CONDOR Final Conference and Consortium Meeting – A Notable Conclusion in Bologna

On October 14-15, 2024, in Bologna, Italy, the CONDOR Final Conference and Consortium Meeting took place, marking a milestone in the project’s journey. Since its launch in November 2020, the CONDOR project has been dedicated to developing a photosynthetic modular device. As the project approaches its completion, the final conference titled “From Sunlight to Molecules” provided an excellent opportunity to present the project’s concept and its results.

The event was hosted by the Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF), part of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR). With a full room of attendees, the conference was highly engaging, drawing a diverse audience and showcasing high-quality lectures from renowned experts in the field.

Event Highlights

The lunch-to-lunch event fostered an interactive environment for participants, featuring a keynote speech by Nicola Armaroli, Research Director at CNR-ISOF. In his talk, he emphasized the EU’s responsibility in tackling global greenhouse gas issues, highlighted the need for decarbonization and stressed the importance of alternative sources like water and CO₂. He also outlined the challenges and opportunities in developing solar-to-chemicals technologies, which require significant R&D support and commitment. Following this, Project Coordinator Prof. Paola Ceroni (Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna) and Project Manager Anastasia Grozdanova (AMIRES) took the stage to present an overview of the CONDOR project. The event also featured presentations from leading researchers and technology developers, covering advancements in molecular catalysts, characterization techniques, and applications of artificial photosynthesis.

Technology Demonstration and Final Consortium Meeting

As the event concluded, participants had the opportunity to explore each component of the CONDOR prototype, with teams from HyGear and ENGIE, providing detailed demonstrations and explanations of their work.

Following the conference, the consortium gathered for the M48 Consortium Meeting to discuss the next steps leading up to the project’s completion at the end of October 2024.

The pleasant weather and warm hospitality in Bologna greatly enhanced the experience. Special thanks go to CNR and all the colleagues involved in organizing both the final event and the consortium meeting for their exceptional efforts.

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