On behalf of the Organising Committee and the International Microencapsulation Society, it is with great pleasure that I announce the 21st International Symposium on Microencapsulation, which will be held on 27-29 September 2017 in Faro-Algarve, Portugal.

Under the motto of Great Achievements That Inspire New Challenges, the Symposium will include plenary lectures and invited lectures, addressing both historical perspectives on the achievements of the field of encapsulation and new applications of encapsulation technologies. In this context, our program covers strategies for pharmaceutical, biomedical and biotechnological industries, also addressing cosmetic, textile, food and gastronomic applications. There will also be a poster session, to which you are all invited to contribute.

This scientific event will certainly be a unique opportunity to share experiences and propose solutions for current problems and daily challenges. The Symposium will provide the participants an outstanding and exclusive forum for sharing ideas and perceptions. I also would like to strongly encourage the participation of young scientists and students, who will have many opportunities for networking and to communicate personally with senior members of the scientific community and industry, thus having the possibility to learn about cutting-edge research findings and developments. Importantly, some of the submitted abstracts will be selected for submission of full papers to be published in Journal of Microencapsulation after peer-review.

The Algarve is a beautiful region in the south of Portugal, famous for its beaches, warm weather and the hospitality of its inhabitants. Apart from benefiting of an ambitious scientific program, this is a unique opportunity to enjoy the attributes of this wonderful place. Thus, mark the dates in your agenda and start planning your trip.