engaging activities.

Finally, the most remarkable milestone was Spain’s hosting of the FEMS EUROMAT Congress in Granada, a flagship European congress that showcased significant attendance, cutting-edge advances in materials science, and where our representative, Marta Zarzuela, won the FEMS Master Thesis Award. We warmly thank both FEMS and all attendees for making this event a remarkable success.

Together, these achievements reflect our commitment to excellence, community building, and scientific dissemination.

Sweden
SFMT – The Swedish Society for Materials Technology

Switzerland
SVMT – Schweizerischer Verband für Materialwissenschaft und Technologie

United Kingdom
IOM3 – Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining

2025 marked a milestone year for IOM3, beginning with our first Institute-wide flagship event, Materials, Minerals & Mining for People, Places, Planet, held at Birmingham’s NEC in November. This groundbreaking gathering brought together our 22 Technical Communities to address critical challenges in the circular economy, AI and digital skills, industry, and transport.

IOM3’s commitment to excellence was recognised at the 2025 Memcom Excellence Awards, where our Events team received a highly commended award for Best Event Management for FEMS Junior EUROMAT, held in Manchester. Our immediate past President, Dr Kate Thornton CEng CSci FIMMM, was also highly commended in the Best President category.

In collaboration with the Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Royal Society of Chemistry, we published the Circular Economy Skills Report, highlighting the skills gap challenging the UK’s net-zero ambitions.

Looking ahead to 2026, we’re organising EUROCORR 2026 in Dublin alongside the EFC, Institute of Corrosion, and Dechema – one of the corrosion industry’s largest conferences.

Christine Blackmore CEnv CSci FIMMM also completed her first year as IOM3 President in 2025, having taken over from Dr Kate Thornton.