ViSS looks ahead to its final year in Alhama de Murcia
Partners gathered at CETEC to review progress, prepare for the final year and discover where the ViSS biopolymer comes to life
Under the warm sun of Alhama de Murcia, surrounded by the contrasting landscapes of the Guadalentín Valley and the nearby mountains, the ViSS consortium came together for its latest General Assembly.
Hosted by CETEC, the meeting offered partners the opportunity to review the work carried out so far and, above all, to look ahead to the final year of the project. Discussions focused on the activities still to come, the implementation of the knowledge generated during ViSS, and the next steps needed to bring the project’s results closer to their final applications.
The meeting was also an opportunity to step outside the conference room and visit CETEC’s facilities. Guided by CETEC experts, partners explored some of the equipment and processes behind the production of the PHBV biopolymer developed within ViSS.
The visit followed the different stages of the process, starting from fermentation in the bioreactor, where parameters such as oxygen are carefully controlled. The resulting biomass is then concentrated and separated before the PHBV is extracted and purified. CETEC experts also showed how the material can be analysed and characterised, including properties such as its viscosity.
The visit provided a tangible view of the work behind the materials developed in ViSS, connecting the discussions around the table with the processes taking place in the laboratory.
With one year remaining, there is still plenty ahead for ViSS – and many more results and stories to share.