ECOBALLIFE Meeting Marks a Key Milestone at 30 Months
February 6, 2026The Ehttps://ecoballife.eu/COBALLIFE meeting held on 4–5 February in La Spezia marked an important milestone in the project timeline. Partners gathered on the Italian coast for the 30‑month General Assembly hosted by Leonardo. The consortium used this opportunity to review achievements, align on next steps, and strengthen cooperation through dedicated discussions and social activities.
Major Technical Achievements Presented at the ECOBALLIFE Meeting
The consortium presented significant progress across several work areas. Two major research Work Packages reached successful completion. These included the research on Personal Protection Systems and the research on Platform Protection Systems. Their completion marks a key step toward advanced demonstrators.
Eco‑design activities also concluded with the assessment of both optimised and new solutions. Partners advanced simulation work, achieving progress in ballistic modelling and macroscale simulations. Promising developments appeared across personal and platform protection systems, with encouraging performance indicators for several concepts.
Sustainability efforts progressed with tested recycling approaches for fibres, ceramics, and metals. Improved life‑cycle assessment insights strengthened the project’s understanding of the environmental impact of proposed solutions. Characterisation and validation activities moved forward through NDT, ageing studies, and specialised tests addressing emerging threats.
The Proof‑of‑Concept design reached an advanced stage. Manufacturing workflows were defined, and the first materials already entered production. Exploitation activities also advanced, supported by the submission of initial deliverables.
Future Priorities Outlined During the ECOBALLIFE Meeting
The consortium identified clear priorities for the next six months. These include the start of Proof‑of‑Concept manufacturing, further simulation development, and continued validation, NDT, and ageing studies. Sustainability work will also progress through recycling optimisation and deeper LCA analysis.
Team Spirit Strengthened During the Meeting
The ECOBALLIFE meeting also highlighted the strong team spirit within the consortium. Partners enjoyed valuable social moments, which supported collaboration and fostered open exchange. A guided visit to Leonardo’s facilities enriched the meeting with insight into potential real‑world applications for the project’s solutions.
The consortium closed the event with renewed motivation and a clear focus on the next development stage, reinforcing its commitment to delivering innovative, sustainable protection systems.