EuropaCat 2023

After a two-year postponement, the largest European conference, which include all chemical trends using catalysis, took place in the Congress Center in Vyšehrad. Already in 2019, it was clear that Prague would take over the baton after Aachen in Germany, when the V4 delegation (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary) received the organization of this conference for 2021. Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic, this event was postponed to 2023, but luckily it was not cancelled. Two teams under the auspices of prof. Malgorzata Witko and assoc. prof. David Kubička. More than 1,800 participants participated in the packed weekly program and found very interesting lectures or posters in the seventeen sections. In addition, it was also essential to connect the scientific sphere with industry, so there were more than three dozen industrial partners in the congress centre interacting with the participants throughout.

In addition to scientific contributions, the organizers managed to include a large number of activities and social events in the program. Incidentally, we can mention the Young Party held on a boat by the bank of the Vltava River, where not only young chemists could deepen their contacts. A social gala evening was held in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House, accompanied by the music of the orchestra, when several important European awards were presented. The fact that chemists have great endurance and a good heart was demonstrated at the charity run in Vyšehrad when the foundation Krtek helping children with cancer was supported. There were countless excursions around Prague and beyond, especially for foreign participants. Indeed, this has been a wonderfully fulfilling week combining work and fun.

Although many years ago it seemed like a crazy idea to organize EuropaCat in Prague, now Prague resonates in the ears of many participants. Finally, many thanks to David Kubička for his many years of work on the organization of EuropaCat 2023! The next destination is Trondheim, Norway in 2025.