A Strong Start – The COMENZE Journey Begins

On 2–3 October 2025, the COMENZE Doctoral Network officially kicked off with a two-day meeting hosted at ITQB NOVA in Oeiras, Portugal. The event brought together the 10 newly selected Doctoral Candidates, their supervisors, and members of the coordination team — marking the official launch of this ambitious Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network.

The meeting set the tone for the coming years of collaboration, training, and research in enzyme engineering for sustainable polymers. It offered the new fellows essential orientation, insight into the structure of the programme, and the opportunity to connect — both formally and informally — with each other and the people behind COMENZE.

“I’m amazed by the potential, dedication, and diversity of our new doctoral candidates,” said Lígia O. Martins, COMENZE Project Coordinator. “It’s not something we could take for granted — and it gives me great confidence in the future of COMENZE.”

Over the course of the two days, participants were introduced to COMENZE’s governance structure, training plans, communication strategy, and the scientific focus of all ten individual research projects. The sessions also included guidance on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and the unique opportunities the programme offers.

This meeting marks the beginning of our shared journey to advance enzyme engineering for sustainable polymer design and recycling. It also provides the first opportunity for our consortium partners and the newly selected doctoral researchers to meet in person, setting the stage for collaboration, shared learning, and scientific exchange.

The fellows appreciated not just the clarity and organisation of the programme, but also the welcoming and open atmosphere.

“It was a super nice meeting with a really friendly atmosphere from the beginning,” shared Matias Brezina Borges, one of the new PhD researchers. “We had time to get to know each other and understand what the projects are about — a great start to the PhD journey.”

A key purpose of the Kick-off was to help candidates understand how their own research fits within the broader project and to give them space to build relationships early on — something that proved meaningful for many.

“For me, it was about connecting — with the other fellows, the supervisors, and the project itself,” said Paola Eugenia Agustin. “I now feel much more confident about what’s ahead, and I’m really excited to be part of this group.”

There was also a strong sense of appreciation for how the project was designed and brought to life.

“The organization, the people, the project vision — I’m truly impressed by how COMENZE was built from scratch,” said Chiara Poli. “I feel we’re heading in the right direction.”

By the end of the meeting, the group had not only gained valuable information and guidance, but had also begun forming the connections that will shape their collaborative work over the next three years.

We’re excited to follow the progress of this international team of researche and will be introducing the fellows individually in the coming weeks.