ECLectic Network Event 5: preparing the second half of the doctoral journey
From 6 to 10 July 2026, the ECLectic consortium gathered in Wageningen, the Netherlands, for Network Event 5, hosted by imec Netherlands and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) at the OnePlanet Research Center in Wageningen. OnePlanet is a multidisciplinary innovation centre where WUR and imec collaborate with academic and industrial partners to develop cutting-edge sensor, chip and digital technologies for applications in health, agriculture, food and the environment.
From Communication to Exploitation: building the path towards innovation
As ECLectic enters its second half, the programme deliberately broadened its perspective from communicating research results to understanding how these results can generate long-term value.
Building upon the dissemination and communication activities developed during the first part of the Doctoral Network, the participants took a further step towards research exploitation through dedicated sessions on innovation and entrepreneurship. The programme introduced the roadmap towards Deliverable 6.3 – Virtual Company, while an inspiring keynote by Daisylea de Souza Paiva explored how cutting-edge scientific discoveries can successfully evolve into market-ready products.
This entrepreneurial perspective was further enriched by two testimonials from researchers who transformed their academic work into successful start-ups. Carina Nieuwenweg (Novya Biotech) and Lutger Rutten (Sixth Sense Diagnostics) shared their personal experiences of building companies from research developed within the Wageningen innovation ecosystem, offering the Doctoral Candidates first-hand insights into technology transfer, entrepreneurship and the challenges of translating scientific knowledge into real-world healthcare solutions.
Finally, during the Virtual Company Workshop, organised together with the University of Bologna Knowledge Transfer Office, participants further developed the concepts introduced during previous network events, learning how to identify valuable valuable project foreground and knowledge assets, assess exploitation opportunities and think strategically about the scientific knowledge they are generating—not only within the scope of ECLectic itself, but also in terms of its broader societal and industrial potential.
Training at the intersection of science and technology
The scientific programme extended well beyond a traditional lecture series. Thanks to the commitment of Dr Klaus Mathwig (imec Netherlands), supervisor of Doctoral Candidate 6, and Dr Vittorio Saggiomo (Wageningen University & Research), co-supervisor of the same Doctoral Candidate, participants took part in an advanced scientific programme on microfluidics and a hands-on workshop hosted in Dr Saggiomo’s laboratory, where they had the opportunity to translate theoretical concepts into practical experience. The ECLectic consortium would like to sincerely thank both organisers for their dedication in designing and delivering an outstanding scientific programme and for successfully hosting Network Event 5.
The Microfluidics School brought together experts from OnePlanet Research Center, Wageningen University & Research, imec and the University of Groningen, covering topics ranging from organ-on-a-chip technologies and ingestible devices to optical cell sorting, unconventional microfluidics and point-of-care biosensing. The programme concluded with a poster session that encouraged scientific discussion among researchers and guest participants.
Reviewing progress and preparing the next phase of the project
Beyond the training activities, NE5 represented an important strategic milestone for the consortium. Extensive dedicated sessions were organised around every scientific Work Package, allowing each Doctoral Candidate to present the progress achieved so far while discussing how research activities, deliverables and upcoming secondments should be aligned during the second half of the project.
Complementing these discussions, each Doctoral Candidate participated in an individual one-to-one meeting with the project management team. These conversations revisited their Career Development Plans, assessed scientific progress, discussed publication strategies and future career aspirations, and helped optimise the international secondments that will begin in autumn to maximise both individual growth and collaboration across the consortium.
Beyond the scientific programme, NE5 also reinforced one of the core values of the ECLectic Doctoral Network: building a collaborative research community. Informal networking moments—including social evenings spent together watching the FIFA World Cup and an afternoon cycling through the beautiful Hoge Veluwe National Park—provided valuable opportunities for Doctoral Candidates and supervisors to strengthen professional relationships in a relaxed setting. These shared experiences continue to foster the trust, collaboration and interdisciplinary spirit that underpin the success of the network.
📸 Want to relive the highlights of Network Event 5? Check out the photo gallery and behind-the-scenes moments on ECLectic’s social media channels: