During Salone del Mobile Het Nieuwe Instituut organised its second expert meeting for the International Materials & Design Network. This network was founded in 2016 at Het Nieuwe Instituut’s initiative to stimulate the exchange of knowledge and ideas in the field of innovation in materials, design and sustainability.

The International New Materials network, which was founded by Het Nieuwe Instituut, visited the New Material Award's award ceremony during Dutch Design Week 2016. Carole Collet, professor in Design for Sustainable Futures and director Design & Living Systems Lab at Central Saint Martins University of the Arts in London, wrote an article in response to the New Material Award 2016.

Eighteen designers have been selected for the New Material Award 2016 and was presented during Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. This biennial award challenges artists and designers to apply and develop sustainable materials and innovative technologies. 

Het Nieuwe Instituut cooperates with Materfad, materials center and FADfest, the All Design Festival in Barcelona. Within the context of the festival theme "Food, Sustainable Emergency and Design” three Dutch designers, three Spanish and three international designers participate in the program The Materials Farm - agriculture, food and living organisms: a source for new material.

During the Salone del Mobile 2016, Het Nieuwe Instituut organised a International Materials & Design Network Meeting about materials innovation, design and sustainability in partnership with Materfad: Materials Centre (Barcelona) and Happy Materials (Prague).