The NextGenBiocat conference is an annual symposium dedicated to young researchers in Biocatalysis. It aims to bring together PhD candidates, postdocs, and early-career PIs to feature their research in (but not limited to) the fields of:

• Applied biocatalysis
• Elucidation of enzymatic mechanisms
• Protein, reaction, and metabolic engineering (including computational tools)
• Light-promoted enzymatic processes
• Ultra-high-throughput screening methods for enzyme discovery and optimization
• Design of novel multi-enzyme cascade reactions

The next edition of NextGenBiocat will be held on 10–11 June 2026 in Munich. Do not miss it!

A new conference format for (and from) young researchers

At the beginning of 2021, two Biocatalysis symposiums were organized for young researchers in February (Graz, Austria, with Dr. Christoph Winkler, Dr. Sandy Schmidt, and Dr. Caroline E. Paul) and in May (Bern, Switzerland, with Dr. Ana I. Benítez-Mateos). Both symposiums had to happen in an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2022, we have teamed up to organize NextGenBiocat as an annual on-site conference dedicated to junior researchers in Biocatalysis. To date, NextGenBiocat has been held in four locations: TU Delft in the Netherlands (2022), TU Graz in Austria (2023), University of Crete in Greece (2024), and Università degli Studi di Milano and Politecnico di Milano in Italy (2025). The next edition will take place at TU Munich in Germany (2026).

NextGenBiocat conference is organized by PhD students, postdocs, and early-career PIs (<10 years after PhD). Our scientific committee is composed of former organizers (>10 years after PhD) and the invited speakers of the previous conference edition. If you are interested in becoming part of the organizing committee and/or hosting NextGenBiocat in 2028 or beyond, please reach out at [email protected] to explore options.

Networking and the promotion of early-career researchers are central to our mission

NextGenBiocat is intentionally limited to a maximum of 130 participants to foster meaningful scientific exchange and peer-to-peer networking. Over the two days of the conference, young researchers can share their latest work through oral and poster presentations in a dynamic and interactive environment. This format offers a unique opportunity for in-depth discussion of results and emerging ideas, which are often difficult to achieve at larger conferences.

We are strongly committed to diversity and inclusivity, ensuring balanced representation among participants and invited speakers with respect to gender, geographical origin, and research field.

A conference supported by the Biocatalysis community

The NextGenBiocat conference is typically followed by a satellite event to which participants are also invited to attend at no additional cost. In 2026, the BiodeCCodiNNg project, an EU-funded HORIZON MSCA Doctoral Network, will organize a satellite event on the 12 June at the same venue at TUM, Munich. This is a unique opportunity to attend keynote talks from leading specialists in the field, ranging from enzyme discovery and engineering to industrial implementation of biocatalysis.

NextGenBiocat benefits from the generous support of both local and international companies active in the biocatalysis sector. The conference series has also been continuously supported by the host universities and various chemical societies since its start. We are also grateful to Wiley for the continued support, including the sponsorship of poster prizes and an editorial talk by Dr. Ruben Ragg, offering valuable insights into the scientific publishing landscape.

Registration will open in early 2026. Stay tuned to submit your abstract!

If you would like to know more about NextGenBiocat or find the latest news from the symposium, you can find us on our website, LinkedIn, X, and BlueSky.

All images by NextGenBiocat.