HITRIplus Annual Meeting and Hadrontherapy Workshop in Podgorica: From Innovation to Implementation

On 24–25 March 2025, the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro in Podgorica hosted the HITRIplus Annual Meeting alongside the international workshop Hadrontherapy – From Innovation to Implementation. Organised by the SEEIIST Association and the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro, the two-day hybrid event brought together over 300 participants representing research, clinical practice, industry, and government.

In his opening address, Dr Sandro Rossi, HITRIplus Coordinator and Director General of CNAO, gave an overview of the project’s achievements and upcoming milestones. Under his coordination, HITRIplus continues to drive scientific progress in hadron therapy while fostering collaboration across disciplines and borders.

Peter Grübling, CEO of SEEIIST, presented the status and vision of the SEEIIST project, highlighting its strategic role in regional scientific integration and equitable access to particle therapy.

A keynote address by Dr Sanja Damjanović, SEEIIST founder and former Minister of Science of Montenegro, called for bold implementation of joint initiatives:
“It is time to implement what we initiated with the HIT and MIT meetings. This region has the potential to become a model of cooperation in science and health. Let us work together to ensure that innovation in hadron therapy becomes accessible to all patients who need it.”

The workshop programme offered rich insights into both clinical application and technological innovation in particle therapy:

• Dr. Francesca Colombo (CNAO) shared clinical experience on treating paediatric patients with particle therapy.
• Prof. Piero Fossati (MedAustron) focused on outcomes for sarcoma and chordoma.
• Dr. Fabian Eberle (MIT) addressed the topic of reirradiation using particles.
• Prof. Guido Baroni (Politecnico of Milan) presented advancements in image guidance.
• Dr. Walter Tinganelli (GSI) examined the potential role of FLASH radiotherapy.
• Dr. Andrea Mairani (HIT) gave a forward-looking talk on the clinical relevance of new ion species.
• Dr. Maurizio Vretenar (CERN) explored future accelerator designs for ion therapy.
• Dr. Manuela Cirilli (CERN) discussed the path toward industrialising HITRIplus technologies.
• Prof. Nicholas Sammut (University of Malta) shared perspectives on education and training in heavy ion therapy.
• Dr. Yiota Foka (GSI) addressed the importance of science communication in the field.
• Dr. Annalisa Trama (INT, Milan) reviewed the role of European registries in oncology.

In a special session on the European and global landscape, Prof Manjit Dosanjh, ENLIGHT Coordinator and HITRIplus Networking Pillar lead, spoke about global radiotherapy challenges and the importance of reducing inequalities in cancer treatment through cross-sector and international collaboration.

The event concluded with a high-level roundtable moderated by Mark Pleško, CEO of COSYLAB, discussing industry perspectives and the steps needed to bring hadrontherapy technologies to broader clinical implementation.

With its mix of scientific presentations, policy dialogue, and networking opportunities, the Podgorica meeting reaffirmed HITRIplus’s commitment to building a pan-European ecosystem for innovation, capacity building, and equitable cancer care, anchored in strong regional partnerships and a shared vision for the future.