Bioeconomy

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.

Scientific research is not only communicated by research institutions themselves but also through specialist agencies. One such agency is Genius GmbH in Darmstadt. The agency describes itself as a professional in the field of communication of science to the public using the latest communication tools. We spoke to Kristina Sinemus CEO partner and founder of the agency. Sinemus holds a PhD in biology.

What is the difference between knowledge and science? Why did the biotech bubble develop in the first place? Find out more as we talk to the freelance science journalist Sascha Karberg.

Dossier - 15/07/2008

Science communication why science is becoming more and more public

Science needs publicity. Publicly funded research has to account for its projects internally as well as externally. In the past accounting for projects was a matter dealt with in courtly or academic circles today the forum is research journals. This internal communication seldom reaches the public however external communication seeks out the wider lay audience - for many reasons.

Dr. Frank Brändle and Dr. Marco Thines managing directors of PathoScan GbR in Hohenheim have developed a PCR-based test system which allows the detection of fungi and bacteria in seed at very early stages. The test system will be patented in the near future.

Integrated concepts are the recipe for success for the new director of the Fraunhofer Institute of Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart. Hirth himself is a chemist but during his long Fraunhofer career he has always managed to successfully integrate neighbouring fields into his projects.

Dr. Gerhard Leubner from the University of Freiburg is investigating the regulation of seed dormancy and the onset of germination. The scientists insights are extremely valuable for companies that are working on the optimisation of seeds for agricultural purposes.

Press release - 20/06/2008

Tick-free forest playground

Sweating on a keep-fit track grilling sausages in a BBQ area these innocent activities always have an element of danger involved namely the fear of ticks. Researchers at the University of Hohenheim are developing biological methods to eradicate tick.

Layers of plastic much thinner than a strand of hair are of enormous interest to scientists and engineers. A team of researchers led by Prof. Stefan Mecking from Constance University has now developed a new method to produce wafer-thin layers.

Article - 09/06/2008

Moderate growth

In 2007 the German biotechnology sector was marked by moderate growth. Turnover climbed over two billion euros and research and development expenditure reached one billion euros. These are the central findings of the latest company survey carried out by biotechnologie.de.

Deadline for submitting preliminary proposals written in English is the 30th June 2008.

Agricultural experts from the University of Hohenheim rate the results of the World Food Summit in Rome as very disappointing. Conference participants only agreed to short-term measures amounting to a total investment of less than 10 billion dollars.

Mobile DNA elements are able to change their position in the genome and mobilise entire gene groups as well as switch genes on and off. Professor Bodo Rak and his team at the University of Freiburg are investigating the effect of mobile DNA fragments on the evolution of E. coli bacteria.

Article - 01/06/2008

Plants as soil remediators

Max Planck scientists and researchers at the University of Heidelberg have discovered a gene that enables certain plants to grow on soils with high heavy metal concentrations and that even contributes to the soils remediation. The gene product is a transport protein in the cell membrane.

After difficult negotiations we have achieved a positive outcome said Ursula Heinen Parliamentary State Secretary for the German Federal Ministry of Food Agriculture and Consumer Protection.

A study also involving researchers from Constance shows that marine seaweed releases huge quantities of iodine when exposed to stress. This process contributes to cloud formation and thus has an effect on the climate.

After years of directing his focus more on the molecular processes in the development of different cell types Prof. Albrecht Sippel has gone back to his roots. Despite his retirement six months ago Sippel started to actively participate in the search for human genes in the faculties of thought and speech that distinguish us from our animal relatives.

The medium-sized company of Jürgen Pfitzer and Helmut Nägele received first prize of the Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken banks for the development of ARBOFORM a thermoplastic material.

There are some exciting developments in the expansion of bioenergy said the Baden-Württemberg Minister for Nutrition and Rural Areas Peter Hauk speaking at the conference Progress in Bioethanol Production Energy- Material- and Emission Balances.

The European Chemicals Bureau has contributed substantially to the new chemicals regulation REACH which entered into force on 1st June 2007 which aims to improve human health and the environment.

In conjunction with reference laboratories of the World Health Organization WHO medtech company Curetis AG is developing new technologies and products that identify the pathogens of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and their resistance. The solutions are impressive.

Careers and mobility international co-operation research infrastructures joint programming and knowledge sharing are todays main concerns of European research actors according to a report just published by the European Commission.

Some 30000 chemicals currently in use have to be pre-registered at the ECHA between 1st June and 1st December 2008.

Biopolymers are usually only of marginal interest at the Analytica tradeshow. Nevertheless BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbHs BiopolymersBiomaterials booth aroused a great deal of attention.