Two full-day preconference courses for master and PhD students will be organized on 17.9.2023. One course is dedicated to the chemistry and characterization of carbohydrates and the other focuses on innovation aspects of polysaccharides and translation to the market. Directly after the preconference course, a beer workshop ​​​will be organized which explores the science of beer during production and processing. The fee for the preconference course is 120 € and includes small snacks, lunch and drinks.

Course 1: Chemistry and characterization of carbohydrates

Course 2: From the idea to the startup

This workshop “Chemistry and Characterization of Carbohydrates” is offered for Master and PhD students in the field as a pre-conference of the 8th International Polysaccharide Conference. Four lectures will be given by internationally highly recognised scientists. The following topics will be covered: oxidation chemistry, block polysaccharides, chemical modification of polysaccharides and structure elucidation of glycans. The lectures will give educational and provide thorough insights with practical tips, tricks and pitfalls, do´s and don´ts in chemical modification of saccharides.

Program:

09:30 – 10:45 Block polysaccharides: Preparation, characterization and self-assembly

• Bjørn Christensen; NTNU-Norwegian Unisersity of Science and Technology,Department for Biotechnolgy and Food Science

11:00 – 12:15 Polymer-Analogue Chemical Modification of Polysaccharides  

• Martin Gericke; Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena,Institute for Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry

12:15 – 13:30 Lunchbreak

13:30 – 14:45 Structure Elucidation of Complex Glycans by NMR Spectroscopy

• Paul Kosma; BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences,Institute of Organic Chemistry

15:00 – 16:15 Oxidation reaction in polysaccharide chemistry-best protocols, pitfalls and analytical aspects

• Thomas Rosenau; BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources

EPNOE Conference 2023 will offer a preconference course on innovation, which is implemented by Science Park Graz, one of the leading high-tech incubators in Austria supporting startups. The workshop will be given by Craig Matthews, a Senior Innovation Consultant at Science Park Graz. He has successfully supported many exciting high-tech startups in the past 5 years and is also a serial entrepreneur. The workshop covers the journey of a startup, from its initial conception, in three lectures (see below), followed by an interactive workshop “Room 101” in which participants will learn to sharpen their skills of persuasion. In addition, selected startups will present their experience in founding and running a startup.

Program:

9:30 – 10:45 The origin of ideas:

• Gain insights into the inspirational origins of innovative products and how those original ideas lead to the creation of successful enterprises.

11:00 – 12:15 How to launch your startup – Incubation

• Discover the advantages of incubation in fostering successful, scalable startups within a supportive community.

12:15 – 13:30 Lunchbreak

13:30 – 14:45 Real life experiences from startup founders

• Learn from entrepreneurs who have taken a courageous leap into the startup world and immerse yourself in their experiences.

15:00 – 16:30 Game theory exercise for effective communication

• Engage in this group activity and adopt the language of persuasion, necessary for encouraging people to support your ideas.