Objective
Plastic production exceeds millions of tonnes annually, with leakage and microplastics threatening ecosystems and human health. Mechanical and chemical recycling methods are energy-intensive, generate greenhouse gases, and suffer from quality loss. Current biological solutions are limited by the need for purified enzymes and high temperatures and are not addressing simultaneous valorisation of degraded plastic monomers. Val-PLAS (Valorisation of PLastics with AI-guided design and Synthetic biology) will develop an AI-enabled microbial platform for direct, low-energy upcycling of plastics. The project combines three innovations: (i) AI-guided discovery and engineering of plastic-degrading enzymes active at mild conditions (30–40 °C); (ii) modular microbial chassis for enzyme secretion and metabolic engineering of converter strains; and (iii) integrated co-cultures that couple degraders with converters to transform PET/PLA-derived monomers into high-value molecules such as naringenin and hydroxytyrosol with applications in nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Four research objectives structure the work: (1) computational bioprospecting, (2) in silico enzyme engineering, (3) modular chassis and pathway design, and (4) integrated co-cultures for decentralised plastic upcycling. This first-in-class microbial system will provide a scalable, sustainable alternative to inefficient recycling technologies. Beyond scientific advances, Val-PLAS will enhance the researcher’s interdisciplinary expertise and independence, consistent with the MSCA mission to support career development. By valorising plastic waste into valuable products under mild conditions, the project contributes directly to the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, advancing Europe’s transition to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient bioeconomy.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- social sciences economics and business economics bioeconomy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
34342 Istanbul
Türkiye
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.