Emerging Concepts & Design for Sustainability (ECDS) ECDS on November 18-20, 2026 in Paris, France

1. Life Sciences Innovation and Sustainable Concepts

This topic addresses low-impact, responsible innovation in life sciences, from greener protocols to ethical translational pathways. The following thematic areas are covered, non-exhaustively:

1.1.Low-impact biomedical and biological research practices

1.2. Eco-responsible experimental protocols

1.3.Non-animal and alternative testing strategies

1.4. Sustainable bio-sample management

1.5. Green clinical and translational research pathways

1.6. Sustainable public-health innovations

1.7. Ethical and responsible innovation frameworks for life sciences

Keynote: Prof. Amor Mosbah (Tunisia)

2. Water, Soils and Environmental Resilience

This topic focuses on advanced treatment, real-time monitoring, and nature-based approaches to strengthen environmental resilience. The following thematic areas are covered, non-exhaustively:

2.1.Advanced water treatment technologies (advanced oxidation, photocatalysis, non-thermal plasma…) .

2.2.Real-time ecosystem monitoring

2.3. Nature-based solutions for pollution remediation

2.4.Sustainable soil management

Session Chair: Dr Florence Koltalo (France)

3. Bio-based, biomimetic Materials and Sustainable Biotechnologies

This topic highlights bio-based conversion routes, biomimetic materials, and waste valorization for sustainable biotechnologies. The following thematic areas are covered, non-exhaustively:

3.1 Integrated biomass conversion (green chemistry, fermentation, biocatalysis)

3.2. Bio-inspired biomaterials and bioadhesives (e.g., gecko-inspired adhesives)

3.3.Valorisation of agricultural and marine waste

3.4. Life cycle assessment (LCA)

Session Chair: Prof. Mohamed M. Chehimi

4. Emerging Porous Architecture for Sustainable Technologies

This topic covers advanced porous materials and their sustainable synthesis, processing, stability, and end-of-life performance. The following thematic areas are covered, non-exhaustively:

4.1.MOFs and COFs (MIL, ZIF, UiO frameworks)

4.2. Design and synthesis of porous materials

4.3. Green, solvent-free, and low-energy synthesis routes

4.4. Scalable and sustainable material processing

4.5. Chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability of porous materials

4.6. Hybrid and composite porous materials

4.7. Recyclability, regeneration, and end-of-life considerations

4.8. Life-cycle assessment and environmental footprint of porous materials

Keynote: Prof. Nathalie Steunou (France)

5. Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage

This topic targets low-carbon energy vectors, conversion routes, and materials enabling storage and efficient thermal management. The following thematic areas are covered, non-exhaustively:

5.1. Hydrogen production (photocatalysis, photoelectrocatalysis…)

5.2. CO₂ capture and valorisation

5.3.Low-carbon cement and concrete

5.4. Phase change materials (PCMs)

5.5. Materials for solid-state batteries and supercapacitors

5.6. Sustainable construction materials

5.7. Heat transfer in buildings

Session Chair: Prof. Karim BENZARTI (IFSTTAR) & Prof. Abderrahim BOUDENNE (UPEC)

Keynote: Prof. Vincenzo Baglio (Italy)

6. Green Industrial Processes

This topic emphasizes cleaner manufacturing through green chemistry, safer synthesis, and source-level pollution prevention. The following thematic areas are covered, non-exhaustively:

6.1.Green chemistry

6.2. Closed-loop manufacturing

6.3.Preventing pollution at source

6.4. Low atom-consuming approaches

6.5.Safe solvents

6.6. Low-energy synthesis

6.7. Heterogeneous catalysis with non-noble metals

6.8. Continuous-flow chemistry

6.9.Safer chemicals

6.10. Renewable feedstocks

6.11.Reduced derivatives

6.12. Design for recycling

6.13. Accident prevention

Session Chair : Prof. Julien Vieillard

Keynote: Jean Christophe GABRIEL (CEA, France)

7. Recycling and Circularity of Critical Materials

This topic addresses circular strategies for critical materials, from recycling performance to traceability and LCA. The following thematic areas are covered, non-exhaustively:

7.1.Recycling and upcycling of critical materials (polymers, composites, rare earth elements)

7.2. Digital traceability of resources

7.3.Compatibility and quality of recycled materials

7.4. Material stabilization and refunctionalization after recycling

7.5. Circular material flows and material loops

7.6. Life-cycle assessment of recycled and upcycled materials

7.7. Durability and long-term performance of circular materials

7.8. Material criticality and resource efficiency

8. Digital Transition and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability

This topic covers low-carbon digital approaches and AI methods supporting sustainable design, operation, and assessment.

8.1.Green AI and low-carbon computing

8.2. Digital twins for sustainable processes

8.3.AI-assisted design and optimization

8.4. Virtual sensing and soft sensors

8.5. AI for energy efficiency and smart energy management

8.6. AI-enabled life-cycle assessment (LCA)

8.7. AI for climate modelling and environmental impact prediction

8.8. Ethical AI for sustainability-critical systems

Session chair : Dr. Sohayb Khaoulani

Keynote: Prof. Maité Sylla (France)

9. Devices, remote sensing and AI-driven technology

This topic focuses on sensing systems and AI pipelines for in-situ/remote monitoring, robustness, and security.

9.1. Chemical and biological sensing devices

9.2. Remote and in-situ environmental sensing platforms

9.3. Drone- and satellite-based sensing

9.4. Environmental IoT architectures and sensor networks

9.5. Low-power and energy-efficient sensing devices

9.6. AI-driven signal processing and sensor calibration

9.7. Machine learning for drift correction and self-diagnostics

9.8. Data fusion and multimodal sensing

9.9. Anomaly detection and predictive analytics

9.10.Frugal and embedded AI for sensors

9.11. Cybersecurity and data integrity in sensor-AI systems

Session chair: Prof. Najla Fourati

keynote: Prof. Olfa Kanoun (Germany)

keynote: Prof. Aziz Amine (Morocco)

Name: IEREK
Website: https://www.ierek.com/events/emerging-concepts-design-for-sustainability-ecds