This meeting was organised by Professor Carmelina Ruggiero at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Genova, Italy.  The meeting, entitled ‘Nanotechnology for Tissue Regeneration’ included 3 invited industrial speakers.   This was an all day meeting, attended by Italian academics, clinicians and industrial delegates from all over northern Italy.  There was a local view that they would have preferred one or two more UK based speakers. There were 3 industrial speakers and the discussions were animated and high quality between sectors.  Indeed one lesson from this meeting was that both industrial and academic/clinical delegates are keen to lock horns in seriously frank discussions on what each believes the other sector should provide to be of help.  With good mediation this can be exceptionally fruitful where the topic is guided to get under the skin of the real needs.  Both sides started with well worn stereotypes but could be moved into much more informative territory when these were challenged or picked at.   

Robert Brown, (UCL),  Jian Liu, (University of Manchester, Biophysics) and John van der Werff (University of Leiden, Netherlands, Plastic Surgeon) all gave talks from outside the region.

The meeting included two networking coffee/tea breaks and a networking lunch jointly supported by the local organiser and BRIDGE network.  Each of these networking opportunities was useful to delegates, based on verbal feedback.

This was an informal, low key meeting (about 30 – 35) with a medium sized but engaged and discussive audience.  Almost all those present contributed to the discussions.