MIBIREM at high-level EU Expert Workshop on Biotechnology

On 15 May 2025 MIBIREM coordinator RTDS Association represented the project at the European Commission’s (EC) expert workshop on bio-based innovation, biotechnology, life sciences, and digital solutions. This crucial event, held at the EC’s premises in Brussels, gathered 13 cutting-edge Horizon Europe projects focused on bio-based innovations.

Hosted by high-level EC representatives from the Directorate-General for Research & Innovation, as well as the EC’s Research Executive Agency, this workshop focused on advancing Europe’s bioeconomy and shaping upcoming EU policies, such as the Biotechnology Act, the revised Bioeconomy Strategy, and the ongoing Horizon Europe programming. 

MIBIREM representing bioremediation EU-funded projects 

As the only project at the workshop focused specifically on environmental remediation, MIBIREM showcased its pioneering work in microbiome-based solutions for polluted sites.

The project’s ambition to build a comprehensive toolbox for microbiome-based remediation was met with strong interest—particularly its emphasis on understanding, enhancing, and deploying microbial degraders across contaminated sites in Europe. 

During the icebreaker session, MIBIREM Project Manager David Donnerer (RTDS Association) presented the project’s innovative workflow—from sampling and strain isolation to pilot testing and upscaling. He also elaborated on the MIBIREM Toolbox, the project’s expected flagship result, which aims to deliver a set of high-performance microbial bioremediation solutions to address contamination from HCH, PHCs and cyanides. Donnerer concluded his intervention by also presenting the ALL4BIOREM cluster, which is led by MIBIREM and focuses on advocating for a supportive EU policy and research framework on bioremediation in the EU.  

Shaping future EU policies on bioeconomy and biotechnology 

This workshop was not only an opportunity to present a range of bio-based innovations from Horizon Europe projects, but was also organised by the EU to gather feedback from the ground to shape the future direction of travel for EU policies. MIBIREM coordinator RTDS Association contributed actively to the discussion rounds structured around four key themes: 

• Regulatory Barriers
  MIBIREM, representing also ALL4BIOREM cluster projects, called for a streamlined and improved regulatory framework to better support market entry for microbiome-based technologies. The Horizon Europe projects present also advocated for stronger alignment between lab-based research and real-world application. EC officials took also note of the communication gaps regarding biotech safety and the importance of Member States in improving public understanding, including regarding the benefits of environmental remediation. 

• Research & Innovation Gaps
  Horizon Europe project representatives also underscored the need for better integration between social sciences and biotechnology, citing the critical role of consumer acceptance. Workshop participants also called for increased support for underrepresented topics in the bioeconomy and biotechnology sectors, like microbial ecology and bioremediation. 

• Technical Challenges
  A recurring theme was the difficulty in transitioning from lab to field, especially considering the complexity of upscaling biotech innovations. Workshop participants agreed that efforts should be increased to facilitate smoother transitions across Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), especially to overcome the Innovation Valley of Death.  

• Financial Barriers
  Finally, the spirited discussion highlighted the lack of funding pathways for projects in higher TRLs and the need for stronger links between academic research and market actors. The Horizon Europe projects present backed proposals to better connect startups and SMEs with venture capital and called attention to the disproportionate burden of compliance on smaller players, stressing also the need for administrative simplification in Horizon Europe. 

Forthcoming ALL4BIOREM position paper on EU bioeconomy strategy 

As the EU prepares to update its Bioeconomy Strategy by the end of 2025, MIBIREM coordinator RTDS Association and its partner projects from the ALL4BIOREM cluster will prepare a position paper to advocate for a revision of the Strategy that fully supports the accelerated uptake of environmental remediation, especially bioremediation, across the EU. Following this highly insightful workshop, the EC organisers also aim to organise more such events to gather on-the-ground feedback from projects like MIBIREM to better tailor EU policies to the needs of research, industry and citizens.