The ExTech symposium series is the premier international event in analytical chemistry, focusing on the immensely important areas of sampling and sample preparation. The idea of the conference series was initiated in 1999 by Janusz Pawliszyn in Waterloo. Since then, the conference venue has traveled around the world. Its program covers all aspects of sampling and sample preparation, including fundamentals, new materials & technologies, miniaturization, automation & robotics, quality assurance, sustainability assessments, and a wide range of applications, in 2025, with an anticipated focus on microplastics and PFAS analysis.

The symposium will feature workshops, plenary, and keynote lectures from leading scientists in the field. The majority of lectures will be selected from submitted abstracts to ensure that participants can share and discuss their newest results with the audience. In addition, ExTech 2025 will showcase the latest instrumental developments and applications by the leading vendors in the field in an accompanying exhibition and in vendor seminars. 

This marks the first time since 2004 that ExTech has returned to Germany. Given the large number of scientists in Germany and neighboring countries who are actively working in the field of sample preparation, we should reconvene in Mülheim an der Ruhr for this significant event. The city offers excellent accessibility, with Düsseldorf's international airport only 25 km away and high-speed train (ICE) connections from Essen and Duisburg. 

As the conference venue, we have selected the municipal hall of Mülheim, located about one km from the central station directly at the river Ruhr. 

ExTech 2025 will take place in the Ruhr area, with its many top-tier industrial heritage sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage site Zeche Zollverein in Essen and the Landscape Park Duisburg-Nord, which was selected by "The Guardian” as one of the ten most beautiful urban oases in the world. At the same time, the Ruhr area is full of science and innovation. With more than 110,000 students and almost 14,000 researchers, the University Alliance Ruhr is one of Germany's largest and best-performing academic hubs, further bolstered by many universities of applied science, research institutes, and industry ranging from small start-ups to major global players.

We are very excited to welcome all of you in our home region, so mark the dates in your agenda.