Save the Date!

With the official opening of the “Materials Lab Incubator” (MerLIn) laboratories in Baesweiler on April 28, another key component for bio-based innovation in the Rhineland mining region is now up and running. As a sister project of Bio4MatPro, MerLIn supports young biotechnology teams in further developing their research findings and taking the first steps toward commercialization and startup.

Following extensive preparations, the new laboratory facilities at the International Technology and Service Center (its) were officially opened. The event also provided a good opportunity to highlight the close collaboration between research, startup support, and regional partners, and to underscore the incubator’s role in future innovation processes in the Former Rhenish Mining Area. During the event, the current teams presented their approaches to sustainable materials and bio-based processes. The projects range from protein-based recycling of critical metals and alternatives to palm oil to biodegradable additives and bio-based raw materials for coatings, lubricants, and adhesives. This also highlights the vast potential for innovation, which is being further developed in Baesweiler in collaboration with numerous partners and funding organizations. As a result, the location is increasingly establishing itself as a key hub for sustainable materials and biotechnological applications.

As part of the innovation network centered around biological transformation, Bio4MatPro is delighted to support current and future developments of MerLIn and wishes everyone involved continued success.

On March 25 and 26, the Competence Center Bio4MatPro was part of the action as the RWTH Tech Impact Festival was launched for the first time at the C.A.R.L. lecture hall complex. The festival brought together more than 1,000 researchers, founders and corporate innovation leaders to discuss key developments in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, sustainable energy, biotechnology and future mobility. The event was primarily organized by RWTH Innovation and RWTH Campus GmbH under the leadership of Professor Dr. Riesener and Professor Dr. Wessling. At its core, the festival aimed to bridge the gap between excellent research and its translation into market-ready solutions – with keynotes, deep-dive workshops and interactive networking formats designed to foster exchange across disciplinary and industry boundaries.

In her opening remarks, Ina Brandes, Minister for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, highlighted the role of RWTH Aachen as a central driver of innovation. She emphasized that innovation in Germany is crucial for the future viability of both the economy and democracy. Together with RWTH professors, she advocated for a more open culture of dealing with failure, in which learning from setbacks and unsuccessful attempts is seen as an integral part of the innovation process.

This attitude towards innovation and willingness to experiment is already being put into practice in various research projects, including those at the Competence Center Bio4MatPro. In the "Biotech & Life Sciences" track, Bio4MatPro spokesperson Professor Dr. Schwaneberg highlighted the potential of protein engineering for applications in medicine, pharmaceuticals and industry. In the "Sustainability and Circular Economy" session, the head of the Bio4MatPro office, Hannah Mathews, outlined how the former Rhenish Mining Area could become a Model Region Bioeconomy and why proteins could evolve into the “industrial workforce” of the biobased economy.

We would like to thank all organizers, guests and contributors for two engaging days full of inspiration and networking around the technologies and materials of tomorrow.

On March 11 and 12, 2026, the Bio4MatPro Competence Center participated in the Circular Valley Convention at the Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf. The convention combines conference, expo, and networking opportunities and is organized by the Circular Valley Foundation as a European platform for the industrial circular economy. In keynotes, panels, and technical presentations, over 200 international experts offered insights into current developments in the circular economy.

The event highlighted the entire value chain—from circular product design through use and reuse to recycling and recovery. The focus included “R-strategies” for waste prevention, new materials and recycling technologies, digitalization and AI as enablers, CO₂ utilization and climate-neutral industrial processes, scalable business models, as well as political and regulatory frameworks for a competitive, resilient circular economy in Europe.

As part of the expo, the Bio4MatPro Competence Center presented itself at a shared booth together with its sister project, The Materials Lab Incubator (MerLIn). In addition to the joint Bio4MatPro and MerLIn booth, other partners from the former Rhenish Mining Area as well as representatives of other structural change and anchor projects were present at the convention, further strengthening professional exchange and networking along new circular value chains.

The Circular Valley Convention 2026 provided Bio4MatPro with an excellent opportunity to address the topics bioeconomy and biological transformation within the context of the industrial circular economy and to discuss them with experts from business, science, politics, and the startup scene. We would like to thank all our discussion partners on site for the in-depth exchange and the valuable insights for the further development of sustainable value creation in the former Rhenish Mining Area.

On January 26 and 27, the Hackathon for Biotechnology and Sustainable Innovation celebrated its successful debut. The aim of the event was to offer participants and students from a wide range of disciplines the opportunity to test their creativity and ideas on real-world challenges from industry.

The hackathon began on January 26 at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome address by Bio4MatPro spokesperson Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schwaneberg, Ines Vogt, and Dr. Jürgen Eck from The Materials Lab Incubator (MerLIn). This was followed by a presentation of the challenges set by our corporate partners: On the one hand, innovative usage concepts were to be developed for the production facilities of our partner Pfeifer & Langen, and on the other hand, the challenge set by the start-up Fizzy Fit involved formulating practical protein shake alternatives for nutrition-conscious people.

After a short “design thinking” workshop led by Alenka Carstens from RWTH Innovation GmbH, participants were able to apply the methods and tricks directly to problem definition and solution finding. The second day of the event was devoted to further developing the concepts from the previous day and preparing for the elevator pitch. The expert jury from the participating companies and start-up experts from bioimpact and Circular Valley evaluated the pitches and finally selected our winning teams.

The two-day hackathon was characterized by intensive professional exchange and a high degree of creativity, resulting in numerous innovative solutions. Bio4MatPro would like to express its sincere thanks to all participants, our partners at Collective Incubator, and the judges for their commitment and support.

We are already looking forward to the next Bio4Mathon!

Science and research can be more than just dry theory. Under this motto, the first Green Science Slam took place on November 27 at FRANZ in Aachen, as part of the Forschungsverbund Modellrgeion Bioökonomie im Rheinischen Revier. Slammers and researchers presented their ideas on the green transformation of industries and resource efficiency. Without any blackboards, but with plenty of energy and humor.

Two well-known poetry slammers from the region, Oscal Malinowski and Lukas Knoben, took on the role of moderators. They guided the audience through an exciting 2.5 hour program of various short presentations. The covered topics ranged from bioeconomy to new, sustainable innovations in agriculture to the field of circular economy

We would like to thank all participants for an unforgettable evening. Special thanks also go to the organizers from RWTH Aachen University and Forschungszentrum Jülich, as well as the sponsors from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (with BioökonomieREVIER, Bioökonomie Verstehen.Verbinden.Unterstützen, Bio4MatPro) and the OecherLab of the City of Aachen.

Where small aircraft normally take off from the runway, the bioeconomy literally took flight on September 25 with the event “Bioökonomie takes off.” Together with partners from the TransBIB transfer network, ÖcherLab, the city of Aachen, and the areo|race lab at Aachen University of Applied Sciences, the Bio4MatPro competence center organized an information event on the topics of bioeconomy and aviation transformation. In keeping with the theme, the venue was the Westflug Flight Training aircraft hangar, which houses, among other things, the innovative electric aircraft of the Aachen University of Applied Sciences.

In several presentations and panel discussions, experts shared their insights from a wide range of fields such as aviation, the food industry, and science. The goal: to make biotransformation and innovation more tangible, highlight known areas of application, and develop new perspectives. The event was divided into several thematic blocks. A presentation by EurA AG on the use of space technologies in agriculture, followed by a contribution from FKuR Kunststoff GmbH on the circular economy of bioplastics, kicked off the event.

After a lunch break with catering from the coffee mobile, the Bio4MatPro competence center invited participants to a brainstorming session at three themed tables. Among other things, novel bio-coatings and their potential fields of application were discussed. In the afternoon, a panel discussion was held with representatives from the food industry.

The final topic block focused on aviation, with a particular emphasis on sustainable alternatives to conventional fuels. Hydrogen propulsion was presented as a sustainable alternative to conventional kerosene. A special highlight was the raffle for a flight in an electric aircraft.

Another round of discussions over coffee and refreshments from Pizzamobil Aachen marked the end of the event. We would like to express our sincere thanks to all participants and speakers, as well as to our partners at TransBIB, ÖcherLab, the City of Aachen, and the areo|race lab at Aachen University of Applied Sciences. Special thanks also goes to Westflug Flight Training for providing the hangar.

From June 11 to 13, 2025, representatives of the Bio4MatPro competence center traveled to Germany as part of the accompanying research project Bioökonomie Verstehen. Connect. Support. (VVU) to the Central German mining district. The aim of the trip was a cross-district exchange on topics of biological transformation between the Rhineland and Central German mining districts. In cooperation with the WIR-Bündnis BioZ and the DiP-Verbund Sachsen-Anhalt, a delegation of scientists and experts came together for institutional visits and technical discussions.

The focus was on deepening the partnerships between the regions along the guidelines for biological transformation. The trip kicked off with a visit to INNOVENT e.V. Technologieentwicklung Jena, where current research projects in the field of biomaterial-based plastics and application-oriented technologies were presented, followed by a tour of the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes (CBP) in Leuna. Here, the participants were able to get to know the pilot plants and pilot plant processes developed there, which are groundbreaking for technology transfer to industrial applications.

The exchange with UPM Biochemicals, whose industrial biorefinery enables the use of biogenic raw materials such as wood on an industrial scale and thus makes an important contribution to the transformation of the Leuna Chemical Park, was also central to the programme, which included practical insights into the agrivoltaic and pea trial areas at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, the BioZ - Bio-based Innovations from Zeitz and Central Germany and DiP - Digitalization of Plant Value Chains initiatives. The program was supplemented by discussions with regional stakeholders from administration, business and research.

The delegation trip made it clear how essential regional networking and interdisciplinary cooperation are for the successful implementation of structural change. The exchange also provided valuable impetus for our work in the Rhenish mining area and strengthened relationships within the nationwide innovation network.

Special thanks go to the team from the accompanying research program Bioökonomie Verstehen. Connect. Support. with AGIT MBH, especially Mr. Peter Gier, for the excellent organization. We would like to thank all participating partners for the open and productive cooperation on site.

On June 4 and 5, 2025, the 4th Annual Meeting of the Competence Center Bio4MatPro took place at the Headquarters of Covestro AG in Leverkusen. Over 130 participants from industry, science, funding institutions and politics came together to discuss the biological transformation of materials and production technologies in the Rhenish Mining Area and current developments in the Model Region Bioeconomy. The Annual Meeting once again offered a varied program.

The event kicked off on June 4 with an internal status seminar with over 50 project partners from the 23 research projects of the Competence Center. The focus was on the latest results from the interdisciplinary BoostLabs, which deal with the use and functionalization of renewable raw materials into valuable materials, promising key technologies such as switchable adhesives and biofunctionalized materials, and application-oriented projects for the biological transformation of industries.

On June 5, the event was open to a wider audience. In addition to keynotes and keynote speeches on bioeconomy, structural change and industrial innovation strategies, the program included two panel discussions in which key issues relating to the transfer of technology and results, framework conditions for the biological transformation, scaling infrastructure and the expansion of the regional innovation ecosystem were discussed. A particular highlight was the presentation of the new Materials Lab Incubator, which supports future DeepTech start-ups in the field of sustainable materials and bio-based technologies in the Rhenish Mining Area.

We would like to thank everyone involved for their contribution and commitment to the success of the event. Special thanks go to our project partner Covestro AG for their generous hospitality, dedicated participation and active support in organizing this year's Bio4MatPro annual meeting.

From March 31st to April 4th, the Bio4MatPro Competence Center was part of the joint stand “Showcase Bioeconomy” initiated by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture at the Hannover Messe 2025.

In this context, the Competence Center Bio4MatPro and the Innovationscluster BioökonomieREVIER jointly represented the research asociation "Modellregion Bioökonomie im Rheinischen Revier" (Model Region Bioeconomy in the former Rhenish Mining Area). A particular highlight was the presentation of the biofunctional building block key technology from BoostLab 3 BioBricks4Production, which can be used to transfer biological functionalities to technical materials in a targeted and scalable manner - made possible by the close collaboration between the Institute of Biotechnology and the Manufacturing Technology Institute (MTI) at RWTH Aachen University as well as the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Business Models at Ruhr University Bochum.

In addition, the competence center presented its textile innovation projects from BoostLab 5 and 6 - including Glucanes4Tex, BioFlaT and EnzyDegTex. Together with partner institutions such as the ITA Institute for Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University, the Institute for Applied Microbiology, the FTB at Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Klevers GmbH & Co. KG and Darmstädter GmbH, solutions for a climate-neutral circular economy in the textile industry are being developed here.

Special moments were the visit by Federal Minister Çem Özdemir and the opportunity to present our exhibits to Parliamentary State Secretary Claudia Müller. The personal exchange with political decision-makers and trade visitors showed us how important and topical the issues of bioeconomy and biological transformation are.

We would like to thank the Projektträger Jülich (PtJ) and the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V. (FNR) for their excellent organization. The trade fair was not only a stage for us, but also a place of encounter, dialog and motivation - to take the next steps towards sustainable value creation together.

Dr. Mandy Pastohr from the Federal Office of Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) officially launched the Materials LabIncubator at RWTH Aachen University on 5. March 2025 with the ceremonial handover of the funding decision worth over 7 million euros.

The vision of the project – to transfer scientific findings from materials research into marketable products – was impressively presented by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schwaneberg and Dr. Jürgen Eck during their presentation. The incubator offers start-ups and founders with innovative and sustainable ideas targeted support in the early phase before market entry. The Materials Lab Incubator thus plays an important role in the innovation ecosystem of the former Rhenish Mining Area and builds a bridge between excellent research and market-ready products in the field of sustainable materials.

Special gratitude is extended to Dr. Kirsten Bender of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of NRW, the Rector of RWTH Aachen University, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Rüdiger, as well asProf. Dr. Carsten HonerkampandDr. Tim Grüttemeier for their appreciative words and support of the project. We would also like to thank the numerous network partners who supported the launch of the incubator. In addition to the Bio4MatPro Competence Center, representatives of the accompanying research project Bioökonomie Verstehen. Verbinden. Unterstützen., the Zukunftsagentur Rheinisches Revier GmbH, the Projektträger Jülich (PtJ), the Bioeconomy Council NRW and many other partners from the fields of science, business and politics attended the event.

Would you like to find out more about the Materials Lab Incubator? Please contact Ines Vogt or Maximilian Ruschmeier!

On December 9, the Bio4MatPro Competence Center was an exhibitor and table captain at the Transfer-Fest of the Zukunftsagentur Rheinisches Revier, where more than 20 regional structural change projects were able to exchange ideas and network with over 170 guests from politics, business, science and industry. The event took place in Aachen under the slogan “Transfer creates the future” and was the first in a new series of events designed to promote innovation and cooperation in the former Rhenish Mining Area.

At our booth, Hannah Mathews from the branch office explained how Bio4MatPro aims to revolutionize local value chains through biological transformation and support structural change. In an exciting keynote speech, Prof. Dr. Frank Piller from the Institute for Technology and Innovation Management at RWTH Aachen University presented open innovation methods and explained how corresponding practices can complement and transform established value creation processes. In line with these innovation approaches, table discussions were held at lunchtime, during which guests were able to talk to the contact persons of various structural change projects and jointly develop solutions for current challenges. Our Bio4MatPro Competence Center also received helpful feedback and got to know new players in the innovation ecosystem of structural change. The visions and success models of various structural change projects were also presented and ideas for technology transfer were discussed in entertaining pitches and lively panel discussions.

We would like to thank the Zukunftsagentur Rheinisches Revier for the invitation and organization of the event and look forward to being part of the next Transfer-Fest!

On November 13 and 14, our Bio4MatPro Competence Center was part of the joint BIO.NRW booth at the Greener Manufacturing Conference and Expo to present our innovative ideas to a wide audience and make new contacts. The event took place in conjunction with the Sustainable Industry Week, which brings together four trade exhibitions on the topics of sustainability and resource conservation. The trade fair attracted numerous trade visitors from the sector, including industrial companies, associations, research institutions and representatives from politics. Exciting presentations and lively panel discussions focused on the ecological production of the future.

Our booth was a central point of contact for interested parties who wanted to find out more about the biological transformation of industry in the Rhenish Mining Area and the latest developments in our project. Hannah Mathews and Lars Stauder from the Bio4MatPro branch office were on hand to answer questions and provide detailed information about the individual projects and the Bio4MatPro vision for the future. The direct exchange with trade fair visitors confirmed the growing international demand for biotechnological solutions and environmentally friendly supply chains. Bio4MatPro was not only able to present projects, but also gather valuable feedback and get to know new contacts in the field of bioeconomy.

In addition, the exhibition booth also provided a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences with the various players in the BIO.NRW biotechnology network. We would therefore like to thank those responsible at BIO.NRW for helping to strengthen the relationships between the projects represented. Overall, the trade fair was a great opportunity to put our Bio4MatPro Competence Center in the spotlight and to network. We look forward to being there again next year!

At the end of October, our Bio4MatPro Competence Center had the opportunity to accompany a delegation of scientists and experts from the Modellregion Bioökonomie of the former Rhenish Mining Area to north-western Italy to talk to the stakeholders of the innovation ecosystem NODES - Nord Ovest Digitale E Sostenibile about interdisciplinary approaches and technology transfer between academia and industry.

The focus of the trip was the exchange between north-western Italy and the Rhineland region, as the bioeconomy was identified as a key lever for the successful implementation of sustainable structural change and a future worth living in both regions. Despite all local differences, both regions face the challenge of promoting green chemistry, biological transformation and the circular economy. The local dialog should promote new ideas and perspectives on the bioeconomy. The delegation was first welcomed at the University of Pavia. The research activities there with regard to optimized agriculture and the use of waste materials, e.g. for the production of bioplastics, were presented in lectures and tours of the institutes. Afterwards, our Competence Center visited the University of Turin together with the other participants. At the Molecular Biotechnology Center, Fiorella Altruda, President of the Center, and Giuseppe Serrao from 2i3T - Innovative Companies Incubator at the University of Turin, presented how approaches from the university environment are being transferred to the corporate landscape. This became tangible through the descriptions of the start-ups RASGenix Srl and Penso Green, who reported on their start-up experiences

The trip concluded with a visit to the Environment Park Turin, where green tech innovations have been promoted for over 20 years, the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologica and the SPRING - Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster. Many thanks to all colleagues involved on the Italian side for the open discussions and support during the trip. We look forward to continuing our collaboration.

On September 23, the 2nd status conference of the accompanying research on the model region bioeconomy in the Rhenish Mining Area took place at the Fabrik für Kultur und Stadtteil under the slogan “Shaping transformation sustainably”. Experts and specialists from the regional bioeconomy community discussed the challenges and opportunities associated with structural change.

First of all, the Begleitforschung Bioökonomie VVU presented future prospects and players in the transformation in the Rhenish Mining Area. In this context, Lars Stauder was also able to present our Bio4MatPro Competence Center as one of the two flagship projects of the bioeconomy model region and outline innovative approaches to sustainable value creation in the former Rhenish Mining Area. Central topics of structural change were then highlighted in exciting presentations and panel discussions. Klaus Dosch (ResScore GmbH/KREGI), Erich Gussen (Rheinischer Landwirtschaftsverband), Dr. Christian Klar (Forschungszentrum Jülich, IBG-2), Regina Dechering (Gemeinde Inden) and Prof. Dr. Anna von Mekecz (NABU NRW/Bioökonomie-Rat NRW) discussed sustainable land use in the transformed former Rhenish Mining Area. In another panel discussion, Dr. Jan-Hendrik Kamlage (Ruhr-Univ. Bochum CURE), Almut Kriele (Netzwerkbüro Bildung Rheinisches Revier), Dr. Ruth Laengner (Kreisstadt Bergheim) and Mirijam Böhme (Stadt Aachen) discussed participatory approaches to enable society to help shape structural change.

All participants at the status conference also had the opportunity to network and discuss resource optimization, circular economies and paths to a sustainable bioindustry. The event therefore not only provided valuable information on the bioeconomy model region, but also promoted dialog between politicians, researchers and business representatives.

On May 6 and 7, 2024, experts from industry, research and politics came together to discuss the latest developments and innovations and to drive forward the biological transformation of industries towards a climate-neutral bioeconomy, and together with over 110 members, the current status of the 23 joint projects of Bio4MatPro was presented at the internal status seminar and future strategies for the competence center were discussed.

The highlights of the second day of the event were undoubtedly the high-caliber speakers who provided us with valuable insights into the bioeconomy and structural change, as well as the stimulating discussions on how we can jointly create an innovation ecosystem for the biological transformation in industries. The event provided a valuable platform for networking, creating synergies and strengthening partnerships.

A big thank you to all participants and speakers for their valuable contributions. Their participation and commitment made the event an outstanding success. Special thanks also go to our project partner Henkel for their hospitality and support in hosting our Annual General Meeting this year.

What an exciting first day at HANNOVER MESSE 2024!

At the “Schaufenster Bioökonomie”, the joint booth of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Hall 2, Stand A35, numerous exciting projects that contribute to a sustainable future will once again be presented this year. The stand is being organized jointly by Projektträger Jülich (PtJ) and Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR).

The Bio4MatPro Competence Center is also taking part this year and is presenting the cooperative project Heart2.0 - Surface structuring of artificial hearts using lasers to prevent thrombus formation. In this project, RWTH Aachen University and the DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials are working on the development of an active interface system for artificial hearts to reduce blood clotting and improve patient recovery.

The Heart2.0 project is one of a total of 23 collaborative projects of the Bio4MatPro competence center, which are funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the research network Modellregion Bioökonomie in the former Rhenish Mining Area.

Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger visited the exhibition to gain a personal impression of the research activities in the Schaufenster der Bioökonomie.

WDuring the status seminar at the Berlin Spielfeld Digital Hub, an exchange took place on the projects and challenges in the development of biohybrid technologies. Exciting presentations were given by the various research networks (MiRAGE, JaBaS, SynHydro3, PepTight, ILLUMINATE, electraDetouch, BioQuant, CarboBioElec and ProNanoPep). These ranged from new biocatalytic processes to biosensors and recycling approaches, introduced by a presentation from Ellery Studio on the topic of science communication. Bio4MatPro contributed as a guest with a presentation on the BioAnc, SAVER2, BioBricks4Production, Pep4Sense, EBRA and MultiGlue projects.

A particular focus was on networking across project boundaries. The Mix & Meet session as well as poster presentations and breaks offered time for exchange, networking and discussion.

We would like to thank the organizers, the BMBF and Projektträger Jülich (PtJ) for the opportunity to present the Bio4MatPro Competence Center at this inspiring event and all the research networks for the lively exchange.

Last week, Bio4MatPro had the privilege of being part of a high-level delegation made up of researchers, entrepreneurs, industry experts and intermediaries from the former Rhenish Mining Area who came together in Reims for a comprehensive exploration of the bioeconomy landscape.

The trip began with a warm welcome at Reims City Hall by representatives of the Communauté urbaine du Grand Reims , the City of Reims and the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne , with Anne Desveronnieres, Vice-President of Grand Reims, Prof. Essaid Ait Barka, Vice-President of the University of Reims and Dimitri Oudin, Deputy Mayor of Reims. Their warm welcome set the scene for a fruitful exchange of ideas and insights.

Deep insights into the research activities and state-of-the-art laboratories of the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne were provided and the opportunity to gain valuable perspectives at the forefront of the bioeconomy. Exciting discussions on current and future research topics emphasized the collaborative nature that drives innovation in this field. A big thank you to Christophe Clement, First Vice President of the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA), Prof. Essaid Ait Barka, Philippine Henry, Alpin Charbaut and Narjis Laoufi, Prof. Caroline Rémond-Zilliox, Prof. Cedric Jacquard, Pauline Rapinat, Célia Greinier

A highlight of the visit was the tour of the Bazancourt Pomacle Biorefinery, a 160-hectare facility where more than 3 million tons of various biomasses are processed annually into products for the food, chemical, cosmetics and biofuel industries. Seeing sustainable processes on this scale reinforced the delegation's commitment to promoting environmentally friendly solutions.

Last but not least, the delegation had the privilege of meeting the dynamic team at Innovact, who are committed to promoting innovative start-ups. Their commitment to turning ideas into reality was exactly in line with Bio4MatPro's mission. Special thanks go to Peter Gier for organizing a smooth and productive visit. The experience left us with a wealth of valuable knowledge and we are excited at the prospect of future collaboration.

We are delighted that so many interested parties from science and industry accepted the invitation to the R&D ONSITE at the DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials in Aachen!

From bioeconomy to biomedicine, the DWI offers numerous exciting opportunities for industrial and medical applications.

The highlight was the guided tour through the existing laboratories and the new building “Leibniz Joint Lab, first in Translation” with its new clean room infrastructure. Meanwhile, our BMBF flagship project Bio4MatPro provided an introduction to the potential of developing new biogenic materials in combination with production technology. Practical examples were used to illustrate specific areas of application: extraction of phosphate from agricultural residues to produce functionalized plastics, bio-coatings for textiles or medical devices and the development of switchable adhesives to open up new recycling concepts. Afterwards, we were able to enjoy a lively networking session!

Many thanks to the AGIT and the DWI for this successful event!

The event took place as part of the project “Bioökonomie Verstehen. Verbinden. Unterstützen.” funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Bio4MatPro was a guest at the 1st annual conference of IN4climate.RR.

Under the motto “Climate-neutral value creation in the former Rhenish Mining Area”, the event offered exciting presentations and an inspiring exhibition of various exhibits. An exhibition that showed the variety of ideas and approaches on how companies and organizations are actively working towards an environmentally conscious and sustainable future. One topic that was present in every presentation was the transformation of industries. Exactly the topic that Bio4MatPro is also dedicated to and once again shows how important it is. A big thank you to Dirk Petersohn and the IN4climate.RR team for the excellent organization and the opportunity to participate in this important conference.

The 2nd Annual Meeting of the Bio4MatPro Competence Center was a complete success!

At our annual meeting on May 25-26, 2023, experts from industry, research and politics came together to discuss the latest developments and innovations and to drive forward the biological transformation of industries towards a climate-neutral bioeconomy.

The event offered a variety of informative presentations as well as intensive discussions and was a valuable platform to establish contacts, create synergies and strengthen partnerships.

We would like to thank all participants and especially all speakers who shared their expertise and experience. Your contribution helped to make the event an outstanding success.

Special thanks also go to the Hyatt Regency Düsseldorf for their outstanding hospitality and the ideal environment for productive networking. We would also like to thank Encore Global for their technical support and the smooth running of the event.

We are already looking forward to the upcoming events and continuing to celebrate the successes of Bio4MatPro. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!

Congratulations to the winners of the MittelstandsMAKERTHON NRW - Station Rheinisches Revier!

We are incredibly proud that 90% of the registered students come from RWTH Aachen University. This exceptional achievement underlines the outstanding education and commitment of our students. The MittelstandsMAKERTHON is a great opportunity for young talents to demonstrate their innovative strength and skills. This competition promotes the exchange between students and SMEs and enables them to jointly develop solutions to real challenges.

From May 9 - 11, 2023, the students contributed to the competition with great enthusiasm and creativity.

Special thanks are also due to the companies that support the MittelstandsMAKERTHON and thus promote young talent. Through this collaboration, we create a win-win situation in which our students gain valuable experience and the companies can benefit from their fresh and innovative thinking. We look forward to continuing this success story and encouraging students to realize their ideas and reach their full potential in the future.

Many thanks for the organization of the MittelstandsMAKERTHON NRW - Station Rheinisches Revier from 09. - 11.05.2023 in Düren by the Zukunftsagentur Rheinisches Revier GmbH , the Bio4MatPro Competence Center, the Bioeconomy Science Center , the coordination office BioökonomieREVIER , the IHK Aachen and the Mittelstandsplattform NRW.Innovationspartner as well as the support of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Congratulations once again to the winners and a big thank you to all participants for their enthusiasm and commitment!

More than 4,000 exhibitors presented themselves at the world's largest industrial trade fair last week. Among them was the research network Modellregion Bioökonomie im Rheinischen Revier , consisting of the Bio4MatPro Competence Center, the BioökonomieREVIER innovation cluster and the accompanying research Bioökonomie-VVU .

From 17-21 April, we were represented at the “Schaufenster Bioökonomie”, the joint stand of the Federal Ministries of Education and Research (BMBF) and Food and Agriculture (BMEL), organized by Projektträger Jülich (PtJ) and the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR).

The Green2Black research project of the Bio4MatPro Competence Center presents the process and use of biologically derived acrylonitrile from rapeseed for the production of carbon fibers in the exhibit.

In the exhibit, the BioökonomieREVIER innovation cluster shows examples of the AgriFEe project for the coupling of photovoltaics and crop cultivation and Circular PhytoREVIER for the cultivation of herbs, aromatic and medicinal plants from the former Rhenish Mining Area.In parallel to the research activities, the accompanying research “Bioökonomie Verstehen.Verbinden.Unterstützen” is investigating success factors for the success of the transformation process.

VMany thanks for the opportunity to get in touch with an international audience and to exchange ideas with other bioeconomy projects.

The Bio4MatPro competence center was represented at the German Biotechnology Days 2023.

The German Biotechnology Days are the national forum for the German biotechnology sector, where entrepreneurs can exchange ideas with scientists and partners from politics, funding institutions and administration.

The two-day program on 28 and 29 March highlighted the diverse fields of application and potential of biotechnology, from health research to the bioeconomy.

We are proud that Bio4MatPro was represented at the German Biotechnology Days 2023 and had the opportunity to present our company and our projects. The event was a great opportunity for us to network with other leading companies in the industry and make valuable contacts.

We are already looking forward to next year's German Biotechnology Days, which will take place on April 16 and 17 in Berlin, to reconnect with the biotechnology community and present our latest innovations.

Many thanks to the VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH Technology Center and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection for the great networking workshop on the “Industrielle Bioökonomie” funding program.

A great opportunity to present the Bio4MatPro Competence Center and to exchange ideas with the dialogue platform, actors from the example regions of the industrial bioeconomy, potential investors as well as already funded projects and those interested in funding.

We look forward to many more exciting discussions.

The event on February 7 provided information on the “Opportunities and potential for industry through bio-based value chains” and addressed the packaging industry in particular.

It was organized by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) of Aachen, Cologne, and Mittlerer Niederrhein as part of their 'MOVING MITTELSTAND' initiative, in close cooperation with the Bio4MatPro Competence Center at the Invention Center (Aachen).

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schwaneberg (Chair of Biotechnology at RWTH Aachen University), Dr. Martin Gruhlke (GENAWIF - Society for Natural Compound and Drug Research), Tom Kantelberg (Rick Produktion GmbH), Frank Kolvenbach (PAPSTAR GmbH) and Julia Seemann (Pfeifer & Langen GmbH & Co. KG) spoke about opportunities for the packaging industry through new materials and substances made from biological building blocks.

The plenum agreed that, despite sometimes contradictory regulations, a great deal of innovation is possible through the use of bio-based materials and the biological transformation of the packaging industry.

We would like to thank all participants and look forward to further exchanges with interested companies from the regional business community at subsequent events.

Baesweiler BioTec invite you to the 20th Baesweiler BioTec Meeting

Friday, November 25, 2022, starting at 09:00 a.m. at the International Technology and Service Center (its) “Biotechnology as a transformation booster in structural change”

The companies in the former Rhenish Mining Area are facing a task of the century, which is also an opportunity of the century: the phase-out of lignite-fired power generation and the replacement of fossil fuels by 2030 will initiate a unique transformation process. To ensure that this structural change in the former Rhenish Mining Area succeeds, the German government is providing financial aid amounting to 14.8 billion euros until 2038.

Biotechnological methods and the industrial applications based on them will become an even stronger basis for innovative developments in numerous sectors in the future. This makes them one of the strongest transformation boosters in structural change. The 20th Baesweiler BioTec Meeting will shed light on the potential of biotechnology from the perspective of companies, the state government and structural change stakeholders.

The its Baesweiler presents itself as a nucleus for biotech start-ups and SMEs in structural change in the former Rhenish Mining Area. In addition to an exciting lecture program, you can expect an accompanying exhibition and company tours with a variety of opportunities for informative exchange and networking. Link to the program.

The first annual meeting of the Bio4MatPro competence center took place in Aachen on October 5 - 6, 2022. We welcomed around 150 participants from industry, politics and research to the premises of “DAS LIEBIG” with its historic ambience. In addition to the project presentation and internal networking between the project members on the first day, networking potential and interesting discussions between our partners and with key players in the bioeconomy model region were realized on the second day.

Many thanks to all participants and supporters!

Special thanks go to Dr. Dietmar Walter, Dr. Kirsten Bender, Dr. Ruth Hausmann, Dr. Tim Grüttemeyer, Thomas Wendland, Dr. Sarah Refai, Dr. David Müller, Dr. Frank Kensy, Dr. Roland Breves, Britta Lange, Peter Bekaert, Axel Wahlen, Dr. Christian Klar, Prof. Dr. Stephan Lütz and Dr. Hüseyin Caferoglu for their participation and presentations on Day 2.

Launch of the research consortium 'Modellregion Bioökonomie im Rheinischen Revier' – funding of up to 72 million euros"

“Gemeinsam für eine Modellregion Bioökonomie im Rheinischen Revier”(“Together for a model bioeconomy region in the former Rhenish mining area”) - this is the motto under which the Federal Ministry of Education and Research will be funding research and innovation over the next five years with funds from the Structural Development Act. The funded projects include the Bio4MatPro - Competence Center for the Biological Transformation of Materials Science and Production Technology and the BioökonomieREVIER innovation cluster. Another project, “Bioökonomie Verstehen.Verbinden.Unterstützen” (Bioökonomie-VVU), is researching the conditions for the success of the transformation process to a bioeconomy.

In total, more than 60 partners from academia and industry are involved in realizing this vision.The entire launch event is available as a video The press release of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitization and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia can be found under the following link .