On 30 January 2026, the Centre for Living Technologies (CLT) hosted CLT Meet at the Alliance Office in Utrecht. The meeting offered an inspiring afternoon of scientific exchange, bringing together members of the community to share ongoing research, explore new ideas, and reflect on the evolving field of living technologies.

Four Talks on Living Technologies

The scientific programme featured four talks, each highlighting a distinct perspective on living technologies:

• Subhash Yadav (WUR) delivered a talk on advancing the culturing of Geodia barretti sponge cells and their bacterial symbionts, sharing insights into challenges and opportunities in working with complex living systems.
• Sam van Beuningen (UMCU) presented an overview of patient-derived living technologies, reflecting on five years of involvement within the CLT and discussing how patient-based approaches can shape future technological development.
• Misko Bobeldijk (UU) presented EVs in a FLASH, focusing on the live tracking of extracellular vesicle cargo proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to their final destination.
• Jesse Lentjes (TU/e) introduced programmable protocell-cell communication through DNA strand displacement and synthetic receptors, highlighting new strategies for engineered cellular interactions.

Together, the talks showcased the diversity of research within CLT and sparked engaging discussions throughout the afternoon.

Creative Group Activity

A highlight of this CLT Meet was an interactive group activity in which participants worked in mixed groups of board members, researchers, and students. Each group was invited to draw what “living technologies” means to them, leading to creative interpretations and lively conversations. This exercise encouraged participants to reflect on the concept from different perspectives and facilitated exchange across disciplines and career stages.

Discussion and Networking

The event concluded with ample time for discussion and networking allowing participants to connect ideas from the talks, exchange experiences, and explore potential collaborations.

CLT Meet once again demonstrated the value of combining scientific presentations with interactive and creative elements. We thank all speakers and participants for contributing to a stimulating and engaging afternoon and look forward to the next CLT Meet.