The European Research Council (ERC) is the most important European funding organization for excellent frontier research. The Consolidator Grants, which are aimed at outstanding scientists in the middle of their careers, are among the most sought-after funding formats. They receive funding of up to 2 million euros over five years to consolidate their independent research teams and conduct research in their specialist disciplines.
Smartphone covers protect the device from damage or scratches and increases its longevity. However, most phone cases are made from petroleum-based plastic, end up in the trash after use and can contain substances that are harmful to humans, such as plasticisers.
Research funding plays a key role in leveraging the potential of the bioeconomy, not only at national but also at international level. After all, the bioeconomy must be considered globally. In 2012, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) launched the "Bioeconomy International" funding measure (original title: "Bioökonomie International").
In everyday life, textiles are usually associated with clothing, blankets and the like. But textiles can also be found in civil engineering: Made from highly resistant synthetic fibers, they are used to reinforce embankments so that they can be planted with vegetation. They stabilize water protection dams and enable thinner asphalt layers in road construction.
In view of global challenges, markets and trade relations, a sustainable bioeconomy can only succeed through international cooperation. In 2012, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) launched the "Bioeconomy International" initiative ("Bioökonomie International"), with the first projects starting the following year. Research alliances between German players and partners from non-EU countries are supported. The aim is to strengthen research cooperation with the world's best and tap into international innovation potential.
Microorganisms are important protein factories that can replace animal protein and thus contribute to a sustainable diet. The food tech start-up MicroHarvest uses these microbial helpers to produce new, healthy and sustainable protein ingredients. Two years after the Hamburg-based biotech company was founded, the first pilot plant was opened in Lisbon on November 16.
Meadows and pastures are important carbon sinks. The soils of so-called grasslands absorb a third of the world's carbon stock. Until now, researchers have assumed that carbon storage depends on the amount of plants growing on the soil. A recent study now disproves this assumption. In it, an international research team with the participation of Leuphana University Lüneburg examined the connection between the plant diversity of grasslands and carbon sequestration in soils in more detail.
The production of meat from animal muscle cells in a bioreactor is a promising way of securing the supply of protein-rich food for the world's growing population without harming the environment and climate. The first cell-based meat products have already been authorised in Singapore and the USA. What is possible on earth could also enrich space missions. This is shown by initial investigations by two independent research teams from the European Space Agency (ESA) in Germany and the UK, who have tested the cultivation of cultured meat in space.
Whether for dyeing and waterproofing clothing or for producing fibres, the textile industry still uses fossil raw materials and chemicals that are harmful to both people and the environment. With a view to sustainability and resource efficiency, however, sustainable solutions are entering the market. Products made from recycled polyester fibres, waste materials from the food industry, high-tech fibres made from biotechnologically produced spider silk or dyes made from algae are just a few innovative examples.