UT–ICN2 Training Visit Strengthens Field Testing and Final-Phase Planning of the SUSNANO Project

During the period 1 - 7 December 2025, the team from the University of Tirana (UT) carried out a training and coordination visit to the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) in Barcelona. This visit was part of the third year of the SUSNANO project implementation and was aimed to support the successful completion of the project.

The most important activity was the training of UT staff on best practices for field testing of nanosensors. The expertise and experience of ICN2 regarding best practices for field testing of sensors, portable electrochemical devices, and paper-based analytical devices were shared between partners. A significant component of the training focused on the review and improvement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring comparable and reliable results for the specific detection of pollutants targeted by the project, such as heavy metals, pesticides, and antibiotics.

During the visit, a discussion session was also held to review the project status (WP1 -WP3), to plan the final phase of the project. In addition, UT staff participated in NBB Autumn Seminar held at ICN2 during that period, which was an opportunity to present and showcase the achievements of the SUSNANO project.

Overall, the visit proved to be highly productive, providing the necessary knowledge, tools, and strategic planning to successfully advance the objectives of the SUSNANO project in Albania.