Researchers and experts from across Europe gathered at CNR-IMM for the annual meeting of the international PCAM network, dedicated to doctoral training in the field of advanced materials.
The National Research Council (CNR) hosted the 2026 PCAM (Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials) Board Meeting in Catania. PCAM is the European network that brings together universities, research centres and institutions involved in doctoral education and scientific activities in the field of advanced materials.
The meeting took place at the CNR Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (CNR-IMM) and brought together delegations from several European countries, confirming Sicily’s increasingly important role in international scientific cooperation. The programme opened with institutional greetings from Vittorio Privitera, Director of CNR-IMM, followed by presentations focusing on the Sicilian research ecosystem and the activities of the PCAM network. Among the speakers was Dr Rosaria Puglisi, local coordinator of the Sicilian Science Cluster within the framework of the European PCAM Doctoral Programme and recently elected Vice-Chair of the international network.
According to the official programme, representatives of the partner universities were invited to present the activities developed at their respective institutions and to share experiences and perspectives on strategic topics for the future of research, including quantum technologies, climate challenges, artificial intelligence applied to research and innovation, entrepreneurship, and the development of specialised scientific clusters.
The meeting also provided an important opportunity to discuss the activities of the network and the programmes dedicated to doctoral training. During the event, the European PCAM Certificate was awarded to a PhD student from the Sicilian Science Cluster who successfully completed the programme requirements. The meeting also provided an opportunity to introduce the first students who had already obtained the same certification in previous years, highlighting the achievements of young researchers trained within the Sicilian partnership.
In the afternoon, participants visited the new CNR site and the STMicroelectronics facility in Catania, one of Europe’s most advanced industrial centres in the field of microelectronics and semiconductors. The visit offered a valuable opportunity to observe first-hand the interaction between public research, universities and industry, a key element in transforming scientific knowledge into technological innovation and economic development.
What is PCAM?
PCAM (Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials) is a European doctoral training programme that brings together universities and research centres active in the field of advanced materials. Through an international network of academic and scientific partners, it promotes PhD student mobility, co-supervision of research activities, and the or
ganisation of summer schools, seminars and shared training programmes. Participating students may also obtain the European PCAM Certificate, which attests to the international character of their academic and research pathway.
The programme’s main objectives include the interdisciplinary training of young researchers, the development of international scientific collaborations, and the strengthening of dialogue between academic research and industry. Among the partners of the network is the Sicilian Science Cluster, which represents CNR-IMM, the University of Catania, the University of Messina and STMicroelectronics within this prestigious European framework for higher education and research.
The 2026 Board Meeting once again confirmed the value of international cooperation in research and the role that the Catania area can play as a meeting point for academic excellence, scientific institutions and leading technology companies.
