Debriefing of the WAB2026 Conference by the Local Organizing Committee
The 2026 edition of the Workshop on Additive Biofabrication (WAB2026) took place in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) in January 22-23, 2026, building upon the momentum of the successful 2024 edition held in Madrid. In this letter, we would like to share our personal experience and reflections gained during the journey of bringing this event to Galicia.
Our WAB2026 journey officially began in November 2024. Following the success of WAB2024, we were offered the opportunity to host the next edition. We saw this as a unique chance to continue the event's growth and place Santiago de Compostela firmly on the European map of biofabrication, a field currently experiencing exponential scientific and industrial growth.
One of our primary motivations was the challenge of attracting top-tier international speakers to a more peripheral location compared to previous hubs. This ambition served as a constant stimulus throughout our year and a half of planning. The planning process was remarkably fluid, thanks to a local committee, Luis A. Diaz-Gomez, Patricia Diaz-Rodriguez, and Barbara Blanco-Fernandez, that had already established a strong rapport through shared European projects at iMATUS.
Our first major milestones involved securing world-class keynote speakers and obtaining the institutional backing of GAIN and iMATUS, which proved fundamental. We also want to highlight the excellent collaboration with the original WAB founders, who granted us the creative freedom to adapt the event to our local context while preserving its core essence. The main hurdle was undoubtedly the logistics of a January event: convinced that Santiago’s charm could outweigh the winter weather and the travel distance for international attendees.
While coordinating a dense scientific program with an engaging social agenda is always a complex puzzle, the response was overwhelmingly positive. We were particularly gratified to find that the search for sponsors exceeded our expectations, demonstrating the industry's commitment to this ecosystem.
Our main goal was to foster a "networking vibe" where the hierarchy between senior researchers and students dissolved. By designing dynamic poster sessions, roundtables, and informal social activities, we facilitated an exchange of ideas that has already resulted in several promising new scientific collaborations. WAB2026 succeeded in being more than just a series of lectures; it was a participatory forum where every attendee had a voice.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to the institutions and sponsors whose support was vital for the feasibility and quality of this congress. To the speakers and moderators: thank you for maintaining such a high scientific and human standard. Finally, to the participants, your enthusiasm turned this meeting into a truly enriching experience.
As we look toward the future, we are confident that WAB is in excellent hands and will continue to thrive. While every edition offers new lessons, we leave this experience with the immense satisfaction of a job well done and a wealth of knowledge in international event organization.
To those who joined us in Santiago: thank you for being part of this success. To those who couldn’t make it: we invite you to stay tuned for the next edition. It has been a scientific and personal privilege.
The WAB2026 Local Committee
Luis A. Diaz-Gomez, PhD | luis.diaz.gomez@usc.es
Patricia Diaz-Rodriguez, PhD | patricia.diaz.rodriguez@usc.es
Barbara Blanco-Fernandez, PhD | barbara.blanco.fernandez@usc.es
University of Santiago de Compostela
Prof. João F. Mano (U. Aveiro): A pioneer in regenerative medicine using biomimetic polymers and nano-technology to engineer cell microenvironments.
Prof. Sandra Van Vlierberghe (Ghent U.): A specialist in light-based 3D/4D printing and photo-responsive polymers for clinical translation.
Dr. Tiziano Serra (AO Research/MERLN): Inventor of sound-based bioassembly and leader in fields-based (magnetic/light) biofabrication.
Prof. Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo (USC): Expert in stimuli-responsive networks and 3D-printed personalized drug delivery systems.
Prof. Rodrigo Moreno (ICV-CSIC): A global authority on colloidal processing and the synthesis of advanced ceramic materials.
Dr. Mónica Echeverry-Rendón (IMDEA): Specialist in biometals and coatings, developing degradable implants and devices for bone and tumor treatment.
Dr. Rúben Pereira (U. Porto): Focused on cell-instructive hydrogels and programmable living materials to model diseases like fibrosis.
Dr. Sandra Camarero-Espinosa (POLYMAT): Expert in smart scaffolds and 4D bioprinting to replicate the complexity of human tissues.
We welcome sponsorship from companies and organizations looking to showcase their products and services while networking with leading academics and industry professionals in the field. The sponsors for the 2026 edition are listed below.
