SUSTAINABLE BIOECONOMY IS A MEGATREND
The orientation toward a sustainable bioeconomy is a megatrend that is taking shape in various sectors of the economy and is expected to intensify in the future. However, this megatrend is not a foregone conclusion. The development of a sustainable bioeconomy must be driven forward in a targeted manner. To this end, the institutes of the Zuse community are making significant contributions in research and development, especially in the transfer of scientific findings into concrete technologies, products and services. "In the Bioeconomy Cluster, institutes of the Zuse community, including FILK, bring together their knowledge of biology and their ideas for bio-based technologies and products. In this way, we create valuable synergies and present ourselves as a strong community in this "field of the future," explains cluster coordinator Prof. Dr. Jens Schrader of the DECHEMA Research Institute, a close research partner of our institute.
The German government recognized the high importance of doing business with natural resources in its bioeconomy strategy from the beginning of this year. Among other things, the strategy emphasizes the application-oriented transfer of research results. In the bioeconomy cluster of the Zuse community, competent answers and solutions can be provided not least to these questions of application-oriented transfer. More than 15 of the total of 75 research institutes associated in the Zuse community currently belong to the Bioeconomy Cluster.
FILK IS A MEMBER OF THE NEW BIOECONOMY CLUSTER OF THE ZUSE COMMUNITY
The bioeconomy is needed to solve key societal and economic issues of the future. Extensive expertise and competence in a broad spectrum of bioeconomy research areas is located at the institutes of the Zuse community. In order to strengthen the networking of this expertise and competence, the Bioeconomy Cluster of the Zuse Community has been founded.
FILK will contribute these competencies to the new bioeconomy cluster:
Utilization of animal proteins for technical applications (cushioning materials, flexible composites, adhesives).
Development, preparation and characterization of collagen from different tissues for pharmaceutical, cell biological and medical device applications
Utilization of mold fungi for technical and biotechnological purposes
Development and use of DNA as a labeling system for technical and medical products
Development of hybrid materials from plant, animal and synthetic raw materials
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
The bioeconomy, defined as responsible management of natural resources, is where life is rooted, from ensuring a healthy diet to providing energy resources to producing high-quality industrial and consumer goods. "We live in a world of limited resources and untapped opportunities. In the wake of the current economic crisis caused by Corona, there is an opportunity and a need for German industry to focus more on innovation. The very practice-oriented innovations from the Zuse community, also in the field of bioeconomy, help companies from Germany to further increase their competitiveness," emphasizes the president of the Zuse community, Prof. Dr. Martin Bastian. The creation of further clusters is planned in the Zuse community.
FILK IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE ZUSE COMMUNITY
The Zuse Association represents the interests of non-profit, privately organized industrial research institutions. More than 70 institutes throughout Germany belong to the association, which is open to technology and industry. As practical and creative providers of ideas to German SMEs, they translate the findings of science into applicable technologies, thus preparing the ground for innovations that make German SMEs successful worldwide.