Bioeconomy

Fibre optic cables as light conductors are obviously not a recent invention. Marine sponges the phylogenetically oldest multicellular organisms are able to transmit light inside their bodies by using amorphous siliceous structures. This was discovered by the BIOTECmarin research project.

Cells are like factories only smaller Tiny machines assemble large proteins from very small molecules. But where do the machines come from? Researchers at the University of Würzburg have now found an answer to this question.

A palm tree by the name of Acrocomia is currently keeping a large number of scientists and investors busy. If the tree is able to live up to these peoples expectations then Latin America will benefit from a sustainable oil source.

Press release - 20/10/2008

Blue algae - malicious killers?

Toxicologist Prof. Daniel Dietrich and his group of researchers at the University of Constance are working on clarifying the circumstances under which blue algae produce toxins and whether they are toxic for humans and animals.

Press release - 14/10/2008

ARBOCAR project to develop natural materials for cars

Seven BiopolymersBiomaterials Cluster partners from industry and research are joining forces to develop a new natural material based on lignin a natural material found predominantly in wood.

The fact that petrol is becoming more and more expensive has a knock-on effect on the chemical industry. At Biotechnica 2008 Fraunhofer researchers showed how chemical products can be produced from rape whey and crab shells.

Microbial cells long gave researchers the impression that they were in a state of complete disorder. Prof. Dr. Peter Graumann from the University of Freiburg investigates cell division in bacteria and knows that even microbes are highly organised.

Prof. Dr. Harald Krug a toxicologist who runs the Materials-Biology Interaction division at Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research in St. Gallen Switzerland and his team are investigating the interactions of synthetic materials with biological systems. The team of 25 researchers is focusing in particular on the effect of particles and nanomaterials such as CNT on human and animal cells. The division has been an…

Whether it be syringes biodegradable joint screws or cannules for catheters - hospitals prefer high quality plastics that are not too costly. Pfaff GmbH from Waldkirch has the know-how and the technical ability to manufacture such plastics parts.

For the first time an innovation award will be awarded for biomaterials. Deadline is 15th October 2008.

This internet portal an initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research provides foreign researchers and scientists with a wealth of easily accessible information about research opportunities in Germany.

Press release - 13/09/2008

Transform ideas into successful companies

With Science2Start - targeted promotion and support of start-up companies in the life sciences sector BioRegio STERN Management GmbH is keen to set new companies on course for success.

Can animals survive the harsh conditions of outer space for example extreme cold vacuum ionising and cosmic radiation? This was the question the FOTON-M3 mission sought to answer in September 2007. Now the findings were published.

Since the end of July 2008 the Biomaterials laboratory of the Empa in St. Gallen has been an official member of the BioLAGO BioRegion. We talked with Dr. Manfred Zinn about how the researchers find materials with the desired properties.

Researchers from the University of Freiburg have just shown that plant embryo decide already at the two-cell stage which cells will later become the shoot and which the roots. Experiments suggest this might be affected by the distribution of auxin.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer IPA Stuttgart have developed a method that enables the direct spotting of samples from common microtitre plates without further processing. It avoids the use of different vials and minimises sample contamination.

Alternative energy sources are increasingly gaining in importance. Several teams of researchers including scientists from the University of Karlsruhe are using different strategies to increase hydrogen production in algae. These might then become environment-friendly low-cost suppliers of energy.

Biogas experts at the University of Hohenheim believe that up to 50 per cent more energy can be achieved per hectare of cultivated energy crops. The researchers are hoping that Germanys first biogas research plant will provide them with new insights.

The deadline for submitting project proposals for the third round is 15 October 2008.

The Science Years initiative was launched by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research in the year 2000 to increase the publics confidence in the work of scientists. However the initiative has not been successful in the field of genetic engineering with the repeated destruction of trial fields sown with genetically modified plants being evidence of this. Professor Dr. Andreas Schier agricultural scientist from Nürtingen discusses why…

The first Web log was initiated in 1991. Since then an ever increasing number of scientists have been using these Internet diaries to communicate knowledge report about science comment on it and classify it. Web logs are an enrichment for science communication.

The Centre of Innovation Entrepreneurships activities consist of a broad spectrum of different well-matched modules. One of its core activities is the organisation of boot camps a new method supporting the establishment of new companies.

In the competition for the rather sought-after award Science City the city of Constance had to surrender albeit marginally to the city of Oldenburg. This is however no reason for Constance to abandon the planned Science Year 2009.