Research and development in industrial biotechnology have been revolutionized by Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, encompassing the acceleration of microbial strain development, the discovery of novel eco-bio-products, and the optimization of large-scale fermentations to rational protein engineering. Within this context, the NGS-4-ECOPROD twinning project is aimed at enhancing and stimulating the scientific excellence of the Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS) in Biotechnology by addressing existing gaps in the field of Next-generation sequencing (NGS).

The general objective is for NGS to be advanced for the development of original biotechnology products (thermozymes, sporeless biopesticides, antioxidant-Ergothioneine, bioplastics) that are useful as ecological alternatives to chemical ones.

To achieve this goal, strategic networking activities in the field of NGS will be enhanced by NGS-4-ECOPROD through training, workshops, and summer schools on the project’s original biotechnology products. The creativity of CBS will be improved by initiating a collaborative research program with new targeted applications within the consortium, which will integrate Ph.D. students and permanent staff from CBS to expose them to international research projects.

The use of NGS in CBS will be optimized by the staff with workflows that incorporate new applications and protocols from the two NGS technologies (Illumina and Nanopore), as well as the development of new approaches in research and innovation collaboration.

A work package has been dedicated to research activities aimed at developing novel eco-biotech products. This will include innovative extremozymes, sporeless biopesticides, bioplastics, and ergothioneine (an antioxidant), enabling the closing of the still apparent research and innovation gap between CBS and two-world-renowned European institutions UGOE and UCBL in the field of biotechnology.