Fabio Fava

Fabio Fava (b. 1963) graduated cum laude in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies from the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna (Italy) and earned a Ph.D. in Applied Microbiology from the Institute of Chemical Technology, University of Prague (Czech Republic). He was a “Visiting Scientist” at the following U.S. institutions: a) New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ (1993), b) Hazardous Substance Management Research Center, Newark, NJ (1994), and c) Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ (1999). In 2015, he was awarded an Honoris Causa degree in “Environmental Engineering” by the Technical University “Gheorghe Asachi” of Iași (Romania).

Since 2005, he has been Full Professor of Industrial & Environmental Biotechnology, Bioeconomy and Circular Economy at the School of Engineering, University of Bologna. He has held several leadership roles at the University, including: Dean’s Delegate for International Relations of the Faculty of Engineering of Bologna (2005–2012), Deputy Head of the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (2010–2016), Coordinator of the Ph.D. Program in Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (2013–2016), Deputy Rector of the University of Bologna for “Industrial Research, Territorial Cooperation, and Innovation” (2015–2021), and Chair of the Interdepartmental Center Alma Mater Institute on Healthy Planet (2021–2024), an initiative involving 22 departments of the University. Since 2021, he has also been a Visiting Professor at the School of Applied Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW, Switzerland).

Prof. Fava has authored about 250 scientific publications, including more than 220 articles in medium- to high-impact international journals in industrial and environmental biotechnology and circular bioeconomy. His work has received approximately 12,300 citations, with an h-index of 62 and an i10-index of 150 (Google Scholar), and 220 Scopus-indexed publications.

His research focuses on environmental and industrial biotechnology and the circular bioeconomy, within numerous national and European collaborative projects. He coordinated the NATO Science for Peace Project No. 973720 on innovative, intensified bioremediation technologies for (chlorinated) hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, and participated in the EU Coordination Action EURODEMO (FP6) on the comparative evaluation of verified sustainable remediation technologies, as well as in the European Defence Agency project NBC Modeling and Simulation (ERG1 TA 113-034). At the European level, he coordinated two FP7 collaborative projects: a) NAMASTE – Integrated exploitation of citrus and cereal processing by-products for producing food ingredients and new food products, and b) BIOCLEAN – Development of biotechnological processes and strategies for the bioremediation and controlled depolymerization of major petroleum-based plastics. He also led the University of Bologna unit in several FP7 projects: ECOBIOCAP and ROUTES on production of microbial polymers from various organic wastes and food processing effluents; MINOTAURUS and WATER4CROPS on the bioremediation of contaminated waste and groundwater, and integrated valorization and decontamination of wastewater from the food processing industry and biorefineries; ULIXES and KILL SPILL on the in situ bioremediation of marine sediments contaminated with (chlorinated) hydrocarbons, and industrial exploitation of microorganisms from these environments; and BIORICE – Production of value-added bioactive ingredients (semi-purified digestates and low-molecular-weight peptides) from protein-rich by-products in rice starch processing water. He also coordinated the Italian PRIN Project VISION (2018–2021).

F. Fava has served, and continues to serve, in the following national institutions and organizations, holding the positions listed below:

• Advisor to the Italian Minister of University and Research, Prof. Sen. Anna Maria Bernini, on European Research and Innovation (2025–present).
• Member of the National Committee on Biosafety, Biotechnology and Life Sciences (CNBBSV) of the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Rome, Italy (2017–present).
• Chair of the National Bioeconomy Coordination Board, formally established within the CNBBSV at the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers (Rome, Italy) (link) [http://cnbbsv.palazzochigi.it/en/areas-of-work/biotechnologies/bioeconomy/] (2019–present).
• Scientific Coordinator of the Italian Strategies for Bioeconomy (BIT and BIT II), launched by the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers in 2017 and 2019, respectively, as well as of the two BIT II Implementation Action Plans — BIT II IAP 2020–2025 and BIT II IAP 2025–2027 — launched in 2020 and 2024, respectively (link) [https://cnbbsv.palazzochigi.it/en/bioeconomy/italian-strategy/] (2017–present).
• Expert on Circular Bioeconomy for various panels of: Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (2013–2019), Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition (2019–2022), Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies (2020–2022), Italian Ministry of Education (2020–2022), Italian Ministry of University and Research (2019–present), and Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (2022–present)

At the European and international level, F. Fava has served, and continues to serve, in several institutions and organizations, holding among others the following positions:

• Italian Representative in the Board of Governors of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, Brussels (2025–present).
• Italian Representative in the Strategic Configuration of Horizon Europe, DG RTD, European Commission, Brussels (2024–present).
• Italian Representative in the Expert Group on Biotechnologies’ Risk Assessment under the European Economic Security Strategy, DG RTD, European Commission, Brussels (2024–present).
• Senior Official (Sherpa) to the Minister of University and Research, Prof. Anna Maria Bernini, in the framework of the 2024 G7 Science & Technology (2023–2024).
• Focal Point for the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers in the G20 Bioeconomy Initiative (GIB) — chaired by the Brazilian Presidency in 2024 and by the South African Presidency in 2025 (2023–present).
• Italian Representative and elected Vice-Chair of the States Representatives Group of the Public–Private Partnership Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE JU), Brussels (2021–present).
• Expert in the Italian delegation to the Programming Committee of the Horizon Europe Mission A Soil Deal for Europe, DG AGRI and DG RTD, European Commission, Brussels (2022–present).
• Italian Representative in the European Bioeconomy Policy Forum and the European Bioeconomy Policy Support Facility, European Commission (2020–present).
• Senior Expert in the Italian delegation to the Programming Committee of Horizon Europe, Cluster VI: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, DG RTD, European Commission (2020–present).
• Member of the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency (EEA), Copenhagen, for the Circular Economy and Resource Use domain (2021–present).
• Representative of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) in the Western Mediterranean Initiative (WEST MED), DG MARE, European Commission, Brussels (2016–present).
• Member and Vice-Chair of the Working Party on Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Converging Technologies of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris (2012–present).
• Italian Representative in the Group of Senior Officials (chaired by DG RTD, European Commission, and the Union for the Mediterranean) for the BLUEMED Initiative Working Group (2017–2023).
• Italian Representative in the Horizon 2020 Programme Committee, Societal Challenge 2: European Bioeconomy Challenges – Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research, DG RTD, European Commission, Brussels (2013–2020).
• Italian Representative in the States Representatives Group of the Public–Private Partnership Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), Brussels (2014–2021); elected Vice-Chair (2015–2018) and later Chair (2018–2021).
• Chair (2011–2013) and Deputy Chair (2013–2021) of the Environmental Biotechnology Division, European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB).
• Italian Representative and Acting Chair in the BLUEMED Initiative, European Commission (DG RTD and DG MARE) (2014–2017).
• Member of the Scientific Committee of the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI) (2014–2017).
• Member of the Expert Group on Bio-based Products, DG ENT & IND – DG GROW, European Commission, Brussels (2013–2017).
• Member of the High-Level Group on Key Enabling Technologies, DG ENT & IND – DG GROW, European Commission, Brussels (2013–2016).
• Member of the Expert Group on Eco-industries, DG JRC, European Commission, Brussels (2012–2014).
• Member of the Lead Market Initiative on Bio-baased Products, DG ENT & IND, European Commission, Brussels (2009–2012).
• Chair of the Industrial & Environmental Biotechnology section of the Italian Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem Italy) (2006–2013) and Member of the Industrial Biotechnology Expert Group of the European Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry (ETP SusChem) (2007–2011).

F. Fava has played a key role in organizing the following international conferences:

• Chair of the 14th International Biotechnology Symposium and Exhibition (14th IBS), Rimini, Italy (2010), organized by the University of Bologna together with the Italian KBBE Technology Platforms, the European Technology Platforms in the same field, IUPAC, EFB, EuropaBio, International Society of Environmental Biotechnology (ISEB), European Society of Environmental Biotechnology (ESEB) and OECD (about 1,620 delegates from 72 countries).
• Co-Chair of the V European Bioremediation Conference, Chania, Greece (2011) (about 270 delegates from 35 countries).
• Chair of the international conference Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology in the Framework of the Knowledge-Based Bio and Green Economy (EMB2012), Bologna, Italy (2012), organized by the University of Bologna with EFB and FEMS, in cooperation with EuropaBio, ISEB, the Asian Federation of Biotechnology, OECD, and other international and Italian industrial/scientific associations (about 400 delegates from 50 countries).
• Co-Chair of the 3rd European Bioeconomy Stakeholders’ Conference, Turin, Italy (2014), organized by the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in collaboration with the European Commission (about 400 delegates from 40 countries).
• Co-Chair of the VI European Bioremediation Conference, Chania, Crete (2015) (about 320 delegates from 40 countries).
• Co-Chair of the 9th International Conference on Environmental Engineering and Management (ICEEM9), Bologna, Italy (2017) (about 220 delegates from 40 countries).
• Co-Chair of the VII European Bioremediation Conference, Chania, Crete (2018) (about 300 delegates from 35 countries).
• Co-Chair of the 10th International Conference on Environmental Engineering and Management (ICEEM10), Basel, Switzerland (2021).
• Co-Chair of the VIII European Bioremediation Conference, Chania, Crete (2022) (about 160 delegates from 20 countries).
• Co-Chair of the IX European Bioremediation Conference, Chania, Crete (2025) (about 160 delegates from 20 countries).

He also serves as Chair of the Scientific/Technical Committee of Ecomondo, the annual international exhibition on Green and Circular Economy held in Rimini, Italy. Each edition hosts around 150 conferences/workshops, 1,600 exhibition booths, and over 100,000 delegates from more than 120 countries (link) [http://en.ecomondo.com/] .

Editorial and Academic Roles:

• Editorial Board Member of New Biotechnology, Process Biochemistry, and Environmental Engineering and Management Journal.
• Member of the Italian Academy for Agriculture (2015–present), Italian Academy for Science (2015–present), Georgofili Academy (2017–present), and Academy of Engineering and Technology (2024–present).
• Project evaluator for various national and international funding agencies, including the European Commission (DG RTD).
• Peer reviewer for multiple international journals in Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology and Microbiology.