On 2^nd April, the 7^th FRISSBE Forum brought together researchers, experts, and staff to share progress, exchange ideas, and discuss strategic directions in fire-safe sustainable construction. The event once again reinforced FRISSBE's overarching mission: to implement lasting, sustainable structural changes at ZAG and to spread research excellence throughout the region.

Project Updates & Vision

Dr Andraž Legat and Prof Grunde Jomaas opened the forum with updates on the FRISSBE project and its role in advancing research excellence at ZAG. Their introduction set a forward-looking tone, reaffirming the project's commitment to achieving excellence in fire-safe sustainable built environments and intensifying cooperation with industry to enhance ZAG's competitiveness in European research and innovation.

FRISSBE Internal Projects

A substantial portion of the forum was dedicated to presentations of ongoing internal research projects, each followed by a brief question-and-answer session.

Dr Ulises Rojas-Alva, presented LIB-JETS, a project focused on the characterisation of jet flames, energy release, and off-gassing of lithium-ion batteries, research of growing relevance as electromobility continues to reshape fire risk profiles in the built environment.

Dr Andrea Lucherini presented CornerFire, a project working towards a deeper understanding of the reaction-to-fire performance of modern construction products by comparing two widely used test methodologies: the Single Burning Item (SBI) test and the room corner test. The work addresses a critical question for the standardisation of fire safety assessments across Europe.

New Projects at the FRISSBE Department

Three newly launched projects were also introduced in brief presentations. Nik Rus presented SONELEKT, followed by Dr Aleš Jug with EMOBILNOST, which continues ZAG's expanding portfolio of research into electric mobility and fire hazards. Dr Ulises Rojas-Alva then introduced eRISIKO, alongside an update on the ESA ground base facility, a collaboration that signals FRISSBE's growing reach into specialised and high-stakes research environments.

Rounding off this section, Prof Grunde Jomaas provided an overview of two European Commission projects: FS-rebuild and EU Fire Stats II, both of which underscore FRISSBE's active role in shaping fire safety policy and data infrastructure at the European level.

Ongoing Activities at ZAG

Following a coffee break, the forum turned to broader ongoing activities across ZAG. Jože Hladnik presented the institute's new rules for AI implementation, reflecting the growing importance of governance frameworks for artificial intelligence in research organisations. Dr Lidija Korat Bensa shared progress on the GreenHer project, contributing to ZAG's sustainability and gender equity agenda. The forum concluded with a presentation by Prof Grunde Jomaas entitled "Turning Curiosity into Cash", offering reflections on the pathways from fundamental research to commercial and societal impact, a fitting close to a day that demonstrated the breadth and ambition of work underway at FRISSBE.

With high-quality researchers and a clear strategic vision, the FRISSBE project continues to drive lasting structural changes, positioning ZAG as a leader in fire-safe and sustainable built environments. The 7^th Forum was yet another demonstration of that commitment in action.