JULY 7TH/11TH – FUNCHAL, MADEIRA, PORTUGAL

At ESCAMPIG 2026, George Vafakos presented a poster on captionFOAM, an open-source framework for modelling low temperature cold atmospheric plasmas. George is a Postdoctoral Researcher (MSCA COFUND Fellow) at our coordinating partner, the University of Cyprus, and a member of the In Silico Modelling Group.

Simulating a cold atmospheric pressure plasma discharge means resolving gas flow, plasma chemistry and electric fields together, as a single coupled problem — and doing so in geometries that resemble a real device rather than an idealised test case.

captionFOAM (Cold Atmospheric Plasma Tool for IONised gases) is an open-source extension of the OpenFOAM finite-volume library, developed for the modelling of non-equilibrium cold atmospheric plasmas. Because it sits inside OpenFOAM, the plasma equations can couple directly to the fluid dynamics and heat transport solvers already available there, and the model remains open-source for anyone to freely inspect, modify and reuse.

Poster ESCAMPIG 2026

Pancreatic and biliary tract cancers remain among the most difficult cancers to treat, with limited surgical options and survival rates that have changed little in decades. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) is emerging as a promising modality, offering selective cytotoxic effects on tumour cells while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Within the EIC- and UKRI-funded IgnitePLASMA project, researchers at the University of Patras have been designing, building and characterising the CAPP hardware platform that will underpin a novel minimally invasive surgical tool targeting these two malignancies.

Dr. Panagiotis Svarnas, Professor, University of Patras, Greece, leading its design and development, will present the engineering journey: from design requirements and plasma source development — including sinusoidal and pulsed CAPP configurations — through to sensor integration and the adaptive treatment capabilities now being refined. A demonstration of the 4D programmable translation stage system will offer a concrete look at the platform in action.

SPEAKERS

Dr. Panagiotis Svarnas, Professor, University of Patras, GR

Dr Vasileios Vavourakis, Professor, University of Cyprus

Register here

3-4 June 2026 – Brussels

11 March 2026 – Online Info Session

CALL | 27 FEBRUARY 2026

The European Innovation Council has launched the second edition of the EIC Tech to Market Programme, an EIC Business Acceleration Service designed to help deep-tech researchers and innovators move from breakthrough research to viable ventures.

The path from lab to venture is one of the most challenging stages in innovation. The EIC Tech to Market Programme gives you the skills, expert support, and ecosystem access needed to validate your idea, strengthen your team, and move from breakthrough research to an investable company. Across the EU, researchers are already stepping forward, turning frontier science into ventures with global ambition.

More information about the program can be found here

18 February 2026

The European Innovation Council (EIC) and the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), are organising an EIC Info Day taking place in Nicosia, Cyprus, on 18 February 2026, at the Hilton Nicosia.

The event will present the current EIC Work Programme, providing detailed information on the individual calls and highlighting funding opportunities available to potential applicants.

More information about the Programme can be found here

7-11 July 2026

Location: Funchal, Portugal

The ESCAMPIG (Europhysics Conference on Atomic and Molecular Physics of Ionized Gases) is an international biennial conference of the EPS (European Physical Society). The conference topics comprise basic and applied plasma research. The 27th ESCAMPIG will be organized by the Institute for Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion and the University of Madeira.

11 – 15 July, 2026 – Vancouver, Canada

The 10th World Congress of Biomechanics is coming to vibrant Vancouver from July 11-15, 2026—and we can’t wait to welcome you. We are thrilled to bring you an unforgettable event that celebrates all that’s new, bold, and boundary-pushing in biomechanics. The 10th World Congress of Biomechanics will feature a rich scientific and social program bringing together our global research community. We are honored to announce that the 10th World Congress will serve as the 2026 meeting of our 3 principal partners: the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB), the Canadian Society of Biomechanics/Société Canadienne de Biomécanique (CSB/SCB), and the European Society of Biomechanics (ESB).  

In addition to the high quality and diverse spectrum of scientific tracks you have come to expect from the World Congress, we are striving to amplify contributions of researchers that are embracing emerging areas that we will announce more on as the planning progresses, but will undoubtedly include wearable sensors, artificial intelligence, regenerative medicine, novel devices, and much more. This Congress will be an immersive, hands-on experience in one of the most dynamic cities in the world. Expect workshops that spark creativity, discussions that challenge the status quo, and networking opportunities against the stunning backdrop of Vancouver’s mountains and ocean. 

Join us in continuing the tradition of excellence of more than two decades of World Congresses now past, and forging the next directions in your field. This is more than a Congress; it’s a chance to inspire, be inspired, and chart new directions. Vancouver is calling, and you won’t want to miss this incredible opportunity! 

WCB 2026 Host Societies

ASB is dedicated to advancing the field of biomechanics through research, education, and collaboration. Founded in 1977, ASB serves as a leading platform for scientists, engineers, clinicians, and industry professionals working in areas such as human movement, musculoskeletal mechanics, rehabilitation, sports science, and biomedical engineering. The society also supports student development, mentorship programs, and awards that recognize outstanding contributions to the field.

Canadian Society Of Biomechanics –
Société Canadienne De Biomécanique (CSB/SCB)

Established in 1973, the CSB/SCB is a multidisciplinary organization that promotes the study and application of biomechanics in Canada. With over 250 members worldwide, the society aims to enhance interdisciplinary communication among professionals such as therapists, physicians, engineers, physicists, mathematicians, biologists, sport researchers, and ergonomists. By fostering collaboration across these diverse fields, the CSB/SCB seeks to improve the quality of biomechanics research and its practical applications. CSB/SCB plays a pivotal role in advancing biomechanics research and facilitating the exchange of knowledge among professionals from diverse disciplines.

More info can be found here

17th World Congress on Computational Mechanics

10th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering

19-24 July 2026 – Munich, Germany

WCCM-ECCOMAS 2026 is expected to be one of the largest congresses in the field of computational mechanics and computational methods in applied sciences and engineering. It is anticipated to attract a diverse and global audience from academia, government, and industry, encompassing all areas of engineering and science. Computational mechanics has become a cornerstone of modern scientific inquiry, driving solutions to some of the most advanced and complex challenges in engineering and beyond.

Special Technology Sessions (STS)

On initiative of the ECCOMAS Industry Interest Group, the WCCM-ECCOMAS Congress 2026 will have Special Technology Sessions (STS) on technologies and research especially of relevance for industrial applications. The STS will address advanced computational methods and tools needed for sustainable aviation, surface transport and other industry areas, as well as their validation and application. At the ECCOMAS Congresses since 1996, the industrial technology oriented STS have a long tradition, based on the fact, that the industry in Europe, especially in Aviation and Transport, had and still has a strong need for advanced computational methods in areas as fluid dynamics, structure mechanics, design optimisation and operations. With artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and big data handling the challenges get another dimension for industry that needs to be addressed.

The STS will address advanced sustainable technologies for aviation, transport and related industry areas

Aviation, Surface Transport and related industries need to reduce their emissions and to play a driving role towards limiting global warming. Aviation and surface transport have the goal of climate neutrality by mid-century, which requires a significant increase in novel technologies and enhanced innovation.

At WCCM-ECCOMAS 2026, the STS will address the development and use of computational methods, their validation and application, all contributing to reducing emissions of aviation, surface transport and related industries. This includes innovative computational methods and design tools for all relevant technology areas reaching up to concepts of novel configurations and advanced propulsion systems.

As the WCCM-ECCOMAS Congress focuses on computational methods, the aim of the STS and their papers is to present novel computational and digitalized methods and tools (modelling, simulation, optimisation and control, artificial intelligence (AI), etc.) for the application in aviation, surface transport and related industries. The STS can also include the validation and technology demonstration by experiments and testing. In the view of high-performance computing and big data handling, the STS will also address the use of computational methods for innovative production and operation methods for the different transport means.

Lead Institution: University of Cyprus (UCY)
Researchers: G. Vafakos & E. Karvelas
Type: Simulation Study & Video Visualization

Overview

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations have been developed to predict the gas dynamics of the IgnitePLASMA helium plasma jet operating in atmospheric air. This modelling work provides crucial insights into device behavior under different operational parameters, enabling optimization of the plasma-based surgical platform before clinical application.

Key Findings

The simulations investigated two distinct operational modes of the plasma jet:

Laminar Mode:

• Occurs when the jet’s Reynolds number is below a critical threshold (lower flow rates)
• Produces smooth, consistent fluid motion
• Results in predictable jet behavior over time
• Characterized by slower fluid velocity

Turbulent Mode:

• Emerges when flow rate exceeds the threshold
• Creates faster, more stochastic fluid motion
• Exhibits less predictable temporal behavior
• Shows greater variability in flow patterns

May 31 – June 5, 2026

Location: Gifu, Japan

Plasma Medicine has come a long way since the first International Conference on Plasma Medicine was held in 2007. Many devices are commercially available, have regulatory approval for use in humans and are undergoing clinical trials for multiple disease indications. There are ongoing advances in both, fundamental and translational research. The International Society on Plasma Medicine holds biannual conferences to share recent advances in plasma medicine. The conference welcomes scientific contributions from engineers, physicists, chemists, biologists, microbiologists, immunologists, oncologists, clinicians, agriculture scientists among others.

In 2026, the 11th International Conference on Plasma Medicine is being held in the beautiful city of Gifu in Japan, to honor Prof. Masaru Hori, a highly respected leader in the field. After very positive feedback from the community, the conference is again being held jointly with the 10th International Workshop on Plasmas for Cancer Treatment. This is a great opportunity to interact personally with scientists at all levels and affiliations, including students and professors, professionally and socially, across the range of scientific topics that encompass this interdisciplinary field.

The members of the Board of Directors of the International Society on Plasma Medicine and the International Workshop on Plasmas for Cancer Treatment, along with the local hosts hope you will join us to share your work and hear from your colleagues.

More information can be found here