PROGRAM: 14-18 April 2025

(Talks: approximately 30 min + 10 min for discussion) 

Monday April 14th, 2025

12:30-13:30: Registrations with light lunch 

13:30-14:00: Welcome address 

• Loredano POLLEGIONI (Rector’s Delegate for Research and Technological Innovation – University of Insubria)
• Mauro FASANO (Executive Deputy Chancellor for Knowledge Valorization –  University of Insubria)
• Federico FORNERIS (Rector’s Delegate for Research – University of Pavia) (online)
• Alessandro FERMI (Councillor for University, Research, Innovation – Lombardy Region)

14:00-14:30: Opening lecture

Circular Bioeconomy in Italy: innovation, competitiveness, and resilience – Mario BONACCORSO (Director of Spring – Italian Cluster of Circular Bioeconomy)

14:30-17:40: Parallel sessions A and B

17:40 – 18:30: Student’s presentations (3-4 minutes each)

18:30 – 21:00: Welcome drink with buffet in Villa del Grumello

Tuesday April 15th, 2025

9:30 – 12:40: Module C: Biotechnology 

  Chair: Pérez Rivero, Wohlgemuth

9:30-10:10: Enzymes for the sustainable production of value-added chemicals – Andrés R. ALCÁNTARA (online)

10:10-10:50: Computational models for system biology – Bruno GALUZZI 

10:50 – 11:20: Coffee break

11:20-12:00: The Bio-Waste Revolution: Biotechnology as a Catalyst for Sustainable Innovation – Cristina PÉREZ RIVERO

12:00-12:40: Biomanufacturing and sustainable bioeconomy: a scientific overview – Roland WOHLGEMUTH

12:40 – 14:00: Lunch break 

14:00 – 17:10:  Module D: Sustainability assessment tools 

  Chair: Pesaro, Torretta 

14:00-14:40: Green chemistry assessment – Andrés R. ALCÁNTARA (online)

14:40-15:20: Life Cycle Assessment: theory and practice – Marco CARNEVALE MIINO – Vincenzo TORRETTA 

15:20 – 15:50: Coffee break

15:50-16:30: LCA & Nature Footprint – Denise LEONI e Giulia RENCRICCA

16:30-17:00: Cost-Benefit Analysis with externalities – Giulia PESARO

17:00 – 18:00: Practical session: Bioeconomy serious play (introduction)

18:00 – 20:00: Social event – Guided visit to Como and free time

Wednesday April 16th, 2025

9:30 – 12:40: Module E: Law and Society 

  Chair: Brewer, Costa

9:30-10:10: The EU legal framework of Bioeconomy – Barbara POZZO 

10:10-10:50: Legally green, but not sustainable: 

an Anglo-American analysis of law’s complicity in the unsustainable Fashion Industry – Mark BREWER

10:50 – 11:20: Coffee break

11:20-12:00: G20, BRICS and the Bioeconomy: 

differences and similarities in the international discourse – Catia Miriam COSTA

12:00-12:40: Bioeconomy and Big Tech – Sandro MENDONÇA

12:40 – 14:00: Lunch break

14:00 – 16:00:  Case studies I – (NODES Spoke 2 & 3)

  Chair:  Maggi, Ubiali

14:00-14:30: Green technologies and sustainable industries – Daniela UBIALI 

14:30-15:00: Biocatalysis & fermentation enabling a circular economy: Synthesis of sugar-based surfactants from renewable resources – Marina ROBESCU

15:00-15:30: The transition from linear to circular economy: a case study in textile industry – Elena MAGGI 

15:30-16:00: Textile degradation and sustainable fashion – Elena ROSINI 

16:00 – 20:00: Social event – Guided tour of Brunate with aperitivo and free time.

Thursday April 17th, 2025

9:30 – 12:40:  Module F: Initiatives and Policies 

  Chair: Korouso, Pyka 

9:30-10:10: Why Transformation and not Growth or Development should be on our Agenda – Andreas PYKA

10:10-10:50: Advancing the Bioeconomy: Collaborative Innovation in Circular Bio-Based Industries – Cristina PÉREZ RIVERO

10:50-11:30: The EU Bioeconomy: present trends and future  – Anu KOROSUO 

11:30 – 12:00: Coffee break

12:00 – 13:30 Bioeconomy serious play (hands-on)

13:30 – 14:30: Lunch break

14:30 – 16:30:  Case studies II – (ProPla)      

  Chair: Galafassi, Pollegioni 

14:30-14:50: Project design – Loredano POLLEGIONI

14:50-15:10: Plastic recovery from water – Silvia GALAFASSI

15:10-15:30: Biotechnological Innovations in PET Recycling Using Escherichia coli for Sustainable Waste Transformation – Alex PESSINA 

15:30-15:50: Potential of insects for the development of novel plastics biodegradation strategies – Silvia CACCIA

15:50-16:10: LCA as a Tool for the Assessment of the Environmental Impacts of a New – Sustainable Chain for Micro-PET Valorisation – Marco CARNEVALE MIINO

16:10-16:30: Economic perspectives – Giulia PESARO 

16:30 – 17:00: Coffee break

17:00 – 18:30: Practical session: Mentorship for project presentation

20:00 – 22:00: Social dinner 

Friday April 18th, 2025

9:30 – 11:00:  Students’ challenge: presentation of bioeconomy innovative projects.

Jury: Mauro FASANO, Alessia PISONI, Marina ROBESCU, 

Daniela UBIALI, Roland WOHLGEMUTH, Andrea VEZZULLI.

11:00 – 11:30: Coffee break

11:30 – 12:00: Students’ project awards 

12:00 – 12:30: Final address

12:30 – 13:30: Farewell lunch 

Program schedule

The complete Book of Abstracts of the Bioeconomy School is available for download at this link.