Bioeconomy in focus

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Tobias, in your view, must our current economic system be questioned?

Dr. Tobias Schwarzmüller: Indeed, many points must be reconsidered. Our currently prevailing system, the so-called linear economy, is based primarily on the further processing of fossil raw materials into products that are largely not recycled and in some cases even have to be disposed of at great expense. This must be critically questioned in view of finite raw material deposits and advancing climate change. The circular bioeconomy, on the other hand, uses biogenic raw and residual materials more efficiently through coupling and cascade use and leads materials in cycles. However, bioeconomy is not just a new technological concept, but a completely new economic system. If the concept is pursued consistently, emissions and the need for raw materials could be reduced to a minimum. To do this, however, many areas of our society would have to be turned upside down.

Where does Bavaria currently stand on the road to the bioeconomy?

Dr. Tobias Schwarzmüller: Bavaria is well positioned for the bioeconomy simply because of its regional diversity - just think of the range of renewable raw materials available. This ranges from straw from Lower Bavaria to forestry in Upper Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate to byproducts from beer and wine production in the Hallertau and Franconian regions, respectively. In technological terms, Bavaria has what it takes to play a leading role beyond Germany's borders.

We are experiencing a rapidly growing community here with specialists from industry, research, development and science, whose know-how bundles a wide range of disciplines - from industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology to bioprocess engineering and manufacturing biobased materials. Research is being conducted on the topic of bioeconomy at numerous Bavarian universities. So the knowledge is there, now we still need the courage to put the transformation into practice across the board and develop new business models.

Bavaria recently adopted its own strategy. What does it say?

Dr. Tobias Schwarzmüller: The Bavarian bioeconomy strategy "Future.Bioeconomy.Bavaria" describes the path to a sustainable and ecologically responsible as well as socially just and thus sustainable way of life and economy. It derives 50 concrete measures from eight main objectives that take regional location factors into account. The main objectives include, for example, reducing the consumption of fossil raw materials by implementing a sustainable, future-proof economy and developing sustainable, biobased technologies, processes and products.

Another objective is to secure international competitiveness and open up new markets by using renewable raw materials as well as residual and waste materials, if possible according to the principle of coupling and cascading use. The strategy aims to develop new technologies, materials and materials as well as the necessary processes for innovative products, ultimately to create new jobs within the framework of a sustainable economic system. Bavaria should be a leading location for sustainable products and production methods and thus a role model for other regions.

Bayern Innovativ was significantly involved in the development of the strategy. How did it come about?

Dr. Tobias Schwarzmüller: At the end of 2019, the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy commissioned us to provide content and organizational support for a participatory process to create the Bavarian Bioeconomy Strategy. We then developed a corresponding process and approached all relevant actors and stakeholders in Bavaria so that they could contribute their ideas. We then conducted the surveys largely online in the form of workshops and interviews due to corona. Throughout the phase, we coordinated closely in a core team consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Agriculture, the office of the Council of Experts, and Bayern Innovativ. Published Strategie Zukunft.Bioökonomie.Bayern finally in November 2020.

What concrete role does Bayern Innovativ GmbH play in the Bavarian bioeconomy transformation process?

Dr. Tobias Schwarzmüller: In order for the transformation to a sustainable form of bioeconomy to succeed, interdisciplinary collaboration across all disciplines and sectors is required, at the technological, scientific and economic levels. Likewise, there must be interdepartmental exchange at the political level to translate findings from research into competitive industrial applications and products. Promoting this cross-departmental cooperation is an intrinsic task of Bayern Innovativ GmbH. After all, we have always networked innovation-friendly companies, start-ups and stakeholders from business, science, research and politics with each other to drive innovation processes.

The transformation of our economic system to a sustainable circular bioeconomy is a task for society as a whole. We can provide good services for this with our network. We were an important partner for the Bavarian state government in the development of the bioeconomy strategy, enabling us to quickly identify the needs and visions of stakeholders from all sectors on the subject of the bioeconomy. Thanks to our in-house expertise, we are able to conduct very targeted research, subsequently structure the information obtained and translate it into clear recommendations for action.

And how is Bayern Innovativ driving the bioeconomy issue forward?

Dr. Tobias Schwarzmüller: As in the creation, our strong involvement in the Bavarian Cluster Initiative and our long-standing networking activities in the field of industrial biotechnologies and bio-based materials is now benefiting us in the implementation of the Bavarian bioeconomy strategy. As in all our tasks, we are also significantly active in this topic as a networker, innovation supporter, funding pilot and thinknet. We serve all stakeholders as a "communicator between worlds," so to speak. This means that we initiate future topics and bring together interdisciplinary and cross-industry players so that they can jointly realize innovations. This is done, for example, at our cluster events, such as the Biopolymers Cooperation Forum, which has established itself as an industry meeting place in Bavaria. As part of our September 2019 forum on "Biologization - Building Blocks for the Bioeconomy," we addressed the sustainable use of biobased raw materials in conjunction with bionics, additive manufacturing, industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology.

An important part of our work is cross-clustering, i.e. the collaboration of several networks. Several years ago, we already worked on technologies and applications for new materials based on wood and plastics in a cross-cluster project with as New Materials Cluster with the Forestry and Wood Cluster in Bavaria, and we have been able to identify the potential in a Technology Radar. Currently, we are collaborating with the Chemistry Cluster Bavaria in a cross-cluster project dealing with the topic "Establishing new value chains in the bioeconomy in Bavaria for alternative technologies, bio-based chemicals and materials". Here we elicit innovative forms of use for renewable raw and residual materials and new technologies for the production of biobased products and, on this basis, initiate new, sustainable forms of value creation together with Bavarian companies.

That sounds exciting! Last question: What advice do you have for companies or start-ups with interesting bioeconomy concepts?

Dr. Tobias Schwarzmüller: Absolutely - they should contact us and present their project! Our services range from consulting, innovation workshops and benchmarking assessments to providing helpful contacts and tips for applying for funding for business and industry. In addition, Our events are, after all, designed to facilitate networking among participants in addition to knowledge transfer and discussion. We are also keen to continuously expand our network of bioeconomy stakeholders so that we can continue to tailor our services as closely as possible to the needs of our customers.