Seeking non-academic partner/SME/company for planned Doctoral Network SYMGEN

SYMGEN ("Early Animal–Microbe Symbiosis Genomics") is a Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network in preparation for the 2026 call (submission 24 November 2026, project start expected late 2027). The consortium currently comprises nine beneficiaries and two associated partners across Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Poland, the Netherlands, Croatia/Austria and Australia, with a training programme of 15 doctoral projects.

SYMGEN builds on extensive genomic and metagenomic data for sponge hosts and their microbial symbionts available to the consortium. One of three research areas concerns biotechnology and computational approaches.

We seek one additional non-academic associated partner, preferably an SME or company, established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country other than Germany. Non-academic in MSCA terms also covers industry, foundations, NGOs and other non-academic actors.

Areas of interest (one or more):

• Biosynthetic gene cluster mining, AI and machine learning for compound and enzyme prediction

• Heterologous expression, metabolic engineering, bioprocessing and scale-up

• Cultivation of fastidious or previously uncultivated microbes

• Enzymes and biocompounds for medicine, food or feed applications

• Environmental monitoring, biosensing or marine bioresource applications

• Bioinformatics infrastructure, data platforms and machine learning services

What participation involves. As an associated partner, you receive no direct EU funding but are a member of the consortium, eligible to host secondments of about three months, co-supervise with an academic partner, and contribute to one network-wide training event (for example on entrepreneurship, innovation or IP), and sit on the Supervisory Board.

What you gain. Access to a substantial holobiont genomic dataset and participation in a European network of leading genomics, natural-product chemistry and AI groups.