Bioeconomy

Article - 19/06/2009

Bacteria with a chromium envelope

Heavy metals have become a huge problem for mankind. The construction of factories and the varnishing of cars leads to the contamination of soils and waters and therefore also to the poisoning of many organisms including people. Scientists are trying to use natural means to remove inorganic chemicals from the cycle or at least make them harmless. Dr. Johannes Gescher and his team at the Department of Microbiology at the University of Freiburg…

Article - 09/06/2009

We would gladly finance more biotechs

For four years, the High-Tech Gründerfonds (high-tech company establishment fund) has been supporting technology-oriented company founders. The project, which is backed by the Federal German government and major businesses, has 272 million euros of largely federal funds at its disposal, and its objective is the accelerated marketability of ideas. We spoke with Marco Winzer, representative and Investment Director at High-Tech Gründerfonds,…

Article - 29/05/2009

ITV Denkendorf – Hi-tech think tank for textiles

The Institute of Textile Technology and Process Engineering Denkendorf ITV Denkendorf is Germanys largest and oldest textile research centre. Research is carried out in specialised laboratories and technical centres covering the entire range of textiles from raw materials to the final product both in basic as well as applied research.

Dossier - 25/05/2009

The different phases of company foundation

Founding a company is a very complex process especially in knowledge-intensive sectors such as biotechnology. Turning a vague business idea into a successful company is characterised by different phases that place great demands on the qualifications and learning aptitudes of the company founders. Financing and economic organisation often means that company founders have to enter completely unknown new territory.

Article - 18/05/2009

Less chemistry and fresher fruits and vegetables

At Lake Constance fruit growers have bigger problems to face than ideological discussions on biotechnology and genetic engineering. They need methodological solutions for devastating plant diseases that would help them reduce the use of chemicals.

Article - 16/05/2009

Mykotown Greentech AG uses mycorrhiza to keep plants going

Mykotown Greentech AG offer mycorrhizal preparations that protect the plants against dehydration and bacteria. The fungi also enhance plant growth. The plants provide the natural soil fungi with carbon while the fungi help the plant to capture nutrients and liquids from the soil.

Press release - 12/05/2009

Awards for bioreactor

Two Fraunhofer scientists have been awarded this year’s Ferchau Innovation Award. The first place, along with prize money of 10,000 euros, was awarded to Prof. Walter Trösch from the Fraunhofer Institute of Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart. Trösch uses photobioreactors to bind CO2 produced from flue gas plants. The second place, and 7,500 euros, went to Michael Emonts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Production…

Article - 11/05/2009

Biopolymers to improve drinking water quality

In the long run, biopolymers will find their way into industry and everyday life; they are the polymers of the future. The Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management at the University of Stuttgart offers applications of biopolymers for the preparation of water as well as a new recycling strategy.

Press release - 30/04/2009

Research project "Biomass from short rotation forestry"

The research project “Biomass from short rotation forestry” was kicked off during a planting campaign on 29th April in Buchen-Oberneudorf (administrative district of Neckar-Odenwald). The objective of the project is to establish an area of 150 ha for fast-growing trees and Miscanthus in Baden-Württemberg between 2008 and 2012 and thus advance the expansion of renewable energies.

Article - 30/04/2009

Biopolymers/Biomaterials Cluster partners awarded two prizes

At the recent Hanover Trade Fair several partners in the BiopolymersBiomaterials Cluster were awarded prizes. A project group which includes scientists from BASF SE and Daimler AG were awarded the Prize for Innovative Material Applications from the VDI Society for Materials Engineering. The bio-based ARBOFORM plastic of TECNARO GmbH of Ilsfeld-Auenstein was awarded the Industry Award from the Huber Verlag für Neue Medien.

Article - 27/04/2009

Takata-Petri focuses on human safety

The dream that one day there will be zero victims due to traffic accidents was the reason the company Takata was initially set up. Takata has been focusing on saving human lives for over 75 years. The company is no longer exclusively active in safety technology but it now also develops plastics from renewable resources as the basis for the future production of own products. This it does in cooperation with other partners from research and…

Article - 22/04/2009

Nylon from the biotank

The project Bio-based polyamides through fermentation undertaken by members of the BiopolymersBiomaterials Cluster started in early 2009 and has the goal of using biotechnological methods to produce materials as the basis for polyamides with new properties.

Press release - 21/04/2009

Friend or foe? Just follow your nose!

Working with Prof. Patrizia DEttorre from the University of Copenhagen biologist Prof. Giovanni Galizia from the University of Constance has achieved some completely new and fascinating insights into the communication behaviour of ants.

Article - 20/04/2009

Extricom – innovation power for twin screw extruders

The Lauffen-based company Extricom GmbH has been involved in the development and production of closely intermeshing screw systems for 30 years. The family-run enterprise stands for innovation power in the area of twin screw extruders. Extricom GmbH has further developed and patented this machine concept under the name of RingExtruder RE®.

Article - 07/04/2009

Hendrik Küpper – at the service of plants and humans

Prof. Hendrik Küpper had his first experience as a scientist in 1992 when together with his brother and a friend he participated in the German governments Jugend forscht contest. The students came first in biology in the national competition and first in both the Young Europeans Environmental Research Contest and the European Community Contest for Young Scientists. Back then Küpper was already interested in the interaction between heavy metals…

Article - 05/04/2009

JOTEC – artificial blood vessel specialist

JOTEC GmbH a medical device company based in Hechingen has a broad range of solutions on offer for the therapy of vascular diseases including artificial blood vessels and stentgrafts and is an international leader in this field. The company not only produces traditional vascular grafts from high-quality plastics but also absorbable bioartificial vascular grafts and cell-coated grafts made from biomaterials. Such an approach is currently unique in…

Article - 30/03/2009

Bacteria can determine the flavour of wine

What is the connection between biotechnology and wine production? The answer is that there are more than 150 yeasts currently on the market that are used to influence the fermentation and hence the quality of wine. Enzyme preparations optimise the different steps in wine production. Dr. Jürgen Sigler from the State Institute of Viticulture and Oenology WBI is working on the development of biological methods to improve the flavour and taste of…

Article - 30/03/2009

BARK CLOTH - an ancient material meets biopolymers

Bark fleece is known to be the most ancient material and has been used for thousands of years. It is made in Africa using traditional methods. The company BARK CLOTH Europe based in Ebringen Germany is working with organic farmers in Uganda to produce this wood-free biomaterial. Working with partners of the network BARK CLOTH now hopes to refine BARKCLOTH with biopolymers.

Article - 11/03/2009

Gerd Jürgens – from model fly to model plant: a high risk career

Some scientists have a keen sense for new and exciting research topics. The developmental biologist Dr. Gerd Jürgens from Tübingen is one such scientist. His courageous step from research involving the well-known fruit fly to research on a rather inconspicuous plant has recently been rewarded with his appointment as the new director of the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology.

Professor Dr. Thomas Laux from the Institute of Biology III at the University of Freiburg has been awarded the Cornelia Harte Award for his achievements on the regulation of pluripotent stem cells in the growth centres of plants.

Article - 10/03/2009

BaFa GmbH - New applications for hemp

Industrial hemp is a material with huge potential. In future it will be possible to use hemp fibres in many industrial sectors. Badische Naturfaseraufbereitung GmbH is a company that processes hemp fibres, thus forming a link between agriculture and industry.

Press release - 03/03/2009

An inconspicuous relative

Prof. Ralf Reski and his team of scientists at the University of Freiburg have been dealing with the function of moss for many years. The plant biologist has now uncovered impressive evidence of the relationship between mosses and other organisms.

Article - 03/03/2009

Protein communicates information about stress

During evolution plants had to learn to cope with stress factors such as drought or high salt concentrations in soil. Biologists working with Professor Dr. Ralf Reski and Dr. Wolfgang Frank at the University of Freiburg in cooperation with British researchers have discovered a protein involved in the transfer of information about environmental stress to the nucleus. It appears that this protein has an important role to play in the plants ability…

Press release - 02/03/2009

Too many bases lead to genetic defects

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen have discovered a genetic defect in Arabidopsis thaliania which also causes serious neurodegenerative disorders in humans.

Article - 09/02/2009

Bodo Philipp – the discovery of the general principles of bacterial interaction

Dr. Bodo Philipp from the University of Constance specifically focuses on ecologically relevant activities of bacteria for example cell-cell interactions. His findings could prove effective in removing bacteria from areas where high levels of hygiene are required thereby making it possible to prevent life-threatening bacterial infectious diseases. Dr. Bodo Philipp uses the much feared Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria as model organisms for his…