CoBRAIN Workshop at NanoInnovation 2026

CoBRAIN Workshop at NanoInnovation 2026 Showcases the Integrated Future of Sustainable Coatings

The CoBRAIN project successfully showcased its latest scientific and technological advances during a dedicated workshop at the NanoInnovation 2026 Conference, held in Rome, Italy, under the title “Integrated Experimental, Computational and AI-Driven Design of Sustainable Coatings: the CoBRAIN Approach.” The session brought together researchers, industry representatives, and innovation stakeholders to demonstrate how the project is accelerating the development of next-generation thermal spray coatings by combining experimental research, computational modelling, artificial intelligence, and sustainability-driven decision-making.

The workshop opened with Prof. Giovanni Bolelli (UniMore), who presented the latest progress of the CoBRAIN project and its Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) framework. His presentation highlighted how CoBRAIN is developing innovative High-Entropy Alloy (HEA) coatings and HEA-based cermets as promising alternatives to conventional coating systems containing toxic or critical materials, while integrating sustainability considerations from the earliest stages of material design. The session continued with Dr. Marzuk Kamal (AeonX), who demonstrated how machine learning models developed within the project can predict material properties and identify promising HEA compositions based on targeted performance requirements. Dr. Giulia Gigante (UR3) presented advanced nanomechanical 3D high-speed mapping techniques used to reveal the relationship between microstructure and material performance, while Dr. Lorenzo Miconi (UniMore) showcased experimental results on the wear and corrosion behaviour of HVOF-deposited High-Entropy Hardmetal coatings.

A central highlight of the workshop was the presentation of the CoBRAIN Sustainable Decision Support System (SDSS), which demonstrated how the project’s integrated workflow translates scientific knowledge into practical industrial solutions. By combining experimental datasets, physics-based simulations, artificial intelligence predictions, and Life Cycle Assessment indicators, the SDSS supports researchers and industrial users in selecting coating solutions that achieve the best balance between technical performance, environmental impact, and economic efficiency. The workshop illustrated how this digital platform enables users to explore alloy design spaces, evaluate material properties, and make more informed, data-driven decisions throughout the coating development process.

The strong participation and engaging discussions throughout the session confirmed the growing interest in integrated digital approaches for advanced materials development. The NanoInnovation 2026 workshop represented another important dissemination milestone for CoBRAIN, strengthening the project’s visibility within the international research community and reinforcing its contribution to more sustainable, intelligent, and future-oriented coating technologies for European industry.