Our Research Activities
Bio4MatPro focuses on the biological transformation of industries with the aim of redesigning products and production processes through the use of local, renewable raw materials, biotechnological processes and scalable, biocompatible production methods.
As part of the structural change in the former Rhenish Mining Area, bioeconomy is promoted in the region to put a wide range of industries on a resource-saving, circular basis. In the future, this transformation will make a decisive contribution to a climate-neutral circular economy. Therefore, Bio4MatPro aims not only to strengthen the regional economy, but also to contribute to the creation of new, sustainable value chains.
Through close cooperation with industrial partners, local stakeholders and fellow allies, Bio4MatPro is turning the vision of a bio-based economy in the former Rhenish Mining Area into reality.
In order to ensure a high level of practical relevance and long-term value creation, the user industries are directly involved in many of our projects; eight of the projects are even company-led. Within the competence center, the 23 individual projects are divided thematically into three central focus areas with a high level of application orientation.
The Focus Areas of the Bio4MatPro Competence Center:
Against the context of the resource transition to renewable raw materials, the industry needs new raw materials and ways to produce intermediates for existing and new polymers and active ingredients. It is also necessary to provide these with functional properties. This challenge is addressed in focus area 1, which contributes to the success of the resource transition and the generation of added value in the bioeconomy model region through the use of local renewable raw materials for the production of pharmacological active ingredients and intermediates/polymers.
- BL1-1 AMLSyn: Establishment of a robust cell system for the biotechnological production of α-methylene lactones, in particular tulipalin A
- BL1-2 BioCapa: Development of a production process for bio-based caprolactone
- BL1-3 Bio4Clean: Functional diols and diamines as building blocks for new sustainable functional polymers based on regionally available raw materials for use in detergents and cleaning agents
- BL 1-4 AROUND: Alternative routes for sustainable diamines based on bio-based raw materials
- BL1-5 ProPhos: Application of innovative technology concepts for the recovery of phosphorus from biomass for the production of bio-polyphosphates
- BL1-6 Bio-CO2-Polymere: Development of a multi-enzyme-mediated CO2 conversion to DHA-based polymers
- BL1-7 EBRA: Development of disposable products with bio-based coatings from regional agricultural waste streams from the food industry
- BL1-8 BioProNuk: Biocatalytic manufacturing technology for nucleotide sugars - Valorization of renewable resources
In focus area 2, the emphasis is on the development of basic technologies to enable innovations for a sustainable circular economy (BL2) and a biological transformation of industries via modular, biocompatible and scalable production technology (BL3). In Boostlab 2, the focus is on switchable bonding, while Boostlab 3 aims to achieve the production-scalable functionalization of technical materials and their surfaces with biological, physical and chemical functional components.
- BL2-2 MultiGlue: Multiselective and multi-responsive gluing
- BL2-3 SAVER2: Stimulated adhesion failure by electricity for repair and recycling
- BL3 BioBricks4Production: Scalable modular production technology for the functionalization of technical materials with biological, physical and chemical functional components
Focus area 3 addresses bio-based biolayers/equipment for medical technology and biotech products as well as for textile technology and lightweight construction. Work is also being carried out on biotechnological solutions and new production processes for bio-based additives and plastics recycling. The biologization of various industries is to be driven forward.
- BL4-1 PleuraPlug: Surface-functionalized biobased and injectable patches for tissue regeneration in traumatic pleural injuries
- BL4-2 BioAnc: Bio-based coating for laboratory products and immunodiagnostics
- BL4-3 Pep4Sense: Cost-effective peptide-modified flexible surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor chips for in-vitro diagnostics
- BL4-4 AntiBacCat: Bioinspired antimicrobial coatings for venous catheters
- BL4-5 Heart 2.0: Active interface system for artificial hearts with in-vitro/in-vivo validation to increase the long-term tolerance of the artificial heart in the patient
- BL5-1 Bio4Monitoring: Anchor peptide-based monitoring of lightweight structures
- BL5-2 Green2Black: Acrylonitrile from renewable sources
- BL5-3 Glucanes4Tex: Holistic development of polysaccharide fiber production and validation of the implementation potential in the Rhenish Mining Area
- BL5-4 BioFlaT: Biohybrid flame retardant finish for textiles
- BL6-1 EnzyPol: Enzymatic alternatives for cobalt dryers
- BL6-2 HoLoPep: Biotechnological production of biopeptides as sustainable additives in adhesives and/or detergents/cleaning agents on a technically and commercially viable scale
- BL6-3 EnzyDegTex: Biological transformation of textile recycling - enzymatic, selective degradation of used textiles