MIBIREM at the European Bioremediation Conference IX: Highlights from Crete

From June 15–19, 2025, the European Bioremediation Conference IX (EBC IX) unfolded in the stunning city of Chania, Crete — a hub of groundbreaking science and one of the most prestigious gatherings for bioremediation experts across Europe and beyond. With over 150 participants, EBC IX served as a vibrant platform for scientific exchange, innovation, and collaboration.

MIBIREM was represented by several project partners and played a central role in both the main conference program and the ALL4BIOREM Cluster Workshop, one of the main side events.

MIBIREM: Leading the Way in Environmental Bioremediation

The MIBIREM project, coordinated by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, is tackling one of Europe’s persistent environmental challenges: the bioremediation of complex and legacy pollutants such as hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and cyanides.

At EBC IX, Thomas Reichenauer, scientific coordinator of MIBIREM, presented novel research on cyanide-degrading microbiomes at former gas plant sites. His talk focused on microbial characterization, strain isolation, and enrichment techniques—highlighting the importance of microbiomes in managing contaminated soil and groundwater.

Reichenauer emphasized that:

“The 9th EBC offered a comprehensive overview of advances in hydrocarbon, chlorinated hydrocarbon, plastics, and PFAS bioremediation. It also spotlighted underexplored pollutants like cyanides and covered all relevant ecosystems—soil, sediments, groundwater, and marine environments.”

He also highlighted the increasing role of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and qPCR technologies in monitoring field bioremediation—now more accurate and accessible than ever—making it possible to track microbial dynamics in real-time.

Partner Spotlight: Università di Pisa

In one of the conference highlights, Simona Di Gregorio and her team from Università di Pisa presented their research on the bacterial degradation of HCH. Their work delves into the fundamental molecular steps of breaking down this toxic legacy pesticide—a crucial advancement for sustainable soil and water remediation in Europe.

Their presentation also showcased the powerful collaboration between MIBIREM and BIOSYSMO, another EU-funded project working on complementary goals. This partnership reflects the strength of multidisciplinary collaboration in advancing impactful science.

Industry Insights from Sensatec

Sensatec GmbH, one of MIBIREM’s key industry partners, shared their vision for bioremediation technology development. Their involvement underscores the importance of translating scientific innovation into scalable, field-ready solutions, aligning well with the call from experts at the conference for stronger industry-science partnerships.

RTDS Group & the ALL4BIOREM Cluster Workshop

A major highlight of EBC IX was the ALL4BIOREM Cluster Workshop, co-organized by RTDS Group, MIBIREM’s communications lead.

Held on June 19, the workshop featured 10 EU-funded bioremediation projects, including MIBIREM, BIOSYSMO, SYMBIOREM, BIOREM, pHYBi, Nymphe, ISLANDR, MySOIL, EDAPHOS, and IASIS. The goal: to foster synergy and shape the future of European bioremediation research.

Workshop Highlights:

• Opening keynote by Elisabetta Balzi (European Commission) on EU policy and funding opportunities for bioremediation.

• Flash presentations from each project—quick, energetic, and full of innovation.

• A panel discussion led by Prof. Fabio Fava and Prof. Philippe Corvini, exploring the cluster’s potential impact on EU research agendas

Key Messages from the Panel:

• 🧬 Microbiomes must be central to bioremediation technology development.

• 🧪 Science must better bridge the lab-field gap, especially in real-world conditions.

• ♻️ Valorization of byproducts is essential for circular economy solutions.

• 📊 Standardized data sharing will accelerate research progress.

• 🤝 Cross-project collaboration, like MIBIREM & BIOSYSMO, unlocks valuable synergies.

This dynamic session reinforced the critical importance of collaborative science in addressing Europe’s environmental remediation challenges. The recording of cluster session at the is now available on YouTube.

A Perfect Venue: Minoa Palace & the Technical University of Crete

A special thanks goes to our Greek hosts, the Technical University of Crete, for organizing the conference in the elegant setting of Minoa Palace. With its engaging sessions, lively networking opportunities, and stunning location, EBC IX offered the perfect environment to exchange ideas and inspire future collaborations.

Looking Ahead

With exciting developments, deeper collaboration, and a strong presence at Europe’s top bioremediation event, MIBIREM is well-positioned to continue driving progress in environmental restoration. We extend our gratitude to Nicolas Kalogerakis for organizing such an inspiring event and look forward to the 10th European Bioremediation Conference in 2028.

In the meantime, be sure to follow the ALL4BIOREM Cluster on LinkedIn for ongoing updates on innovation, policy, and partnership opportunities in the field of bioremediation: Follow here.