Year 2 Annual Meeting in Belgrade

Year 2 Annual Meeting in Belgrade

The TwInn4MicroUp consortium gathered in Belgrade for its Year 2 Annual Meeting, hosted by IMGGE at the Center for the Promotion of Science. The event was held jointly with the EcoPlastiC Final Meeting, bringing together partners, affiliates, and collaborators from across Europe to review achievements, strengthen cooperation, and shape the next steps of the project. Over two days, participants exchanged insights on scientific and non-scientific developments, highlighting the project’s progress in advancing synthetic biology, microbial engineering, and plastic upcycling strategies.

Day 1 – Joint Meeting with EcoPlastiC

The first day (4th of September 2025) featured a joint session with the EcoPlastiC consortium, with presentations spanning green depolymerization of mixed PET waste, microbiome optimization, polyhydroxyalkanoates production and processing, and demonstrator plastic packaging from fermentation-based biopolymers.

A key contribution came from Prof. Aggelos Tsakanikas (NTUA), who highlighted the intellectual property and commercialization potential of the research outputs, presenting pathways to translate scientific achievements into market-ready technologies and strengthen industrial uptake.

The session concluded with an invited talk by Assist. Prof. Anthi Karnaouri (Agricultural University of Athens), who explored the potential of fungi and their enzymes in biotransformations, from plastic degradation to furan oxidation and the creation of functional materials, bridging fundamental enzymology with applied biotechnology.

The day ended with a networking lunch and a guided sightseeing tour of Belgrade’s cultural landmarks, fostering informal exchanges among participants.

Day 2 – TwInn4MicroUp General Assembly

The second day (5th of September 2025) was dedicated to TwInn4MicroUp’s internal work, with Coordinator Prof. Evangelos Topakas (NTUA) and Project Manager Dr. Christina Ferousi (NTUA) opening the General Assembly with an overview of the project’s progress and Year 2 roadmap.

The scientific program featured a comprehensive set of presentations:

– Prof. Aggelos Tsakanikas (NTUA) introduced the Year 2 plan for industrial engagement and innovation incubation (WP5), outlining strategies to bridge research with industry and foster a dynamic innovation ecosystem.

– Dr. Cuneyt Erdinc Tas (TUS) presented advances in plastic waste pretreatment technologies, including mechano-chemical approaches for improving substrate quality and valorization potential.

– Antonino Biundo, Ph.D. (UNIBA, GreenOil), presented the valorization of used vegetable oils into high-value bio-based products, highlighting their role in improving saline soils and crop resilience while fostering sustainable supply chains.

– Prof. Gennaro Agrimi (UNIBA) showcased the development of microbial cell factories using Yarrowia lipolytica, highlighting its ability to co-utilize challenging carbon sources and laying the groundwork for yeast-based plastic upcycling.

– Prof. Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic (IMGGE) and Mr. Konstantinos Makryniotis (NTUA) discussed bacterial platforms for plastic-derived monomer valorization, including engineered strains producing high-value pigments and bioactive compounds.

– Ms. Katerina Foka (NTUA) focused on the generation of valuable and innovative bioproducts from microbial conversion processes, emphasizing the potential for pigments, biopolymers, and omega-3 fatty acids as high-market-value outputs.

In the afternoon, the agenda turned to non-scientific components. Dr. Christina Ferousi (NTUA) led a session on knowledge transfer, dissemination, and outreach activities, detailing Year 2 initiatives for communication, training, and stakeholder engagement. Dedicated discussions, stimulated by the expertise of Dr. Ivana Aleksić (IMGGE), explored networking and training opportunities, the enhancement of research management skills at NTUA, and strategies for public outreach.

The meeting concluded with a joint discussion on project proposals, identifying new opportunities for collaboration and synergy in upcoming European funding calls.

Looking Ahead

TwInn4MicroUp continues to make strides in developing innovative microbial platforms for the biodegradation and upcycling of plastics into valuable products, while also supporting training, industry collaboration, and public outreach. With strong scientific advances, expanding collaborations, and a clear vision for the future, TwInn4MicroUp is steadily building momentum toward transforming plastic waste into valuable bioproducts.