The International Congress on Glass (ICG) Spring School 2026, sponsored by Şişecam, was held in Lloret del Mar, Spain, from April 19–24, bringing together graduate students, young professionals, researchers, academics and industry representatives from around the world.

Organised every two years by the International Congress on Glass, the program serves as an important platform for knowledge exchange between academia and industry, focusing on the latest developments in glass science, technology and sustainable manufacturing.

A key theme of this year’s edition was sustainability in glass production. Participants explored topics including furnace design, raw material optimisation, melting technologies, recycling strategies and carbon footprint reduction. Discussions also highlighted the growing importance of glass and glass-ceramic materials in clean energy applications and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The educational program covered composition–structure–property relationships in glass, advanced modelling techniques for developing new glass formulations, and the increasing role of artificial intelligence in glass research and manufacturing. Alongside theoretical sessions, attendees gained practical insights through case studies and examples based on real industrial applications.

As part of its contribution to the event, Şişecam shared expertise from its research and technology teams. Dr Gökce Yüce, Digital Technologies and Simulation Services Manager, presented on digital twin architectures for glass melting furnaces, demonstrating how process data can be integrated with physics-based and data-driven models to improve operational efficiency.

Dr Gülin Demirok, Glass Fibre Product Development Specialist and Project Manager of the Efficiency Management Program, discussed the impact of alternative raw materials on melting, fining and foaming behaviour in E-Glass batches, highlighting opportunities to enhance sustainability and efficiency in glass fibre production.