Functional Materials: Properties and Applications is a fast-emerging area in material science, with novel external stimulus responses and the potential to create innovative, adaptive systems. This subject is a major focus at the Material Science & Engineering World Conference 2026, with the emphasis on how custom material properties are revolutionizing electronics, medicine, energy, and more.

The conference will include special sessions devoted to the design, synthesis, and experimental implementation of materials with predetermined physical, chemical, electric, or magnetic properties. Researchers and engineers will present the latest findings and discuss revolutionary technologies in the fields of:

• Piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and thermoelectric materials
• Shape-memory alloys and self-healing materials
• Magnetocaloric and electrocaloric materials
• Stimuli-responsive polymers and gels
• Multifunctional coatings and thin films
• Materials for sensing, actuation, and adaptive systems
• Structure–property relationships and real-world integration

MSEWC 2026 will bring together the world's greatest innovators to demonstrate how Functional Materials are driving fundamental science into real-world use, fueling the next generation of smart devices and engineered solutions.