From September 9–12, 2025, the 8th European Cyclodextrin Conference (EuroCD 2025) brought together 160 scientists from 27 countries and 4 continents at the Politecnico di Milano. Over four days, we experienced cutting-edge lectures, vibrant poster sessions, and inspiring discussions on how cyclodextrins continue to shape pharmaceutical, environmental, and industrial innovation.
For CarboHyde, the conference was filled with pride, learning, and unforgettable moments.
The Thorsteinn Loftsson Award: Honoring Milo Malanga
One of the most emotional highlights was seeing our Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Milo Malanga, receive the very first Thorsteinn Loftsson Award in cyclodextrin chemistry.
Milo’s contributions to the field—spanning green and sustainable cyclodextrin syntheses, scalable industrial processes, and the translation of CD-based innovations into real-world applications—are widely recognized. Beyond his scientific impact, Milo embodies kindness, creativity, and support for the entire community.
In his keynote lecture, “Greener Rings: Sustainable Strategies for Cyclodextrin Derivatives” Milo showed how industrial CD synthesis can be both efficient and environmentally responsible. His message was clear: sustainability is not an option—it is the way forward.
No one deserves this recognition more, and we could not be prouder to see Milo’s lifelong dedication honored in such a meaningful way.
.
The CarboHyde Poster Prize: Encouraging Industrial Relevance
For the first time, CarboHyde had the honor of awarding the CarboHyde Poster Prize for the industrially most relevant work.
The prize went to Brandon Childers (NCIMB Ltd.) for his pioneering technology enabling the production of 5-membered cyclodextrin rings. This breakthrough opens up entirely new chemical spaces and potential applications for CDs, reminding us how much innovation can still be unlocked in this fascinating field.
As Tamas Sohajda, CarboHyde’s CEO, remarked during the award ceremony: “It is our mission to bridge academic breakthroughs and industrial needs. This poster prize is our way to recognize and encourage work that has the potential to make cyclodextrins part of tomorrow’s solutions.”
Celebrating the Conference Prizes
In addition to the CarboHyde Poster Prize, two further awards highlighted the talent and creativity of young researchers in the cyclodextrin community:
- Best Poster Presentation: Bertalan Varga (BME Budapest) was recognized for his outstanding scientific poster, which combined clarity, originality, and strong research impact.
- Best Flash Presentation: Ruigi Jing (Aalborg University) delivered the most engaging and insightful flash talk, showing how complex cyclodextrin science can be communicated with clarity and enthusiasm.
These recognitions underline the vibrant future of cyclodextrin research, driven by the next generation of talented scientists.
CarboHyde’s Scientific Contributions
Our team also had the pleasure of actively contributing to the scientific program:
- Milo Malanga introduced an industrial, green, and sustainable perspective to CD synthesis.
- Balázs Attila Kondoros showcased state-of-the-art cyclodextrin formulations, asking: How can CDs help create modern products in 2025 and beyond?
- Tamas Sohajda shared insights on the translation of cyclodextrin science into industrial applications.
Together, these talks highlighted CarboHyde’s unique position at the intersection of research and industry—making synthesis engaging, relevant, and, yes, even fun!
Scientific Highlights Beyond CarboHyde
EuroCD 2025 was packed with inspiring science. Some of the many highlights we took home:
- David Thompson on innovative use of cationic CDs for RNA delivery.
- Ruxandra Gref on cyclodextrin polymers for tuberculosis therapy.
- François-Xavier Legrand on the safety of CDs in deep eutectic solvents.
- Damien Truffin & Julien Parcq announcing the release of Crysmeb as a novel pharma excipient.
- Michal Řezanka on water purification strategies.
- Bettina Rávai presenting advanced analysis of Sugammadex impurities.
- Adrián Matencio Durán on how nanosponges can help address climate change.
Poster sessions, flash talks, and lively debates ensured there was never a dull moment.
Looking Back with Gratitude
The 8th European Cyclodextrin Conference reminded us why this community is so special. It is not only about molecules, but about the people who study, challenge, and advance them together.
We congratulate the organizers, especially Andrea Mele and Francesco Trotta, for a flawlessly run and truly inspiring event.
For CarboHyde, EuroCD 2025 was a celebration of cyclodextrins’ past, present, and future—of sustainability, industrial translation, and community spirit.
We left Milan with new ideas, renewed friendships, and a shared mission: to keep pushing cyclodextrin science toward real-world impact.
See you all at the next EuroCD in Prague in 2027!