10th ANNIVERSARY
Spanish & Portuguese Advanced Optical Microscopy Meeting
SPAOM 2026
Workshops edition
About the meeting
What is SPAOM?
SPAOM is the annual joint event organized by REMOA (Red Española de Microscopía Óptica Avanzada) and PPBI (Portuguese Platform of BioImaging). Its mission is to bring together the Iberian and European scientific communities, fostering networking around cutting-edge developments in optical microscopy and image analysis across the biological and biomedical sciences.
The 10th edition of SPAOM introduces a new format focused on workshops. This edition is designed to be open, participatory, and highly practical, with a strong emphasis on hands-on activities, interaction, and knowledge exchange across the full spectrum of bioimaging workflows.
Dates
6th – 9th October 2026
Location
Vic (Barcelona, Spain)
Venue
Firal “El Sucre”
Keynotes & Invited Talks
Speakers
Friedrich Schiller University Jena & Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz IPHT)
Jena, Germany
Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) & Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
Barcelona, Spain
Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d’Orsay (ISMO), CNRS & Université Paris-Saclay
Orsay, France
Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (IESL-FORTH)
Heraklion, Greece
Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) & Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden) & Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig)
Dresden, Germany
Schedule
Scientific Program
- Scientific sessions (orientative):
- Biomedical Imaging & Omics/Multiplexing
- Artificial Intelligence & Imaging
- New Microscopy Developments
- Cellular Dynamics
- Advanced Materials
- Posters presentations and Flash talks in any bioimaging and Life science related topics.
- Industry Workshops: Over 80 industry workshops are expected, in 6 parallel sessions.
- Community Workshops: About 20 are expected from an Open Call, in 6 parallel sessions.
- Tutorials: several tutorials on selected topics will be delivered on Tuesday 6/10.
- Round tables: parallel round tables on selected topics.
More info soon !
Tentative Schedule, subject to changes:
| Tue 6 Oct | Wed 7 Oct | Thu 8 Oct | Fri 9 Oct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plenary session | Plenary session | Round Tables / Community workshops | |
| break | break | break | |
| Industry Workshops | Industry Workshops | Plenary session | |
| Shuttles from Barcelona, times TBA, before 12h30 | Community Workshops | Community Workshops | Farewell |
| 14h START Eurobioimaging Session | Lunch Community Workshops | Lunch Posters, Open Science | Lunch bag, Shuttles departure ~13h30 |
| Tutorials/ Community Workshops | Industry Workshops | Industry Workshops | Arrival Barcelona (ariport/station) ~15h30 |
| break | break | break | |
| Tutorials / Community Workshops | Industry Workshops | Industry Workshops | |
| OPENING Plenary session | Plenary session | Plenary session | |
| Welcome networking & posters | Free evening | Social event |
Arrival: Bus transport (1h15 trip) will be set in the morning of 6/10 to take participants from Barcelona airport and train station (Sants), to arrive at the Venue before the start of the sessions (14h). Expected bus departures: between 11h and 12h30, times and capacity to be confirmed, upon sign up form for registered participants.
No shuttle will be scheduled after 12h30 on 6/10.
Departure: Bus Transport will be set to depart from the Venue on 9/10 after the closing remarks, aiming to arrive at Barcelona airport and train station (Sants) at latest 16h. Capacity to be confirmed, aimed to transport all participants back to Barcelona.
No shuttle will be scheduled later than 14h30 on 9/10.
Signature sessions
Community Workshops
Community workshops are the signature session of SPAOM meetings, where scientists and/or technologists present scientific imaging through novel instrumentation, workflows or tools with a perspective more oriented towards practical aspects.
OPEN CALL ! We welcome proposals for community workshops, don’t miss the opportunity !
OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS IS CLOSED (deadline: July, 8th, 2026)
INDUSTRY Partners
PLATINUM SPONSORS
INDUSTRY Partners
GOLD SPONSORS
INDUSTRY Partners
SILVER SPONSORS
INDUSTRY Partners
BRONZE SPONSORS
INDUSTRY Partners
COPPER SPONSORS
There are currently 20 confirmed sponsors, with more to come.
Interested in sponsoring? Contact us URGENTLY:
sponsors.spaom2026@remoa.net
Getting there
Vic (Barcelona, Spain)
A Historic and Inspiring City
SPAOM2026 will be hosted in Vic, a vibrant university city where Roman origins and a well-preserved medieval heritage create a unique and inspiring setting. Compact and welcoming, Vic invites visitors to explore its historic streets, traditional markets, and lively public squares, where history and everyday life remain closely connected.
Heritage and Cultural Identity
From Roman remains to its medieval heart, Vic offers a rich cultural experience shaped by centuries of history, art, and local identity. Landmarks such as the Catedral de Sant Pere de Vic, with the remarkable paintings by Josep Maria Sert, reflect the city’s artistic heritage. Vic’s medieval spirit also comes alive through events such as the Mercat Medieval de Vic.
Gastronomy and Community Life
Renowned for its gastronomy, Vic celebrates a strong culinary tradition rooted in local produce, traditional markets, and artisanal food culture. Its vibrant cultural associations and traditional festivities reflect a strong sense of community and local identity.
A University City
Vic is home to the Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya, a leading institution recognized for its expertise in health sciences, research, and education, reinforcing the city’s role as a center for knowledge and innovation.
Discover Vic through SPAOM2026 and experience a city where heritage, science, tradition, and community come together in an inspiring setting for exchange and collaboration.
Conference venue
Firal “El Sucre”
Plaça del Sucre, Vic, Barcelona
The venue for SPAOM2026 was selected to provide an open-plan space where exhibitors and participants can easily meet and navigate, avoiding complex layouts with hard-to-find rooms or multiple levels. This design minimizes transition times between sessions and ensures equal visibility for all participating entities.
The “Recinte Firal El Sucre” is a 3,600 m² building perfectly suited to the purpose. It is organized into three areas: Sponsors’ Exhibition Area, Auditorium, and Community Area
All-in-one solution
Accommodation
Stay together. stay connected
SPAOM2026 participants are invited to stay at Hotel Montanyà, located in the heart of Montseny Natural Park, around 20 km from Vic. The hotel will also host the SPAOM2026 Social Event.
All rooms have been pre-reserved for SPAOM2026 participants at a special rate. As availability is limited, we recommend booking your accommodation when registering for the meeting.
Free daily shuttles will connect the hotel with the conference venue in Vic, taking participants to the morning sessions and back at the end of each day.
A great way to experience SPAOM2026 beyond the scientific programme and spend more time with the community.
Participate
Registration & Abstract Submission
Registration
Secure your place at SPAOM2026. Registration is now open!
Registration includes access to all scientific sessions and workshops. Accommodation can also be booked directly through the registration form.
Registration fees (VAT excluded):
Academic: €350
Students: €200
Industry: €600
Additional registration options, including day passes, are also available.
Abstract Submission
Submit your abstract for a Selected Talk or Poster. We welcome contributions covering all aspects of advanced optical microscopy, bioimaging and bioimage analysis.
Submission deadlines:
Community Workshops: July 8th, 2026 — CLOSED
Selected Talks: July 8th, 2026 — CLOSED
Posters: September 15th, 2026
Notification of acceptance:
Selected Talks: around July 25th
Posters: notifications sent every two weeks until the submission deadline
POSTER · September 15th
OrganiZation
Committees
Scientific Committee
- Isabel Peset, CNIO, Madrid
- Nadia Halidi, CRG, Barcelona
- Estibaliz Gómez de Mariscal, ITQB NOVA – NIMSB-NOVA, Oeiras
- Jana Nieder, INL, Braga
- Pablo Loza, ICFO, Barcelona
- Pedro J. Gómez Gálvez, IBIS, Sevilla
Local Organization Committee
- Maria Calvo, UB, Barcelona
- Mònica Roldán, IRSJD, Barcelona
- Julien Colombelli, IRB Barcelona
Sponsors Committee
- Lucia Sanchez, IIM-CSIC, Vigo
- Ana Oña, CNB-CSIC, Madrid
- Paloma Dominguez, CABIMER, Sevilla
- Maria Calvo, UB, Barcelona
- Monica Roldan, IRSJD, Barcelona
- Álvaro Sahún, CMBSO, Madrid
- Diego Megias, ISCIII, Madrid
- Isabel Peset, CNIO, Madrid
- Julien Colombelli, IRB Barcelona
- Andreia Castro, ICVS, Braga
Workshops Committee
- Julien Colombelli, IRB Barcelona, Barcelona
- Mònica Roldán, IRSJD, Barcelona
- Diego Megias, ISCIII, Madrid
- Telmo Pereira, UNOVA Lisbon
- Luisa Cortes, UCoimbra, Coimbra
- Gaby Martins, GIMM, Oeiras
- Edwin Hernández-Garzón, CI2A/CINC, Madrid
Partners
Institutions
Organizing Institutions
Collaborating Institutions
Local collaborating institution
