SVEUCILISTE U ZAGREBU FAKULTET KEMIJSKOG INZENJERSTVA I TEHNOLOGIJE

Their core work

The Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology at the University of Zagreb is a specialist in enzyme engineering and biocatalysis — designing, optimizing, and scaling up enzymes for industrial chemical synthesis. Their core work centers on building enzyme platforms that can replace traditional chemical processes with greener, biological alternatives for producing pharmaceuticals (APIs) and bulk chemicals. They also bring expertise in advanced water treatment technologies, combining biological and oxidation-based methods to remove micropollutants from wastewater.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 work (2015–2019) was split between two distinct tracks: classical enzyme platform development for industrial synthesis (CARBAZYMES) and advanced wastewater treatment technologies (NOWELTIES). From 2021 onward, they consolidated firmly around enzyme engineering, but with a notable methodological shift — incorporating machine learning, metagenomics, and microfluidics for faster enzyme discovery and optimization (CC-TOP, RADICALZ). The wastewater line appears to have been a one-off, while biocatalysis has become their defining identity.

They are moving from traditional enzyme engineering toward computational and high-throughput methods (machine learning, metagenomics, microfluidics), positioning themselves at the intersection of biocatalysis and data science.

How they like to work

They participate exclusively as partners, never as coordinators — a profile consistent with a strong technical contributor that provides specialized enzyme engineering expertise to larger consortia. With 43 unique partners across 10 countries from just 4 projects, they join sizeable international networks (typical of MSCA training networks and large RIA/IA projects). This suggests they are a reliable specialist partner who integrates well into multi-partner consortia rather than driving project design.

They have collaborated with 43 distinct partners across 10 countries through only 4 projects, indicating involvement in broad European consortia. Their network likely spans Western and Central European universities and industrial biotech companies, reflecting the MSCA training network model.

What sets them apart

They are one of few groups in Southeast Europe with deep, project-proven expertise in industrial enzyme engineering — from enzyme discovery through to technical-scale cascade reactions. Their recent pivot toward machine learning and metagenomics for enzyme optimization makes them an attractive partner for projects that need biocatalysis expertise combined with modern computational methods. For consortium builders, they offer strong technical depth at Croatian cost levels, with a track record of working smoothly in large international teams.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CARBAZYMES
  Their largest single grant (EUR 544K) and foundational project — built a full C-C bond-forming enzyme platform from lab to technical scale, covering APIs and bulk chemicals.
• RADICALZ
  Represents their methodological leap: combines microfluidics, metagenomics, and machine learning for rapid enzyme discovery targeting consumer product applications.
• CC-TOP
  Direct continuation of the CARBAZYMES enzyme theme but with added protein engineering and biocatalysis focus, showing sustained commitment to this research line.