Enzyme technology stands as a beacon of innovation with the potential to revolutionize industries across the globe. Recognizing the transformative power of this technology, a consortium of leading European institutions has joined forces to propel the enzyme technology ecosystem forward. The WIDEnzymes project not only aims to bridge the gap between widening and non-widening EU countries but also to elevate Europe's position as a global leader in biotechnology and bioeconomy.
Enzymes, the microscopic catalysts of biochemical reactions, hold the key to unlocking a multitude of applications spanning food, medicine, agriculture, energy, and more. The synthetic biology revolution has paved the way for the redesign of enzymes and metabolic pathways, offering boundless opportunities for innovation and sustainability. As the global enzymes market continues to grow, with an estimated worth of € 15 billion by 2028, it has become more imperative than never for Europe to strengthen its competitiveness in this up-and-coming domain.
However, challenges are large on the horizon, particularly with the North American and Asia-Pacific enzyme markets outpacing Europe's growth rate. To address this discrepancy and harness the full potential of enzyme technology, the consortium envisions creating a cohesive, cross-border ecosystem that leverages the strengths of both widening and non-widening EU countries to benefit from synergies and knowledge-exchange.
At the heart of this vision lies the commitment to reduce disparities whilst fostering scientific excellence, industry collaboration, and talent retention across Europe. By merging complementary expertise in biotechnology, drug discovery, and sustainable resources, the consortium aims to propel European research and innovation to new heights.
The consortium comprises partners such as Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, and University of Crete. These institutions, each renowned for their unique contributions to the scientific community, will collaborate closely to advance enzyme technology and drive positive economic impact across Europe.
Furthermore, the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano will bring invaluable expertise in biomolecular engineering, computational modelling, whilst Teamit will execute its role as a reputable research management organization and contribute to the training/capacity-building, communications and regulatory areas of the project.
Their contributions will ensure the seamless execution of the project's objectives and the efficient transfer of cutting-edge research into practical applications.
