The GDCh Conference on Paints and Coatings took place in Bremen from September 16 to 18, 2026. The event’s theme was “Current Developments and Trends in Paints and Coatings,” and it featured a technical program with presentations on new developments in coating technology.
The focus was on coatings and their properties on various substrates. The conference addressed both new developments and advancements in raw materials, additives, and pigments. As a result, the conference covered key topics along the value chain for paints and coatings—from material-related innovations to application-specific issues.
Technical Presentations and Poster Session
The conference featured a combination of oral presentations and scientific exchange in poster format. In addition to the technical presentations, ongoing research topics were presented in a poster session with short presentations. This format thus provided a platform for both established topics and current research by early-career scientists.
The range of topics spanned new formulation approaches, the functional properties of coatings, and issues related to material selection. Such platforms are particularly important for the paint and coatings industry to assess developments in binders, additives, and pigments at an early stage and to promote the transfer of knowledge between research and industrial application.
Awards for Early-Career Researchers
Awards were also presented during the event. Zoe Langecker received the Young Scientist Award, Vanessa Frizler received the Poster Award, Annika Jüngerkes received the 2nd Presentation Award, and Wienke Reynolds received the Presentation Award. These honors underscore the importance of young scientists for the further development of paints, varnishes, and coatings.
With its thematic focus on current trends and developments in materials science, the GDCh conference in Bremen once again provided a platform for exchange between research and industry. For experts from the coatings industry, raw materials development, and related fields, the program offered a concise overview of topics currently shaping the industry.