Twinn4MicroUp at the 7th International Summer School on Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development
The Twinn4MicroUp project was thrilled to participate in the 7th International Summer School for Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development (7th ISSCBSD), held between June 27th – July 4th 2025 and hosted at Perrotis College, American Farm School of Thessaloniki, Greece.
The Bioeconomy Summer School was organized for the celebration of 20 years since the 1st Action Plan on Bioeconomy in Europe, bringing together early career researchers, university students, and young professionals from all over the world. to explore pressing challenges and emerging solutions in the field of sustainability and circular bioeconomy.
As part of the 7th ISSCBSD programme, on June 28th the session was dedicated to the Twinn4MicroUp training school “Advancing bio/mechano/chemical technologies for the utilization of plastic waste”. During this session, partners of our project, as well as distinguished guests, delivered insightful presentations, reflecting our research efforts along with future perspectives in the field of plastic waste valorization.
TheTwinn4MicroUp training school included the following talks:
- Evangelos Topakas (NTUA) – Introduction to the Twinn4MicroUp project
- Efstratios Nikolaivits (NTUA) – Biocatalytic Plastic Degradation: Between Promise and Practice
- Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic (IMGGE) – Streptomycetes as a Platform for Waste Conversion to High-Value Bioproducts
- Gennaro Agrimi (UNIBA) – Metabolic Engineering for Plastic Upcycling
- Cüneyt Erdinç Taş (TUS: Midlands Midwest) – Plastic Waste Pretreatment: Laying the Foundation for Sustainable Valorization
- Maciej Guzik (PAS) – Integrating PHA Production Process into Biorefineries
- Kevin O’Connor (UCD) – Back to the Future with Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing – What Next for the European Bioeconomy?
These talks sparked valuable, constructive discussion, showcasing our shared commitment to innovation in bio-based technologies, as well as the importance of interdisciplinary, cross-border collaboration.
Beyond the presentations, Twinn4MicroUp project was also proud to support the active participation of three first-year PhD students from NTUA, UNIBA, and IMGGE, who attended the Summer School. Over the course of the week, the students’ engagement allowed them to broaden their knowledge on bioeconomy, gain new perspectives, and further connect with a growing network of young researchers, devoted to innovation towards a sustainable future, led by circular bioeconomy.
We would like to extend our warm thanks to Professor Konstantinos Vorgias and to the World Bioeconomy Association for the kind invitation, and to the organizing committee of the 7th ISSCBSD for hosting such a well-structured and impactful event. Our gratitude also reaches to all attendees, whose active participation made the 7th ISSCBSD a place of lively exchange and shared inspiration.
The Twinn4MicroUp project mission continues – We remain committed to building strong European as well as international partnerships and advancing microbial platforms for plastic waste upcycling, thus contributing to a more circular and sustainable future.
