As part of the international WIDEnzymes research project, students from Latvia, Slovakia, Greece, Italy, and Spain, who are involved in enzyme research projects, participated in the first joint practical training seminar, “Computational Methods in Enzyme Engineering.” The seminar took place from January 27 to 31 at the Polytechnic University of Milan, gathering over 40 aspiring scientists. Seven students represented the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis.
The five-day course provided an intensive theoretical overview of various areas of enzyme engineering, along with practical experience using specific software. The aspiring scientists had the opportunity to hone their problem-solving skills, which will be invaluable in their future research work. Moreover, the collaborative nature of the course allowed the emerging enzyme engineering professionals to get to know each other, paving the way for future collaboration.
WIDEnzymes is a collaborative project involving scientists from five countries, aiming to strengthen Europe’s potential to become a global leader in biotechnology and bioeconomy. By combining expertise in biotechnology, drug development, and sustainable resources, the consortium seeks to elevate European research and innovation to new heights.
The WIDEnzymes project includes the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (Latvia), the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (Slovakia), the University of Crete (Greece), the Polytechnic University of Milan (Italy), and the Teamit Institute (Spain). These institutions are committed to creating a unified knowledge base to enhance the overall educational level and understanding of enzyme modelling and design among scientists.
As part of the WIDEnzymes initiative, five training and exchange cycles are planned for the students of the involved organisations.