Mikrobiokosmos 2025 and Twinn4MicroUp Satellite Symposium: Celebrating Microbial Science and Collaboration
The Mikrobiokosmos & CEESME Joint Conference 2025 brought together microbiologists and biotechnologists from Greece and around the world for an inspiring showcase of cutting-edge research. Held at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, the event attracted over 400 participants, including researchers, students, and industry leaders, all eager to explore the latest advances in microbial biotechnology, environmental microbiology, and sustainable applications.
With more than 60 invited speakers and around 180 presentations, the conference covered topics from agriculture and food science to climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and host–microbe interactions. Over several days, attendees engaged in plenary talks, thematic sessions, and poster presentations, while networking and forming collaborations that will drive the field forward.
The IndBioCat Group (NTUA) shone with presentations on plastic degradation and microbial biotechnology, including Dr. Stratos Nikolaivits’ oral presentation on novel plastic-degrading enzymes, and Mr. Konstantinos Grigorakis’ award-winning poster on engineering thermophilic enzymes for PET degradation. Partners also made a strong impact. Prof. Gennaro Agrimi (UNIBA) delivered a highly engaging talk on engineered Yarrowia lipolytica strains capable of plastic depolymerization and upcycling, showcasing innovative strategies to convert waste plastics into valuable bioproducts. Dr. Eugenia Messina (UNIBA) complemented this work with a poster on ethylene glycol assimilation by Y. lipolytica, further highlighting the organism’s versatility for plastic valorization. The IMGGE team representatives — Jelena Milovanovic, Marijana Ponjavic, and Sanja Skaro-Bogojevic — contributed insights on the polymer upcycling potential of Streptomyces violaceoruber.
In addition, the Twinn4MicroUp project, in partnership with ISME, hosted a satellite symposium for early-career researchers, offering guidance on funding, career transitions, lab culture, and teaching innovations. Speakers included Kyriaki Kalaitzidou, Mary Allen, Eleni Zika, Michael Sauer, and Kalliopi Chalkou, sharing insights on academic and non-academic career pathways.
By combining science, collaboration, and career development, Mikrobiokosmos 2025 highlighted how microbiology is not just a research field but a thriving community, shaping the next generation of scientists and innovators.
