It is our great pleasure to invite you to the symposium “Power of Microbes in Industry and Environment 2027”, which will be held in Pula, Croatia, from 18 to 21 May 2027.

Already the eighth symposium in this series, the meeting began in Opatija in 2002 and has since travelled the Croatian coast, through Zadar (2007), Malinska on the island of Krk (2010), Primošten (2013), Krk (2016), Sveti Martin na Muri (2019) and, most recently, Poreč (2023). As in previous years, it is organised by the Croatian Microbiological Society and co-organised by several other European microbiological societies, with the continuing aim of strengthening scientific ties among research groups of neighbouring countries and beyond.

The programme covers key topics in microbiology and is organised around five themes. Microbes as Models spans cell biology and basic research at the bench; Microbes at Work, strain engineering, bioprocess, and the circular bioeconomy; Microbes in the Wild, discovery and bioprospecting; Microbes in Us, the microbiome in health and disease; and Microbes in the Cloud, the AI and modelling tools now central to the field.

The symposium will take place at the Hotel Park Plaza Histria, set on the wooded Punta Verudela peninsula on the southern edge of Pula, overlooking the Adriatic and its islets, a short ride from the historic centre and its remarkably preserved Roman amphitheatre. With a dedicated congress centre, wellness facilities and the sea at its doorstep, it offers an inviting combination of science, sport and Istrian gourmet experiences.

With a wish to welcome as many young researchers as possible, the Organising Committee has worked to keep registration fees low, particularly for students, and to secure favourable accommodation prices for participants. We also expect to get the support of FEMS in form of FEMS grants for early-career scientists. All further details will be published on the symposium website.

We look forward to seeing you in Pula!

Renata Teparić	Bojan Žunar
President of the Organizing Committee	President of the International Programme Committee