Highlights from the European Workshop on Biotechnology: Biobased Materials

The European Workshop on Biotechnology: Biobased Materials, held from 20 to 23 January 2025 at Campus Energypolis in Sion, Switzerland, was a very successful event. Organized by the EFB Biobased Materials Division in collaboration with the School of Engineering from HES-SO Valais-Wallis and HEIA-FR, the workshop brought together attendees from Austria, Israel, Italy, Serbia, Spain, and Switzerland to explore the latest advancements in biobased materials.

Participants engaged in a dynamic program covering topics from the world of biopolymers to cutting-edge innovations in enzymatic degradation and synthetic biology. The workshop featured a combination of expert-led lectures, hands-on laboratory activities, and collaborative discussions, fostering knowledge exchange and networking among participants.

The event included presentations from the Scientific Committee and internationally recognized speakers:

• Manfred Zinn (HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Switzerland) – Delivered opening remarks and insights into the evolving landscape of biobased materials.
• Georg M. Gübitz (BOKU, Austria) – Shared expertise on enzymatic degradation of plastics and polymer biodegradation.
• Lucia Gardossi (University of Trieste, Italy) – Presented sustainable and innovative approaches to polyesters and biopolymer synthesis.
• Roger Martí (HEIA-FR, Switzerland) – Provided insights into keratin processing and its applications in biopolymer development.

Additionally, the workshop featured contributions from Cristina Campano and Maria Tsampika Manoli (CSIC Madrid, Spain), Frédéric Forini and Melanie Morschett (Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, Switzerland), Karin Philipp (Bioengineering AG, Switzerland), Véronique Amstutz, Tim Börner, Julien Pott, Alexander Kettner, Basil Imoberdorf, and Nils Hanik (HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Switzerland), Daniel Werner (Inspire, Switzerland), Philip Scholten (Bloom SA, Switzerland), Claudia Som (Empa, Switzerland), Daniel Schwendeman (OST, Switzerland), and Véronique Michaud (EPFL, Switzerland).

The organizing team would like to thank the main sponsors, Bioengineering AG, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences and HES-SO for their generous support.