Chevy Chase, MD — The official conference program for BIG IDEAS for UV+EB Technology 2026, taking place March 2–3, 2026 aboard the legendary USS Midway Aircraft Carrier in San Diego, California, is now available at https://bigideasconference.com/.
BIG IDEAS 2026 brings together leaders and innovators from advanced materials, automotive, defense, coil coatings, wearables, robotics, and next-generation printing and packaging to explore how ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) technologies are enabling the next wave of technological breakthroughs across modern manufacturing.
This year’s program features a distinguished lineup of speakers examining how UV+EB-enabled materials, processes, and systems are reshaping performance, sustainability, and design freedom across industries.
Featured Speakers Include:
Adrian Lungu, DuPont — UV Curing at the Frontier of Wearables and Smart Electronics
Christopher Bowman, University of Colorado Boulder — Dynamic Polymer Networks: Making Photopolymers Recyclable, Renewable, and Reprocessable
Nihat Isitman, 1X Technologies — Accelerating Innovation in Humanoid Robotics Through Polymer 3D Printing
Chris Seubert, Ford Motor Company — Precision Painting Enabled by UV Technologies for Automotive Coating Systems
Ian Muceus, Firestorm — The Holy Trinity of Additive Manufacturing
Craig Bandes, Pixelligent — The Materials Revolution Powering Today’s Technological Convergence
In addition to keynote-style talks, BIG IDEAS 2026 will feature a series of timely panel discussions addressing critical challenges and emerging opportunities in the UV+EB ecosystem, including:
Coil Coating: New frontiers in UV+EB performance and innovation
Photoinitiators & Formulation: TPO Under Pressure — formulating beyond the targeted photoinitiator landscape
DefenseTech: Perspectives from Firestorm, Harpoon Ventures, Intrepid Automation, and others on UV+EB’s role in the defense industrial base
Recyclable Packaging: The next wave of sustainable, UV+EB-enabled packaging systems
Unlike traditional conferences, BIG IDEAS is designed as an immersive experience. Evening sessions bring together leaders in photopolymer chemistry, energy, materials science, and DefenseTech for deeper conversations on the breakthroughs shaping the future of UV and EB curing. During the day, attendees can participate in optional offsite activities connecting them directly with cutting-edge manufacturing environments, including tours of local guitar manufacturers and label companies.
Set against the iconic backdrop of the USS Midway, BIG IDEAS 2026 offers a forward-looking forum for examining how UV+EB-enabled curing technologies are transforming modern manufacturing and accelerating innovation across industries.
Explore the full program and details at https://bigideasconference.com/.
About BIG IDEAS for UV+EB Technology
BIG IDEAS is a curated conference focused on the intersection of UV and electron beam curing technologies with advanced manufacturing, materials science, sustainability, and emerging applications. The event convenes industry, academia, startups, and investors to explore where the technology is headed, and how it will shape the future.
