For decades, industrial progress was measured by our ability to reshape the natural world to fit human needs. This strategy led to a higher standard of living, but it also resulted in a linear "take-make-waste" model that has reached its ecological limit. Humanity is now entering a phase where the definition of progress must change. It is no longer enough for engineering and the life sciences to solve isolated technical problems; they must now work toward the restoration of natural systems. The challenge is to build a future where technological advancement does not happen at the expense of the environment, but rather as a functioning part of it.

This shift requires a total realignment of how we approach research and development. "Design for Sustainability" is the essential framework for this transition, acting as the connective tissue between chemistry, biology, and data science. It is not just a secondary requirement for modern projects, it is the foundational starting point. By integrating the life sciences with advanced material engineering, we can move toward a truly circular economy. This means developing materials that are biodegradable by design and industrial processes that run on renewable loops. Realizing this vision is the only way to ensure that our technical breakthroughs contribute to a resilient and stable global ecosystem.

IEREK is pleased to announce the second edition of the "Emerging Concepts & Design for Sustainability" (ECDS) conference, in collaboration with le Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (Le Cnam), Université Paris Cité, Université de Rouen Normandie, SATIE, and ITODYS laboratories. This event is intended to establish a new platform for high-level scientific exchange. The conference will take place in Paris, from November 18th to the 20th, 2026, at the (Le Cnam in Paris. This venue has spent centuries at the center of technical innovation, making it the perfect location for a meeting focused on the next wave of sustainable science.