On August 5, 2025, Lisbon became the epicenter of European environmental dialogue during the 21st European Symposium on Fluorine Chemistry (ESFC Lisbon). With a clear motto —turning knowledge into action— the event brought together policymakers, scientists, companies, EU program managers, and the general public to debate and take action against PFAS and other emerging contaminants.
EU-funded projects MAR2Protect, ALERT-PFAS, and Life4Fgases led a diverse program that combined high-level debates, funding opportunities, and citizen science activities.
A start with a sense of urgency
The opening session featured Rolf-Jan Hoeve (European Commission, DG ENVI) and Ana Cristina Carrola (Portuguese Environment Agency – APA).
“Replacing PFAS is a problem we need to tackle together.” – Rolf-Jan Hoeve
Both emphasized that PFAS are a global challenge that requires global solutions. Their message was clear: Europe must act quickly and in cooperation to protect health and the environment.
Roundtable 1: Policy recommendations for emerging contaminants
Moderated by journalist Rita Santos (Biosfera, Farol de Ideias), the first roundtable brought together key voices from academia, institutions, and industry:
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Véronique Gouverneur (University of Oxford): “Global problems need global solutions.”
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Luis Simas (ERSAR): “EU research projects and strong cross-sector networks are essential to move forward.”
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Prof. Mark Shiflett (University of Kansas): “I propose a ‘Lisbon Protocol’ to prioritize tackling the most harmful PFAS first.”
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Romain Gandre (Veolia): “We need to support municipalities with technology adoption and cost guidance.”
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Norio Shibata (Nagoya Institute of Technology 名古屋工業大学): “We are sharing Japan’s knowledge while comparing U.S. and European regulations.”
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Vanessa Gouveia (Ambigroup SGPS, Portugal): “A circularity approach is needed to reduce PFAS pollution in industrial processes.”
Roundtable 2: Sustainable and safe PFAS for health and the environment
The second roundtable shifted the focus to innovation and alternative materials:
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Dexi Weng (Dexyan Global/Comeall Technology): “The mission is possible — but we must work together, prioritize, and invest resources.”
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Nebojsa Ilic (PFASuiki GmbH): “Solutions must also be economically viable.”
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Susana Fonseca (ZERO): “Denmark’s PFAS-free food packaging proves that alternatives already work.”
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Marie-Pierre Krafft (University of Strasbourg): “We need stronger cross-disciplinary collaboration.”
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Lourdes Vega (Khalifa University): “Artificial intelligence can accelerate solutions — if we use it wisely.”
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Bruno Ameduri (Institute Charles Gerhardt Montpellier): “We discovered PFAS 85 years ago — we cannot wait decades for a solution.”
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Beate Koksch (Freie Universität Berlin): “By combining technology, science, and regulation, we will get there.”
Joint funding opportunities session
In the afternoon, the spotlight turned to the fuel behind innovation: funding. The Joint funding opportunities session, moderated by Tamara Rodríguez Silva (FEUGA), offered a privileged moment to hear directly from EU and national program managers:
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Bernd Decker (CINEA) and Vanda Pereira (APA) explained how to navigate LIFE and EC-managed programs.
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Javier Pinedo (Life4Fgases) and Ana Pereiro (MAR2Protect) shared success stories from funded projects.
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Ana Sutcliffe (ANI) outlined Horizon Europe opportunities for Portuguese stakeholders.
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Raquel Rocha (Agency for Development and Cohesion – AD&C) detailed how Interreg funding connects regions and scales up local solutions.
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Isabelle Roger (Interreg SUDOE) highlighted the power of cross-border cooperation.
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João Araujo (ALERT-PFAS) showed how Interreg projects can spark innovation in tackling emerging contaminants.
European research networking forum
The conference also opened space for the future: Portuguese research centers and companies —CEFITEC, CENSE, LAQV, LIBPhys, MARE, and UCIBIO— showcased their expertise and explored potential collaborations for Horizon Europe, LIFE, and Interreg. The atmosphere was dynamic and fertile, sowing the seeds for tomorrow’s EU-funded projects.
FUN HALL – Science in action for all ages
Running in parallel, the FUN HALL turned science into an accessible, creative, and participatory experience:
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Exhibition of materials and posters from EU projects.
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Interactive games on water contamination, resource reuse, and urban sustainability.
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Environmental trivia contests with surprise prizes.
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A cinema room screening short films, animations, and project testimonials.
🌟 The highlight of the afternoon was “Aquaville”, an interactive city simulation where more than 120 children from local summer schools learned how to protect a community from pollution.
“Through teamwork, quick thinking, and problem-solving, participants realized how environmental decisions shape the future of their city.”
A day of action, inspiration, and connection
ALERT-PFAS’s participation in ESFC Lisbon showed that the fight against PFAS is not only about identifying problems: it is about building collective solutions.
The final message of the day was clear:
✅ Science is ready.
✅ Funding is available.
✅ Partners are willing.
Now is the time to act and move towards a PFAS-free future.
