Press release - 27/07/2023 Self-healing plastic becomes biodegradable Konstanz chemists develop mineral plastics with numerous positive properties from sustainable basic building blocks and, together with biologists, demonstrate the material's excellent microbiological degradability.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/Self-healing-plastic-becomes-biodegradable
Press release - 27/07/2023 Materials Research: Biocatalytic Foams of Tremendous Stability and Activity Industrial biocatalysis with enzymes is deemed to be a “game changer” in the development of a sustainable chemical industry. Enzymes can be used to synthesize an impressive range of complex molecules. Researchers of KIT have now developed a new class of materials by producing enzyme foams of tremendous stability and activity. The researchers have already filed a patent application on the process to produce enzyme foams.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/materials-research-biocatalytic-foams-tremendous-stability-and-activity
Press release - 25/07/2023 Green Genetic Engineering: Making Mendel’s Dream Come True with Molecular Scissors Molecular biologist Professor Holger Puchta from KIT is granted funding within a Reinhart Koselleck Project by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for work on specific restructuring of plant genomes. Puchta, a pioneer of green genetic engineering, has used molecular scissors in plants for 30 years now. His new project is aimed at using the CRISPR/Cas method to freely combine genes in crops, thus making Gregor Mendel’s dream come true.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/green-genetic-engineering-making-mendels-dream-come-true-molecular-scissors
Press release - 18/07/2023 National Research Center for cutting-edge AI research in Tübingen celebrates inception On Tuesday, July 18, 2023, the Tübingen AI Center held a symposium to celebrate its permanent establishment as a national AI center. Since July 1, 2022, it has received 20 million euros a year in funding from the federal government and the state. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/nationales-forschungszentrum-fuer-ki-spitzenforschung-tuebingen-feiert-seine-gruendung
Press release - 18/07/2023 Robotically manufactured timber construction as a model for resource-efficient construction As the world's population continues to grow, the construction industry faces the challenge of using fewer resources and switching to sustainable materials. Scientists from the Universities of Stuttgart and Freiburg are developing new interdisciplinary approaches to construction for the future. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/robotically-manufactured-timber-construction-model-resource-efficient-construction
Expert interview - 05/07/2023 Every tenth of a degree matters when it comes to mitigating the consequences of global warming: sustainability measures in the laboratory The life sciences sector consumes huge quantities of energy and resources. This needs to change and we have to think differently. But how and where can sustainability measures be sensibly applied in the laboratory without compromising the quality of research results? Dr. Kerstin Hermuth-Kleinschmidt, owner of NIUB-Nachhaltigkeitsberatung, a company from Freiburg that focuses on sustainability in life sciences, tells BIOPRO how this can be done.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/every-tenth-degree-matters-when-it-comes-mitigating-consequences-global-warming-sustainability-measures-laboratory
Innovative materials - 14/06/2023 Reinventing ‘wood’ with programmable bacteria Conserving wood by producing furniture and other objects from wood-based materials with the help of microorganisms? That is exactly what a team of researchers from the University of Freiburg and the Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM) in Saarbrücken is working on in the DELIVER project. The aim is to create a database of materials with a broad range of controllable properties for various applications that can be produced from wood waste.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/reinventing-wood-programmable-bacteria
Press release - 22/05/2023 Prevention of pandemics Volkswagen Foundation to fund international research project with around 1.5 million euros. Interdisciplinary team led by the Institute for Global Health at Heidelberg University Hospital to research the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans in Thailand and Laos. Long-term goal is to develop sustainable preventive measures against future pandemics.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/prevention-pandemics
3D-Thermocell project - 17/05/2023 Paper instead of plastic: sustainable packaging with a good conscience Replacing plastic – for example in packaging – is not that easy but nevertheless urgently needed. In the 3D-Thermocell project, researchers at DHBW Karlsruhe are currently developing new plastic substitute products made of thermoformable paper as a renewable resource, which should be cheap and light and easy to dispose of along with waste paper. The characterisation and application of demonstration models will start soon.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/paper-instead-plastic-sustainable-packaging-good-conscience
Press release - 16/05/2023 Biocomposite at the Venice Architecture Biennale This year's Venice Architecture Biennale sees itself as a "Laboratory of the Future". Bio-composites are not just dreams of the future in architecture. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) have developed a sustainable material for support profiles and connecting nodes, which will be on display at Palazzo Mora during the Biennale from May 20 to November 26. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/bioverbundwerkstoff-auf-der-architektur-biennale-venedig
Diatoms as a biorefinery - 05/05/2023 Microalgae: sustainable chemical production in a mini factory Renewable raw materials that can be used as alternatives to fossil resources already exist. However, to turn them into everyday products, plant oils and other renewable raw materials not only have to be extracted, but often have to undergo complex chemical processing. Researchers at the University of Konstanz have now converted microalgae cells into tiny refineries to produce and upgrade raw materials, creating a supply of sustainable chemicals.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/microalgae-sustainable-chemical-production-mini-factory
Press release - 03/05/2023 Organic-based coating with innovative functional properties is suitable for packaging and food products Sustainability is a major challenge in the food and packaging industry. Plastic packaging is being replaced by organic-based and biodegradable materials, but it must still fulfill high functional requirements. A team of researchers at the University of Hohenheim has developed a new coating system that is both water-impermeable, heat-resistant, and mechanically durable as well as being suitable for consumption, and biodegradable at the same time.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/organic-based-coating-innovative-functional-properties-suitable-packaging-and-food-products
Press release - 25/04/2023 Jellyfish-like robots could one day clean up the world’s oceans Roboticists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart have developed a jellyfish-inspired underwater robot with which they hope one day to collect waste from the bottom of the ocean. The almost noise-free prototype can trap objects underneath its body without physical contact, thereby enabling safe interactions in delicate environments such as coral reefs. Jellyfish-Bot could become a tool for environmental remediation.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/jellyfish-robots-could-one-day-clean-worlds-oceans
Press release - 21/04/2023 CELLUN - A fiber composite made from biopolymers In collaboration with the project partners CG TEC, Cordenka, ElringKlinger, Fiber Engineering and Technikum Laubholz, the DITF are developing a new fiber composite material (CELLUN) with reinforcing fibers made of cellulose. The matrix of the material is a thermoplastic cellulose derivative. CELLUN made from renewable biopolymers enables the replacement of glass or carbon fibers in the production of industrial molded parts.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/cellun-fiber-composite-made-biopolymers
Press release - 31/03/2023 Simulation of Miscanthus- and Sorghum-based resilient value chains in the Danube Region Can the value chains in the Danube macro-region be more sustainable and resilient against disruptions such as pandemics? How modelling could help to simulate the economic viability of developing Miscanthus and Sorghum based value chains in that region?https://www.bio-pro.de/en/information/press-release/simulation-miscanthus-and-sorghum-based-resilient-value-chains-danube-region
Press release - 30/03/2023 Green composite material made from flax and chitosan Composite materials provide stability in aircraft parts, sports equipment, and everyday household items. However, most of these materials have a poor carbon footprint and are not naturally degradable. A more sustainable alternative has been developed by a team from the University of Stuttgart. This completely bio-based composite material is made of flax fibers and the biopolymer chitosan.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/green-composite-material-made-flax-and-chitosan
Sustainable construction - 28/03/2023 Digital manufacturing processes enable buildings to be constructed with flax and willow A switch to sustainable and circular construction concepts is needed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the construction sector. At the German National Garden Show (Bundesgartenschau) in Mannheim, FibR GmbH, together with researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, will be showcasing two innovative buildings made from flax and willow, renewable raw materials that exemplify possible building concepts of the future.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/digital-manufacturing-processes-enable-buildings-be-constructed-flax-and-willow
Press release - 10/03/2023 Carbon fibres from lignin - a new process for economical production A novel, both environmentally friendly and cost-saving process for the production of carbon fibers from lignin has been developed at DITF. It is characterized by high energy-saving potential. The avoidance of solvents and the use of natural raw materials make the process environmentally friendly.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/carbon-fibres-lignin-new-process-economical-production
Press release - 08/03/2023 Green gold: Torrefied biomass to replace coal and oil In February, the Estonian-based startup New Standard Oil successfully commissioned their first industrial-scale prototype for drying and torrefaction of biogenic feedstock operating with superheated steam at atmospheric pressure.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/green-gold-torrefied-biomass-replace-coal-and-oil
Press release - 23/02/2023 Protecting the climate during textile production: polyester fibers bind CO2 Start for an EU-wide collaborative project: Under the leadership of the French company Fairbrics SAS, 17 project partners from 7 European countries are coming together. The common goal is to produce end products from polyester in a closed cycle using industrial CO2 emissions and to bring them to market maturity. The DITF produce synthetic fibers from plastics of non-fossil origin.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/protecting-climate-during-textile-production-polyester-fibers-bind-co2
Press release - 23/02/2023 New tailwind for renewable carbon plastics in EU policy? nova-Institute’s take on the recently published EU proposal for a Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation as well as the new policy framework for biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/new-tailwind-renewable-carbon-plastics-eu-policy
Press release - 16/02/2023 Minister of Science Visits University of Freiburg On February 16, 2023, Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Science, Research and the Arts, Petra Olschowski, visited the University of Freiburg. The focus of her visit was on sustainability and the transfer of knowledge. The minister learned all about how the day-to-day running of the university is becoming sustainable, and the wide-ranging climate protection and environmental safety measures. She also visited the livMatS pavilion.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/minister-science-visits-university-freiburg
Press release - 15/02/2023 Sustainable Use of Phosphorus: DFG Extends German-Chinese Research Training Group Around 7 million euros to promote more sustainable use of the world's limited phosphate supply: The German-Chinese Research Training Group AMAIZE-P can continue its research on phosphorus as one of the most important nutrient elements for plants. The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved a second funding period of another 4.5 years.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/sustainable-use-phosphorus-dfg-extends-german-chinese-research-training-group
Press release - 07/02/2023 Hertie Foundation establishes new institute combining artificial intelligence and neuroscience This month marks the launch of an outstanding project integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and neuromedicine – the Hertie Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Brain Health (Hertie AI). Founded on February 1 at the Medical Faculty of the University of Tübingen, it will be the first institute in Germany to research the prevention and early diagnosis of diseases of the nervous system using artificial intelligence methods.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/hertie-stiftung-gruendet-neues-institut-das-kuenstliche-intelligenz-und-neurowissenschaften-verbindet
Press release - 03/02/2023 Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim officially founded Non-profit limited liability company creates institutional framework for interdisciplinary research collaboration, innovative technology development and outstanding healthcare in the Rhine-Neckar region.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/offizielle-gruendung-der-health-life-science-alliance-heidelberg-mannheim