Reference projects

Funding: BMBF || Duration: April 2018 – April 2021 || In order to operate biorefineries sustainably and economically, the conversion of lignin into high-quality products is essential. Based on this motivation, the project aims to investigate and scale-up various lignin extraction and depolymerization processes that preserve the structure and functionality of lignin. Thus, novel, previously inaccessible aromatic structures with new functionalities and thus a new performance spectrum will be identified, which can be used in a variety of industrial applications.

Funding: »Fraunhofer vs. Corona« || Duration: October 2020 – September 2021 || Aerosols pose an increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2. This is where the "Virus Grill" project comes in. The aim is to inactivate viruses by heating the air, to reduce the probability of infection via droplets suspended in the ambient air. Virus Grill is a subproject of the AVATOR project exploring ways to reduce the risk of infection from aerosol-borne viruses in enclosed spaces.

Funding: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft || Duration: June 2014 – May 2018 || As part of Fraunhofer's “Theranostic Implants” lighthouse project, Fraunhofer IGB developed an albumin coating for titanium implants that significantly accelerates the adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells. The layers can be sterilized with standard methods (gamma sterilization, electron beam sterilization) without any loss of function.

Duration: July 2014 – June 2017 || In an extensive study, Fraunhofer IGB investigated the potential of high-load digestion of sewage sludge for producing biogas, which can be used to generate electricity and heat. The experts at the Institute evaluated the overall potential of all wastewater treatment plants in Baden-Württemberg in size class 4.

Funding: BMBF || Duration: October 2014 – March 2018 || In the joint project Auto-loop, a new principle for the tissue-specific release of drugs will be developed using the example of inflammatory diseases. It is based on the fact that a drug will only be released at its target site when proteases correlated with the disease are present in a sufficiently high concentration and release the drug bound via a peptide chain from its carrier polymer. The cleavage sites for the respective proteases are defined by indication-specific linkers introduced using click chemistry.

Funding: EU, Horizon 2020 || Duration: October 2016 – September 2020 || BIOCLEAN addresses the urgent need to create a sustainable training network across academia, industry and the healthcare sector which will fill the gap in Europe and beyond to produce highly skilled multi-disciplinary young scientists competent in chemistry, engineering and experimental wet lab biology. BIOCLEAN will deliver this network of young scientists who can apply their proven skill sets gained during the project life time to solve industrial and healthcare sector real life biofilm management challenges.

Funding: BMBF || Duration: November 2017 – November 2018 || A transformation of our economy to sustainable production methods with closed cycles and sustainable technologies seems more urgent than ever. In the BIOTRAIN project, six Fraunhofer Institutes have therefore investigated the potential and requirements of a "biological transformation of industrial value creation", in particular with regard to a sustainable way of doing business.

Funding: Fraunhofer || Duration: June 2014 – May 2018 || Electronic components in implants must be encapsulated, on the one hand, to ensure that they are protected from the corrosive effect of the environment in the body and, on the other hand, to ensure they do not release any compounds into the tissue. To this end, Fraunhofer IGB has developed biocompatible coatings that are only a few micrometers in thickness and constitute a good barrier to metal ions and water, within the scope of the Fraunhofer Lighthouse Project ”Theranostic implants”. The excellent barrier effect and mechanical stability is achieved here through multiple layers of inorganic and organic coating, with high levels of cohesion in bonding between the layers.

Funding: BMBF || Duration: January 2016 – December 2017 || Fraunhofer IGB searches for new reaction routes and catalysts which can make the production of amines more sustainable. In the BMBF-funded Bi-Amin project BioCat branch in Straubing cooperate with the Technical University of Munich and industrial partners to develop a biotechnological process.

Funding: BMWi / IGF / AiF || Duration: April 2018 – March 2020 || In the BioActiveMaterials project concepts are being developed to replace conventional, mineral oil-based and non-recyclable food packaging with biobased multilayer composites. These new materials should show suitable barrier values against oxygen, water vapour and mineral oils. Furthermore, they should have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in order to additionally protect the packaged food as well as the packaging itself.