From 9–12 September 2025, Tamas Sohajda from CarboHyde took the stage at the 8th European Cyclodextrin Conference in Milan, a leading forum that gathered around 180 experts from academia and industry working on cyclodextrins and their wide-ranging applications. Although European in focus, the event attracts a global community of researchers and innovators.
Tamas delivered his presentation “Small Ring – Big Impact,” showcasing hidden yet already marketed non-pharmaceutical applications where cyclodextrins play a vital but often unrecognised role. He highlighted novel cyclodextrins that are poised to enter these markets, as well as emerging formulation concepts with strong future potential.
A key message of the talk was exploring what made these innovations successful in cost-sensitive industries – from unique chemistry and application pathways to branding strategies and business models. These examples offer valuable lessons for pharmaceutical innovators, including the GENEGUT community, demonstrating how creative thinking and market-driven design can accelerate translation and impact.
The presentation sparked lively discussions and reinforced the relevance of cyclodextrin science in both established and emerging sectors.