Women Interactive Materials Award (WIMA) 2026

Six outstanding researchers have made it to the finals of this year’s Women Interactive Materials Award (WIMA) finals. On September 23, they will take the stage to present their research to a renowned jury from academia and industry showcasing innovative approaches at the intersection of interactive materials, biology, and tissue engineering. Their research explores how materials can be designed to respond, adapt, and interact with living systems – from artificial cells and biohybrid robots to smart biomaterials, supramolecular materials, and dynamic cellular microenvironments. 

Download the Agenda for a closer look on the finals & our six finalists Matilde Concilio, Paula de Dios Andrés, Miriam Filippi, Lucía López Gandul, Paulina Nunez Bernal and Maritza Rovers.

And what is there to win? 🏆
Alongside valuable networking and mentoring opportunities, the winners will receive a total of €15,000 in prize money, generously provided by ALTANA AG, Leibnitz Health Technologies and Association of Friends of DWI.

Now, there is only one question left: Who will win over the jury? 
We look forward to an exciting WIMA final and to celebrating the achievements of these next generation researchers.