Around 200 scientists from across the globe gathered in the auditorium of Saarland University for the International Conference on Engineered Living Materials (ELM 2026). Organized by the INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials with support from the DFG Priority Programme SPP 2451 “Living Materials with Adaptive Functions” and the Leibniz ScienceCampus “Living Therapeutic Materials”, the conference provided a platform for interdisciplinary exchange at the interface of materials science, biology, and bioengineering over the course of three days.
The ELM conference, now in the 5th edition, focused on new approaches to the development and control of living materials. The presented work covered a broad spectrum of current research, ranging from biologically based therapeutic materials and cooperative microbial systems to biohybrid platforms, living bioelectronics, and sustainable material concepts.
At the conclusion of the conference, participants selected the three best posters from a total of 80 presentations. The poster awards, sponsored by Wiley (Advanced Nanobiomed Research and Advanced Therapeutics), were presented to Annalena Frank (Saarland University), Maria Sole Ragno (INM), and Ann-Cathrin Schlapp (INM).
In addition to the positive feedback received on site, INM was also widely praised on social media for the successful organization of the event. The next gathering of the international ELM community in Saarbrücken is planned for 2028.