The 78th Congress of Chemists returned to Ústí nad Labem after 20 years. Over two hundred participants brought together science, education and industry
More than two hundred experts, scientists, students and industry representatives gathered in Ústí nad Labem from 7 to 10 September 2026 for the 78th Congress of Chemists. One of the traditional professional gatherings of the Czech and Slovak chemical community returned to J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem after twenty years. The four-day programme featured specialist lectures, presentations and discussions across various fields of chemistry, as well as opportunities to meet, share experiences and forge new collaborations.
The Congress was jointly organised by the Czech Chemical Society (ČSCH) and the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem (UJEP), with the support of academic, industrial and public partners. It thus built on the long tradition of chemistry in the Ústí nad Labem Region, which has historically been linked to the chemical industry, research and education. The return of the congress to Ústí nad Labem after twenty years also provided an opportunity to showcase the current state of the university, the city and the entire region.
This year’s event was also significant due to several anniversaries. The Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem is this year marking 35 years since its foundation, SPOLCHEMIE 170 years since its establishment, and in 2026 it will also celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of the first issue of its journal *Listy Chemické*.
“The return of the Chemists’ Congress to Ústí nad Labem was, for us (and personally for me, having been involved in organising the Congress in 2006), an extraordinary opportunity, after twenty years, to reconnect the scientific community with the city and the region, which has very close ties to chemistry. I am delighted that experienced experts were once again able to meet with the next generation of scientists in our city and at our university, and that, alongside the academic programme, new contacts and opportunities for collaboration were forged. “I am delighted that participants were able to see the tremendous progress and development our university has made over the past 20 years, and above all our new campus,” said Prof. Ing. Zdeňka Kolská, Ph.D., a key member of the organising committee representing the Faculty of Science at UJEP and the Presidium of the Czech Chemical Society.
The scientific programme offered a wide range of topics, from basic research through applied chemistry to chemical engineering and education. It included plenary and invited lectures, thematic sessions, presentations by young scientists, and poster presentations. An important part of the programme was also the linking of the academic sphere with industry and the public sector, and in particular with companies supplying equipment to scientists and researchers. Participants had the opportunity to present the results of their work, discuss current topics in chemical research, receive feedback and establish contacts with colleagues from other institutions, as well as with representatives of supplier companies and industry. The extensive supporting programme also allowed participants to discover the beauty of the city of Ústí nad Labem and its stunning surroundings.
“For the Czech Chemical Society, it is important that the Chemists’ Congress is not merely a showcase for research findings, but above all a place where experts meet, discuss and seek new avenues for collaboration. In my opinion, this year’s meeting in Ústí nad Labem fulfilled this purpose very well and demonstrated that the Czech and Slovak chemical communities have a solid foundation on which to build for the future,” said Prof. Ing. Tomáš Navrátil, Ph.D., President of the Czech Chemical Society.
Competitions and the subsequent awards for high-quality scientific work by talented researchers across various fields of chemistry and technical sciences were also a significant part of the 78th Congress of Chemists. Here are the winners:
Award of the President of the Czech Chemical Society – Václav Verner
Award of the President of the Slovak Chemical Society – Terézia Kelemenová
Award of the Rector of UJEP – Slavomír Adamec
Award of the Dean of the Faculty of Science, UJEP – Jaroslava Jarolímková
Award from the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Studies, UJEP – Anna Kalivodová
Award from the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UJEP – Petr Hermann
Award from the International Society of Electrochemistry – lecture by Karolína Salvadori
Award from the Dean of the Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice – Tomáš Bíza
SHIMADZU Awards – 3rd place: Vesaj Singh and Tereza Špitálská; 2nd place: Dominik Juračka; 1st place: Zuzana Uličná
Anton Paar Awards for the best contributions – 1st place: Filip Komers; 2nd place: Lenka Gajzlerová; 3rd place: Jan Sokolínský
ČEZ Foundation Awards for active participation in professional discussions and the presentation of their own results – Frederika Czetnerová, Dominika Hujová, Dominik Vítek, Tomáš Volný and Martin Pižl
Special awards were also presented during the conference’s opening ceremony. The Slovak Chemical Society honoured Michaela Halinkovičová, the journal *Chemické listy* and Monika Jerigová.
“I am delighted that the conference succeeded in creating a space not only for presenting results, but also for recognising the work of those who have long been involved in the development of chemistry, whether they be experienced experts, young scientists, or institutions and journals that bring the professional community together. It is precisely such gatherings that are important for the next generation of chemists and, I hope, serve as motivation for their future work,” added Prof. Ing. Zdeňka Kolská, Ph.D.
The 78th Congress of Chemists thus brought the Czech and Slovak chemical communities back to Ústí nad Labem after twenty years. Over the course of four days, more than two hundred participants created a forum for presenting current research, holding expert discussions, sharing experiences and forging new collaborations. The congress thus served as a reminder of the long history of chemistry in the region, whilst also highlighting its significance for the present and future of science, education and industry.
“Ústí nad Labem has a long history with chemistry, but this year’s chemists’ congress demonstrated above all that this history is not merely a thing of the past. The gathering of more than two hundred participants confirmed that there is a vibrant academic environment in the region and scope for further development of collaboration between the university, research institutions, industry and the public sector,” concludes UJEP Rector Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Koutský, Ph.D.
Further information on the 78th Congress of Chemists is available on the website sjezd78.csch.cz.
Organising an event of this scale would not have been possible without the cooperation of a number of institutions, companies and organisations. The 78th Congress of Chemists is held under the patronage of the Rector of Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Koutský, Ph.D., the Governor of the Ústí nad Labem Region, Mgr. Richard Brabec, and the Mayor of the statutory city of Ústí nad Labem, PhDr. Ing. Petr Nedvědický.
The organisers would like to thank all the partners who contributed to the preparation and organisation of the 78th Congress of Chemists:
DIAMOND: Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem (UJEP); the Statutory City of Ústí nad Labem; the Ústí Region Innovation Centre (ICUK); the Faculty of Science at UJEP; the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at UJEP; the Faculty of Environmental Studies at UJEP.
GOLD: Metrohm Czech Republic, s. r. o.; Euro Support Manufacturing Czechia, s. r. o.; SHIMADZU Handels GmbH, Prague branch; with the support of the ČEZ Foundation;
SILVER: Anton Paar GmbH; Optik Instruments, s. r. o.; HABRINOL Děčín, s. r. o.; ANAMET, s. r. o.; Pragolab, s. r. o.; P-Lab, a. s.; International Society of Electrochemistry; SIAD Czech, spol. s r. o.; Merck Life Science, spol. s r.o.; Chemistry Europe.
BRONZE: Pérovna Ústí n. L., s. r. o.; Nicolet CZ, s. r. o.; Analytika, spol. s r. o.; Altium International, s. r. o.; CHEMOTEX Děčín, a. s.
BASIC: Czech Chemical Society; Slovak Chemical Society; Czech Union of Scientific and Technical Societies; Ústí Region; Helago-CZ, s. r. o.; Fisher Scientific, spol. s r. o.; Economic and Social Council of the Ústí Region.
Our thanks also go to all the speakers and other presenters, all the award winners, and the members of the organising team who contributed to the preparation and running of the congress.