The next crystal forms convention, CF 14th, is being organized at the University of Parma in September 2027

NEWS: The next crystal forms convention, CF 14th, is being organized at the University of Parma in September 2027

The 13th Bologna’s convention on crystal forms, CF@Bo n.13, was organized by the group of Molecular Crystal Engineering (MCE) of the Chemistry Department G. Ciamician of the University of Bologna, in September 2025

In keeping with the tradition of the CF@Bo series of meetings, the convention provided a forum for an open academy-industry discussion of the new challenges that the theme “crystal forms” presents daily to researchers in both working environments. In two and a half days participants had an updated overview of where we stand in the field. CF@Bo also was an opportunity for young researchers to meet senior scientists and researchers from academy and industry and to establish new collaborations.

We were  proud of the response to our invitation to contribute to CF@Bo. The scientific programme was very dense and varied with speakers coming from 20 universities and research institutions, and from 21 companies. 50 posters were presented and the best posters were awarded poster prizes sustained by the journals CrystEngComm and RSC Mechanochemistry. 

The focus of the 13^th edition was on the following topics

• Screening, assessment, and characterization of solid forms (polymorphs, cocrystals, hydrates, solvates, and amorphous materials)
• Computational approach and artificial intelligence applied to solid forms (crystal structure and properties prediction, quantum crystallography)
• Crystallization processes by design including solventless methods of preparation (ball milling, effect of pressure, effect of impurities, solid solutions)
• Solid forms in the Court (intellectual property issues, patents)

                                                                                             to download the programme in PDF format see at the bottom of this page

We are grateful to ELDICO, XTALPI, Avant-Garde, TECHNOBIS, Malvern Panalytical, Schrödinger, NordTest and PolyCrystalLine  for sponsoring the convention, and to the journals CrystEngComm and RSC Mechanochemistry for sponsoring "best poster" prizes (250€ each).

We also gratefully acknowledge the companies UCB, GENENTECH, Pfizer and Roche for financing the registration of young participants. The “Associazione Italiana Cristallografia”, AIC, supported the participation of young AIC members.  As many as 10 registration fees were  waved thanks to these contributions. We were very happy with the fair gender balance and for the international spread, which have always been targets of the CF meetings. 

We are grateful to ELDICO, XTALPI, Avant-Garde, TECHNOBIS, Malvern Panalytical, Schrödinger and PolyCrystalLine for sponsoring the convention, and to the journals CrystEngComm and RSC Mechanochemistry for sponsoring poster prizes. We also gratefully acknowledge the companies UCB, GENENTECH, Pfizer and Roche and the Italian crystallographic association AIC for financing the registration of young participants.