The selected participants, representing outstanding early-career researchers, will spend four days at ICMAB sharing their vision for the future of materials science, engaging in training sessions, networking, and interactive discussions.

Earlier this year, ICMAB launched a public international call to identify emerging researchers — advanced postdocs and junior principal investigators — with the potential to lead the next generation of materials science. From numerous outstanding applications, five external participants and six internal have been selected to join this unique initiative.

The Future Leaders program is designed to help emerging leaders connect with ICMAB researchers, develop their professional skills, and explore how materials research can make an impact from the laboratory to society. The program also aims to foster collaboration, exchange ideas, and strengthen leadership skills among early-career scientists. 

Tuesday, 28 October 2025 – Impact

• 10:00 – Welcome
  
  
• 10:10 – Session 1: External guest researchers selected through a public ICMAB call (5 talks, 10 minutes each + 5 minutes Q&A)
  Dr. Daniel Corzo, Dr. Gargi Joshi, Dr. Giulia Lavarda, Dr. Supriyo Naskar, Dr. Sergi Plana Ruiz

• 11:25 – Coffee break
  
  
• 12:10 – Session 2: Internal researchers selected through a public ICMAB call (6 talks, 10 minutes each + 5 minutes Q&A)
  Dr. Sara Battista, Dr. Gabriele de Luca, Dr. Elisabet González Mira, Dr. Dean Kos, Dr. Judit Morla Folch, Dr. Asier Rodriguez Muguruza
  
  
• 13:40 – Lunch and networking
  
  
• 15:00 – Session 3: Hands on Impact – Beyond academic impact, what are we doing?
  Led by Coral Herranz, Project Manager at FunNanoSurf group, and Dolors Grillo, Talent Officer (ICMAB)
  
  
• 16:15 – End of day 1

Wednesday, 29 October 2025 – From bench to market

• 10:00 – Welcome
  
  
• 10:10 – Session 4: Successful stories of companies
  Speaker: Silvia Frutos, CTO and Cofounder of SpliceBio
  
  
• 11:20 – Coffee break
  
  
• 12:10 – Session 5: Round table on ERC Proof of Concept
  Participants: Núria Aliaga-Alcalde, Gerard Tobías Rossell, and Mariano Campoy-Quiles, ICMAB researchers and ERC grantees
  
  
• 13:30 – Lunch and networking

This program is part of ICMAB’s ongoing effort to support scientific talent, leadership, and innovation. It offers a collaborative environment where new voices in materials science can connect, grow, and help define the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Download the program here. 

Registration

To attend the event, either both days or only one, please register here.

The program is funded by Grant GPE2023-001262-T funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033