MENZYPOL-NET

The Transnational Network for Research and Innovation in Microbial Biodiversity, Enzymes Technology and Polymer Science, MENZYPOL-NET, was created by Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) from Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon in Germany and Universidad de los Andes (UniAndes) and the Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research (AGROSAVIA) in Colombia to address challenges on the development of sustainable polymer materials within a circular (bio)economy concept.

MENZYPOL-CIBES aims to further develop the research network MENZYPOL-NET. The project partners are the Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research (Agrosavia), the Universidad de los Andes (Uniandes), and the Institute of Active Polymers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon GmbH (Hereon).

The Network combines our individual competencies in microbiology and materials science to benefit from the Colombian biodiversity and design international solutions to social and environmental challenges. We are taking notes on nature´s abilities to produce smart materials and on the mesmerizing skills developed by microorganisms to combat plastic pollution by producing hydrolytic enzymes. Our mission is to build a stronger stakeholder network to power innovation, as well as to create environments for career development and education of young scientists in an interdisciplinary and dynamic research setting. The network promotes gender equality as an important policy goal of the European Council.

MENZYPOL-NET has received funding for two consecutive periods of two years from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under grant agreement No. 01DN21008 and 01DN23007, as well as from the Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation under grant agreement No. 78978 and 94651.