The University of Crete successfully organized and hosted the 8th European Summer School on Industrial Biotechnology (ESSIB 2026), held from June 29 to July 3, 2026, in Heraklion, Crete.

This year’s summer school brought together 27 participants, including doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers from around the world, with attendees traveling from as far as New Zealand to Colombia. The central theme of ESSIB 2026 was:

“Sustainable Solutions for Local Challenges: In Situ Valorization of Side Streams Utilizing Local Biodiversity.”

Throughout the intensive week-long program, participants explored a range of cutting-edge topics in industrial biotechnology, including:

• Sustainable (bio)catalytic processes and the role of the circular economy in waste management.
• Microorganisms from extreme environments and their applications in food production.
• The implementation of the FAIR principles for research data management and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for enzyme discovery and engineering.
• The discovery of novel enzymes for algae biorefineries, as well as the use of indigenous microorganisms in bioremediation applications.

To bridge theory and practice, ESSIB 2026 featured interactive workshops on carbon footprint calculation and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), along with a hands-on laboratory session on the production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) membranes from waste materials.

Participants also took part in educational visits to the facilities of Bioenergy Crete, where they learned about the operation of a biogas production plant, and to the Digenakis Winery, where they discussed sustainable practices for the management and valorization of winery by-products and industrial waste.

As part of the summer school, the Enzyme Technology Group of the University of Crete presented its research activities and its contributions to two major European research projects:

• NEXTMARINE, which focuses on discovering novel enzymes from extreme marine environments for the development of high-value biotechnological products.
• WIDEnzymes, which aims to strengthen research capacity and foster synergies for the development of innovative enzymes.

The successful organization of ESSIB 2026 reaffirms the University of Crete’s leading role in advancing excellence in education, research, and international collaboration in the field of industrial biotechnology, while contributing to the development of sustainable biotechnological solutions for today’s environmental and industrial challenges.