GlaCerHub Slovak Melting Days 2025 Fostered Collaboration and Innovation in Trenčín

The GlaCerHub Slovak Melting Days 2025 were held on 23–24 October 2025 at the FunGlass Centre in Trenčín, Slovakia, gathering experts, researchers, and representatives of academia and industry to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore new opportunities for cooperation — both within and beyond the GlaCerHub project framework.

The event opened with a welcome speech by Prof. Dušan Galusek, Principal Investigator of the GlaCerHub project and Director of the FunGlass Centre, who emphasized the importance of connecting the research community and innovation stakeholders to strengthen the regional and European innovation ecosystem.

This was followed by a presentation on GlaCerHub Local Chapter opportunities delivered by Peter Hošták, Head of the GlaCerHub Office, and an update on the GlaCerHub Research and Innovation Strategy presented by David Salamon, GlaCerHub Innovation Chair. Both contributions highlighted ongoing initiatives supporting knowledge transfer, innovation networking, and participation in European funding schemes.

The morning session continued with inspiring guest presentations, including a contribution from Dr. Dr. Damian Derlukiewicz, Vice Director of the Center for Innovation and Business at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology (WUST), who introduced the Knowledge Valorisation Ecosystem at WUST. His talk showcased practical examples of successful collaboration between academia and industry in Poland and offered valuable insights into innovation brokerage and commercialization practices.

Participants then attended a Research and Innovation Funding Section focused on opportunities within Horizon Europe and related national support programs. The session featured speakers from the European Project Office of FunGlass and CVTI SR (Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information) — including Peter Szuttor, National Contact Point for Horizon Europe, and Vladimír Šváč from the Research and Innovation Authority (VAIA). The presentations provided practical guidance on accessing funding, understanding evaluation criteria, and forming competitive project consortia.

In the afternoon, the Innovation Landscape Forum presented broader perspectives on innovation ecosystems. Eva-Kathrin Schillinger (IAM-I, Belgium) introduced the Innovative Advanced Materials for Europe (IAM4EU) initiative, while Paulina Böhmerová from the ESET Foundation discussed strategies for supporting science and public engagement. Elena Canetti from INVENIAM shared effective tools and “tips & tricks” for innovation management and proposal preparation.

The Melting days event concluded with matchmaking activities, providing an excellent opportunity for participants to network, exchange ideas, and identify potential partners for future joint initiatives.

The GlaCerHub Slovak Melting Days 2025 successfully fulfilled their mission — fostering collaboration, inspiring innovation, and reinforcing the forward-looking spirit of the GlaCerHub community. The event once again highlighted the role of GlaCerHub as a dynamic national and cross-border platform connecting the glass and ceramics research community with industry and innovation stakeholders.