The TwinPrebioEnz project members have successfully organized the International Conference on GREEN BIOPROCESSING FOR INNOVATIVE BIOACTIVE PRODUCTS – BIOBASEDFUTURE2025 in Hotel Golden Tulip Zira in Belgrade (16-18th of June 2025). The three-day conference program was consisted of 5 plenary and 10 keynote speakers, 8 oral and 62 poster presentations held by international participants from Serbia, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, USA, Austria, Denmark, Slovakia, Sweden, and United Kingdom within 5 main program sessions (1. Prebiotics, 2. Interaction between human microbiota and health, 3. New and improved biocatalysts and biosensors, 4. Bioprocess intensification, 5. Bio-based products: from laboratory to industry).
https://www.biobasedfuture2025.org
Researchers from a wide range of scientific disciplines presented their findings on the development of physiologically active compounds, including their chemical characterization and their effects on human health, with particular focus on the role of the human microbiota. The event highlighted significant advances in improving bioprocess efficiency, showcasing breakthroughs in enzyme engineering, immobilization techniques, biosensor development, and bioprocess intensification strategies. Emphasis was placed on translating research into practical applications, with presentations demonstrating bioactive compounds for use in functional foods, biocosmetics, and biopharmaceuticals. Additionally, innovative products derived from industrial by-products and waste streams were featured, underscoring the potential for sustainable and circular bioeconomy solutions.
At the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Dejan Bezbradica, coordinator of the TwinPrebioEnz project, gave a speech.
On the first day of Session 1, titled “Interaction between Human Microbiota and Health” (Chairs: Dr. Patrick Jansen from RadboudUMC, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and Dr. Marija Ćorović from TMF, University of Belgrade, Serbia), several notable lectures took place. The plenary speaker, Prof. Dr. John Penders from Maastricht University, the Netherlands, delivered an excellent presentation on human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and other prebiotics. Following this, keynote speaker Prof. Dr. Mirjana Rajilić-Stojanović from TMF discussed plant bioactive compounds and their role in modulating the gut microbiota through innovative extraction techniques. Another keynote, Prof. Dr. Ellen H. van den Bogaard from RadboudUMC, presented on “Modeling the Crosstalk between the Microbiome and Human Skin.” The session also featured oral presentations by young researchers Noor van Hout from RadboudUMC and Ana Bačić from TMF.
Session 2 named “Prebiotics” was chaired by Dr. Milica Simović from TMF and Dr. Antonia Montilla from CIAL-CSIC, Spain. The plenary speaker Dr. Dušan Veličković from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, USA, gave a lecture named “Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by advanced mass spectrometry tools”. Keynote speakers Dr. Thu-Ha Nguyen from BOKU University, Wien, Austria, and Dr. F. Javier Moreno from CIAL-CSIC, Spain talked about the biosynthesis of novel prebiotics and integrated approaches to producing and designing prebiotic carbohydrates from agri‑food resources, respectively. The session also featured oral presentations by young researchers Galina Jevđenović from FTM, Lara Denić and Teodora Zakić from ICTMF.
Session 3, titled “New and Improved Biocatalysts and Biosensors,” was chaired by Dr. Cesar Mateo from ICP-CSIC, Spain, and Dr. Thu-Ha Nguyen from BOKU University, Austria. The plenary speaker for this session was Dr. Nenad Milosavić from the Department of Medicine at Columbia University, New York, USA. His lecture, titled “From Random Artificial Single-Stranded DNA Library to Real-Time Target Monitoring – Through the Eyes of a Biochemist,” provided insightful perspectives on advancements in biocatalyst and biosensor technologies. The keynote speaker Dr. Jose Miguel Palomo, ICP-CSIC, Spain, gave a lecture named “Innovating Biocatalyst Design: Modern Strategies for Enhanced Enzyme Functionality,” while Pavle Andrić from Novonesis, Denmark, talked about immobilised Enzymes: robust biocatalysts for bioprocess intensification. An oral presentation was given by Anja Kostelac from BOKU University, Austria.
Session 4, titled “Bioprocess Intensification,” was chaired by Prof. Dr. Nikola Nikačević from TMF, Serbia, and Pavle Andrić from Novonesis, Denmark. The plenary speaker for this session was Dr. Dirk Holtmann from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, who delivered a lecture titled “Intensification of Bioprocesses.” The keynote speaker was Dr. Martin Rebros from the Institute of Biotechnology at Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia. He discussed recombinant enzyme production, its process intensification, and various applications. The session also featured oral presentations by researchers Victor Sans from Universitat Jaume I, Spain, and Tamara Janković from Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands.
Session 5, titled “Bio-based products: from laboratory to industry,” was chaired by Prof. Dr. Ellen van den Bogaard, RadboudUMC, Nijmegen, the Netherlands and Prof. Dr. Rada Pjanović from FTM, University of Belgrade, Serbia. The plenary speaker for this session was Dr. Juan Manuel Bolivar from the Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain. His lecture, titled “Biocatalytic processes for converting waste into bio-based platform chemicals,” provided insightful perspectives on advancements in biocatalytic processes for valorization of waste. The keynote speaker Kristofer Cook from Carbiotix, Sweden, gave a lecture named “Pioneering the onsite upcycling of plant-based side-streams,” while Alexandre Fortier from ALGAKTIV, Barcelona, Spain, talked about upcycled collagen-building peptides from microalgae biotechnology. An oral presentations were given by Milica Perović from Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Serbia, and Pranesh Kannappan Karthikeyan from Loughborough University, United Kingdom.
How to accelerate transfer of bio-based innovative ideas to industry? Moderators: Dejan Bezbradica, Juan Manuel Bolivar and, Pavle Andrić
Prof. Dejan Bezbradica gave closing remarks. Also, the best poster and oral presentation awards have been given.
