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CoSI 2025: A hub for coatings innovation and collaboration
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Coatings Science International (CoSI) Conference once again established itself as a premier event for the coatings industry. Held in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, the conference brought together more than 80 participants from academia and industry. By Yeray López Arauco
With 30 sessions and over 20 scientific posters, CoSI 2025 served as a dynamic platform for exploring cutting-edge coatings research and fostering collaboration through its diverse programme and engaging social activities.
Stimuli-responsive coatings: A leap towards smart functionality
One of the standout presentations was delivered by Gianmarco Griffini from the Politecnico di Milano. His talk on “Harnessing stimuli-responsiveness for multifunctional polymer-based coatings systems” explored the integration of self-healing properties into coatings using covalent adaptable networks. By employing stimuli such as temperature and light, these coatings can autonomously repair scratches, extending their lifespan and functional reliability.
Griffini highlighted applications in sectors such as automotive, infrastructure, and light harvesting. His work provides a glimpse into how stimuli-responsive coatings could revolutionise durability and sustainability in coatings, offering significant advantages to industries focused on reducing maintenance costs and environmental impact.
Transparent hydrophobic coatings for photovoltaic efficiency
Zahida Malik from University College London presented her research on transparent hydrophobic self-cleaning coatings for photovoltaics. These coatings aim to improve energy efficiency by addressing the issue of dust accumulation, which can reduce solar panel yield by up to 40%. Using Aerosol-Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition (AACVD) and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition (APCVD), her team developed Y₂O₃ and Er₂O₃ coatings with remarkable water contact angles (WCA) of up to 169° on NaOH-treated glass, achieving superhydrophobicity.
The coatings not only demonstrated high hydrophobicity but also maintained transparency, a critical requirement for photovoltaic applications. Malik’s work is a step towards scalable, energy-saving solutions, showcasing the potential of advanced coatings to enhance the performance and sustainability of solar technology.
Bio-based non-stick coatings: A PFAS-free future
Ana Suárez-Vega from Tecnalia presented advancements in PFAS-free non-stick coatings for kitchenware. Her team is developing ceramic coatings using sol-gel chemistry and bio-based monomers derived from vegetable oils. These coatings maintain high thermal stability and non-stick performance while eliminating harmful fluorinated compounds.
Key tests, such as the “burned-milk test” and “non-stick duration test to eggs,” demonstrated the durability and efficacy of these coatings. The research represents a shift towards safer, environmentally friendly alternatives without compromising performance, a topic of keen interest to coatings manufacturers aiming for regulatory compliance and sustainability.
Networking and collaboration at CoSI
The conference was attended by more than 80 participants, including representatives from leading companies like Airbus, Covestro, Akzo Nobel, and BASF. With 30 sessions and over 20 scientific posters, attendees had ample opportunities to engage with the latest advancements in coatings science.
Notable speakers included Joe Keddie (University of Surrey), Frederik Wurm (University of Twente), and David Williams (Akzo Nobel). Topics ranged from chromate-free primer formulations to lignin-based UV-curable coatings, touching on both academic and industrial perspectives.
Social activities, such as a gala dinner at the A’Dam Tower and a cocktail-making course, fostered networking and collaboration. These events provided a relaxed setting for attendees to exchange ideas and establish partnerships across academia and industry.
CoSI’s impact on coatings science
CoSI 2025 proved to be a vital platform for advancing coatings science and facilitating collaboration between academia and industry. By focusing on sustainability, stimuli-responsive materials, and bio-based innovations, the conference addressed pressing challenges and opportunities in the coatings sector. The next CoSI will take place from 22nd to 25th June 2026 in Noordwijk.
