WECLA

The transformation of our economic system towards a sustainable economy based on renewable resources is of great importance for the development of our society, for the preservation of our prosperity and for a future fit for grandchildren. In the Bavarian cross-cluster project " Alternative technological approaches for materials, nutrition, chemistry, agriculture and additive manufacturing - WECLA", the New Materials Cluster (CNW), the Nutrition Cluster (CE), the Chemistry Cluster Bavaria (CCB), the Additive Manufacturing Coordination Office and the Competence Network Digital Agriculture Bavaria (KNeDL) have joined forces to work together in the future technology fields around the topics of ingredients, materials and food.

The transformation of the hitherto fossil-based economy to a sustainable and resource-conserving way of doing business is of crucial importance for the future of society. The required transformation goes beyond a mere shift away from fossil raw materials. It encompasses agribusiness and food production the use of accumulating residues and by-products and the use of low-resource, circular technologies. This requires new innovative processes and technologies, some of which are available on the market but most of which are still under development. In particular, biotechnology, chemistry and additive manufacturing are seen as technology fields with high innovation potential.

Project Objective:

The aim of the project is to build knowledge about alternative technologies, innovative technology developers and pioneers in research institutions as well as promising startups and innovative and agile companies. The analysis of interfaces should show the potentials of the technologies and processes for other technology and application areas.

The research focuses on the following technology fields:

• alternative raw materials for food
• replacement of fossil-based and/or animal materials
• 3D printing of food, biomaterials and bioinks
• New production methods such as Cellular Agriculture, Hydroponics, lndoor-/Vertical Farming
• (Natural) ingredients for food, cosmetics and consumer goods from plant raw materials, residues and industrial side streams by industrial biotechnology

The findings from research and analysis are clearly presented. With modern and attractive communication formats for knowledge transfer, this information will be made accessible to the Bavarian innovation ecosystem and its stakeholders in business, industry and science. This is intended to raise awareness of future topics among the cluster partners and Bavarian companies and provide impetus for new business ideas. In addition, the cooperation of the three clusters, the competence network and the coordination office will be expanded and consolidated.

First steps:

In the next few months, future topics, innovative startups and technology pioneers will now be researched and an internal project database will be established. In a workshop with external communication experts, current and target group-specific communication formats will be elicited, selected and an editorial plan will be created.