The International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium (IBS) is the world’s foremost conference dedicated to the application of biotechnology to mineral resource recovery. Established in 1977, the IBS has become the central meeting point for scientists, engineers, and industry professionals working in biohydrometallurgy and related fields.

The symposium covers a broad spectrum of topics including bioleaching and bio-oxidation, biotechnical treatment of mine-impacted waters (MIW), bioremediation and ecological restoration, microbial ecology and molecular biology, and emerging approaches linking bio-based processes with the circular economy. Each edition brings together several hundred delegates from more than thirty countries, providing a unique forum to exchange knowledge, present new technologies, and foster collaboration between research and industry.

More than a conference, the IBS serves as a living record of the field’s evolution – from the pioneering days of bacterial leaching to the modern era of genome-enabled process design and industrial biotechnology. Its historic continuity, coupled with a forward-looking scientific and industrial agenda, ensures that it remains the principal international forum driving innovation in mining biotechnology and its environmental applications.