IWEG 2026: Context and Focus

Reliable. Standardized. Effective. Routine. Commonplace. These words don’t exactly scream “excitement.” Instead, they describe a tool that’s reached maturity, one that’s used every day and trusted to address the needs that it was built to fulfill. The most widely used and trusted tools aren’t exciting; they’re boring. 

Even the most astonishing new technologies eventually become boring. The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 was one of the most exhilarating developments in 21^st century technology. Apple’s new device was thrilling, paradigm-changing, life-altering… twenty years later, everyone you know has a personal computer in their pocket, and nobody thinks twice about it. Cell phones have become reliable, standardized, useful tools that help us do all the things we need to do more efficiently and effectively than we ever could before.  

The field of eDNA was born just one year after the introduction of the iPhone. Its announcement didn’t come with quite the same fanfare, but it launched a technological shift just as significant. The past two decades of research and development have improved our understanding of eDNA ecology, vastly increased the reliability of methods, led to establishment of methodological and reporting standards, and demonstrated convincingly the potential utility of eDNA data.  

Since 2016, IWEG has tracked these incredible advances in eDNA science. That’s not going away. But with this year’s theme we recognize that the next 10 years are going to be different as we work toward making eDNA boring, that thing you keep in your pocket and use every day, without even thinking about it. In the finance world they would call it “investment grade”: reliable, trusted, effective.  

What still needs to be done to firmly establish eDNA as a dependable tool to inform routine but important decisions? How do we fully incorporate eDNA into operational settings ranging from biodiversity protection and corporate sustainability reporting to environmental assessment and regulatory compliance? At IWEG 2026 we consciously turn toward addressing these and other questions designed to achieve the full promise of eDNA. Measuring and investing in our shared natural capital is a complex problem requiring creative solutions, and the world needs a dependable toolkit to unlock that creativity. The next decade is about ensuring eDNA’s place in that toolkit, making it an indispensable aid for addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges. 

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Keynote Speaker

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Jann Martinsohn, as a keynote speaker at IWEG 2026. As the Head of the Ocean and Water Unit at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), Jann Martinsohn leads a team dedicated to providing expert scientific advice to inform European Union policies and governance on freshwater and marine resources, as well as the Blue Economy. This work is guided by the European Water Resilience Strategy and the European Ocean Pact, with a focus on fostering sustainable and equitable use of marine and freshwater resources.

Jann holds a diploma in marine science from the University of Otago in New Zealand and a Ph.D. in immunogenetics from the University of Cologne in Germany. He was also a fellow of the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship in the department of Evolutionary and Medical Genetics at the Necker-Enfants Malades research faculty in Paris, France, where he worked on in-vivo directed evolution under the guidance of renowned scientist Miroslav Radman.

Throughout his career, Jann committed to research, innovation, collaboration and knowledge-sharing to foster science-driven policy making. He has co-organized international conferences, served on steering committees for high-profile European projects, and provided scientific support to the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Notably, he was elected chair of the Working Group on Applied Genetics for Fisheries and Aquaculture (WGAGFA) under the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES).

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Venue

IWEG 2026 will be held at the BiM Bicocca Pavilion, a modern, multifunctional venue located in the Milan–Bicocca district. Designed with flexible architecture to support collaboration and dialogue, the Pavilion hosts academic, industry, and innovation-focused events throughout the year. The venue is easily accessible by public transportation and is well connected to the city centre and major airports.

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Accommodation

Preferred rates are available at the following properties. Booking details will be provided upon registration.

Hotel degli Arcimboldi

EasyLife House

Serviced apartments located in central Milan, offering flexible accommodation options for short and extended stays.

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Program

Explore the current Program at a Glance. Updates will follow as details are confirmed.