NCCR Bio-inspired Materials International Conference

On June 19 and 20, 2026, the city of Fribourg, Switzerland, will host an International Bio-Inspired Materials Conference, marking the culmination of over a decade of groundbreaking research, innovation, and collaboration by the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials. This special event will bring together leading scientists from around the world, industry partners, and current and past members of the NCCR Bio-inspired Materials community to celebrate the achievements and future of bio-inspired materials science.

The NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials is an internationally recognized hub for interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation in the field of bio-inspired materials, as well as equal opportunities.

Financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the University of Fribourg, the center involves 25 research groups and over 100 active members. Its home institution is the University of Fribourg, with EPFL, ETHZ, and Cornell University joining as participating institutions, and CSEM, Empa, the University of Salzburg, TU Darmstadt, KU Leuven, and Turku University as associated institutions.

Since its inception in 2014, the Center has led the development of “smart” materials inspired by Nature, focusing on mechanoresponsive materials, photonic materials, and bio-interfaces.