2nd International Conference on Novel Photorefineries for Resource Recovery
2nd-4th September 2026
Faculty of Tehnology Novi Sad
University of Novi Sad
Serbia
COST Action
COST Action CA21146
COST Action CA21146 is a four-year networking action that aims at creating a European network to share information, facilitating technology and knowledge transfer between the academic and industrial sectors, related to Purple Photosynthetic Bacteria (PPB) applications for resource recovery from organic waste sources. Resource recovery includes wastewater or organic waste, open or closed environments, in single or chain processes.
The network associates fundamental-focused and applied research groups, improving lab-scale technology optimization through mechanistic modelling. It benefits the technology transfer from applied-research groups to industry, considerably improving process design. PURPLEGAIN also aims to create a database for techno- economic, social and environmental impacts studies, which facilitates the marketability of both the PPB-based technologies and the products to extract. Some focused products are polyhydroxyalkanoates, single-cell proteins, biomass for energy, biomass as fertilizer, biohydrogen, carotenoids, terpenoids, organic acids, coenzyme Q10, and 5- aminolevulinic acid.
Accordingly, the 5th workshop in the frame of Working group 3, which coordinates the “Metabolic, biochemical, and biophysical mechanisms of PPB and mathematical models” and the 6th workshop in the frame of Working group 1, which coordinates the “Building the PPB value chain”, are focused on market PPB technologies and products based on sustainable biorefineries (WG3) and integrating ecological, metabolic and modelling insights in engineered phototrophic communities for PPB derived processes development and control (WG1).
COST
COST is an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology established to initiate networking and coordination of nationally funded research activities on a European level. It facilitates bringing good scientists together under light strategic guidance based on networks, called COST Actions, centred around research projects in fields that are of interest to COST countries and cooperating countries.
2nd International Conference on Novel Photorefineries for Resource Recovery
Conference Introduction
The PHOTOREFINERIES CONFERENCE is an event initiated within the framework of the European COST Action PURPLEGAIN (CA21146), a project funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) programme.
The PURPLEGAIN COST Action aims to establish a European network of scientists and experts, particularly those focusing on the fundamentals and applications of purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) for resource recovery. This network fosters information exchange and facilitates technology and knowledge transfer between academia and industry in this specific biotechnology field. The Action addresses resource recovery from wastewater and organic waste in both open and closed environments, through single-step as well as integrated processes. Finally, PURPLEGAIN seeks to contribute to the advancement of a sustainable circular bioeconomy at the global level.
Building on the vision of PURPLEGAIN, the PHOTOREFINERIES CONFERENCE expands the scope beyond the anoxygenic photosynthesis and works on the development of photo-driven processes in sustainable biorefineries, bringing together scientists, engineers, and experts working in the fields of microbial fundamentals, photocatalysis, microbial photosynthesis, artificial photosynthesis, photo(bio)reactor development, mathematical modeling, and biorefinery processes. The focus of the conference is on photo-activated processes for sustainable production of commodities using light as the common encounter point. Special attention is given to microbial and chemical processes for the conversion of residual streams into high value-added products such as polyhydroxyalkanoates, microbial protein, hydrogen, carotenoids, terpenoids, corrinoids, organic acids, coenzyme Q10, and 5-aminolevulinic acid, along with biomass applications for energy and fertilizers.
Following the success of the 1st PHOTOREFINERIES CONFERENCE, held at the University of Valladolid, Spain, in 2024 and attended by over 170 participants from 26 countries, the 2nd edition will be hosted as a 3-day event from 2nd to 4th September 2026 at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia.
By fostering dialogue across disciplines and expertise, the 2nd PHOTOREFINERIES CONFERENCE provides a platform for efficient discussions on the latest scientific discoveries, industrial applications, and future perspectives – while accelerating the development of sustainable pathways and innovative solutions based on light-driven processes in photo-refineries.
The 2nd PHOTOREFINERIES host country, Serbia, is a land where history speaks through ancient Roman ruins and where the future is being shaped by cutting-edge innovation-especially within one of the world’s largest IT hubs. Whether you have come to collaborate, share knowledge, explore culture, or build partnerships, Serbia, Vojvodina, and Novi Sad offer a unique environment where rich heritage meets forward-thinking innovation.
Join us in a region shaped by visionary minds like Mihajlo Pupin and Nikola Tesla, and inspired by world-class athletes such as Novak Đoković and Nikola Jokić – where the spirit of collaboration flows as powerfully as the Danube itself.
We invite you to experience the beauty, energy, and openness of this extraordinary region – a place where diversity is celebrated, ideas are accelerating, and together, we are creating the future.
We warmly invite you to join us and look forward to welcoming you to the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad.