Date : September 02–10, 2024 📍 Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS) As part of the NGS-4-ECOPROD project’s activities under Work Package 3 (WP3): Data Analysis and Bioinformatics, a comprehensive Summer School on Computational Microbial Ecogenomics was successfully organized from September 2 to 10, 2024, at the Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS). Objective and Scope The summer school was designed to provide advanced training in the computational approaches and bioinformatics tools essential for studying microbial communities and their ecological functions using next-generation sequencing data. This initiative aimed to enhance the skills of early-career researchers, PhD students, and bioinformaticians involved in microbial ecogenomics research. Key Highlights

• In-depth theoretical sessions covering microbial ecology, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and functional annotation
• Hands-on practical training on state-of-the-art computational pipelines for microbial community profiling, diversity analysis, and functional gene prediction
• Data management strategies aligned with FAIR principles to ensure reproducibility and accessibility
• Case studies demonstrating applications in environmental microbiology and biotechnology

Distinguished Participation The summer school benefited from the expert guidance of Prof. Heiko Liesegang, a German partner of the NGS-4-ECOPROD project and renowned specialist in microbial bioinformatics and data management. Prof. Liesegang delivered lectures and supervised practical sessions, sharing his extensive experience in computational biology and facilitating international knowledge exchange. Impact and Outcomes Participants gained valuable expertise in applying computational methods to interpret complex microbial datasets, an essential competence for advancing research in environmental biotechnology and microbial enzyme discovery. The summer school fostered networking opportunities, encouraging collaborative projects and the integration of multidisciplinary approaches within the NGS-4-ECOPROD consortium. Conclusion This Summer School represents a significant milestone in building regional bioinformatics capacity and strengthening the scientific foundation of the project’s objectives related to microbial ecogenomics and green biotechnology innovation.