The CoBRAIN project marked a defining milestone with its final event, the COATINGS 2026 International Conference, held in Athens, Greece, from 20–22 April 2026. Organised by EXELISIS IKE, CoBRAIN’s Dissemination and Communication Manager and a key partner in the project, in collaboration with MDPI, the conference represented one of the significant achievements of the project and a culmination of its collaborative efforts. Bringing together more than 150 participants from 29 countries, including researchers, industry representatives, SMEs and research and technology organisations, the event provided an international platform for scientific exchange, networking and the presentation of advances in materials engineering and sustainable coating technologies.

Throughout the project, EXELISIS played a pivotal role in implementing CoBRAIN’s dissemination and communication activities, remarkably achieving all its project Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The organisation of COATINGS 2026 was a major achievement in this effort, demonstrating its capacity to bring together the international research and industrial communities, amplify the project’s results and create meaningful opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration. As the organiser of the entire event, EXELISIS ensured that CoBRAIN’s final conference served not only as a showcase for the project’s achievements but also as a meeting point for researchers, industry stakeholders and experts working towards the advancement of coating technologies.

The three-day conference featured scientific presentations, poster sessions and dedicated discussions highlighting advances in materials engineering, computational and experimental approaches, and innovative coating solutions. These activities reflected CoBRAIN’s commitment to bridging the gap between research and industrial application, while encouraging collaboration across academia and industry and supporting the development of more sustainable materials and processes.

A central highlight of the event was the Sustainable Decision Support System (SDSS) training and demonstration booth, which offered visitors the opportunity to explore one of CoBRAIN’s key digital outcomes through live demonstrations and interactive training. By integrating experimental data, modelling results, technical performance requirements and sustainability criteria, the SDSS supports more informed decision-making in the selection and assessment of advanced coating solutions. The booth also enabled direct engagement with researchers, coating specialists and industrial stakeholders, while the completion of Technology Cards helped the consortium collect valuable feedback, identify user needs and explore opportunities for technology transfer and industrial uptake.

Beyond the scientific programme and technical demonstrations, COATINGS 2026 celebrated the collaborative efforts, research progress and practical outcomes achieved throughout CoBRAIN’s journey. The event demonstrated how scientific excellence, digital innovation and effective dissemination can work together to bring research results closer to the communities and industries that can benefit from them.

Relive the highlights of CoBRAIN’s final event through the COATINGS 2026 video highlights, capturing key moments from the conference, the scientific exchanges and the project’s activities. The video offers a glimpse into the people, ideas and collaborative efforts that made this important milestone possible, celebrating both the project’s achievements and the successful conclusion of its journey.

As CoBRAIN reaches the culmination of its activities, COATINGS 2026 stands as a testament to the value of European research collaboration and the importance of connecting scientific progress with practical application. For EXELISIS, the successful organisation of the final event and the remarkable achievement of all project KPIs reflect its strong commitment to the project’s objectives and its contribution to maximising the visibility, impact and exploitation potential of CoBRAIN’s results. Together, these achievements reinforce the project’s ambition to advance sustainable coating technologies and support a more informed, innovative and sustainable future for materials engineering.