At the beginning of its third project year, the TOXBOX consortium gathered for its M24 consortium meeting on 5-6 February 2026 at the premises of Tekniker in Eibar, near Bilbao, in Spain’s Basque Country.
This gathering provided a welcome opportunity to review and discuss the scientific achievements of the first two years. Partners shared results and updates from across the work packages, showcasing notable advances in the development and validation of innovative toxicological assessment tools that lie at the heart of TOXBOX.
In addition to the technical sessions,the meeting also clearly demonstrated the strong collaborative nature of the consortium. Through open discussions, constructive feedback, and joint reflexion, partners aligned their views and identified strategic priorities that will guide the project’s next phase.
One of the highlights was a guided tour of Tekniker’s laboratories, offering the consortium valuable insights into the host’s facilities and expertise. As a technology centre specialising in Advanced Manufacturing, Surface Engineering, Product Engineering, and ICTs for manufacturing, Tekniker is dedicated to promoting societal growth and wellbeing through R&D&I while enhancing industrial competitiveness in a sustainable way.
Informal moments also played an important role, with partners enjoying traditional Basque pintxos during breaks and a consortium dinner in Bilbao featuring local cuisine. These social moments further strengthened connections across the consortium and created space for conversations beyond the meeting room.
The consortium warmly thanks Tekniker for hosting the meeting and for the excellent organisation and hospitality throughout the two days. We now look ahead to the second half of the project, building on the strong foundations laid so far.