Institute for Circular Bioeconomy
ICB - Institute for Circular Bioeconomy
The Circular Bioeconomy is more than just a trend – it is the future of our economy and makes a significant contribution to solving the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity at a technological and societal level.
Conserving resources, protecting the environment, strengthening the economy and developing and promoting skills. The ICB aims to contribute by developing and implementing solutions for a sustainable bio-economy. Through the closed-loop use of biological resources, we can
- Conserve resources: We reduce the need for finite raw materials and minimize waste.
- Protect the climate: Bio-based products can make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Counteract environmental pollution: By developing environmentally friendly products and processes, we reduce the impact on our environment.
- Optimizing value chains: By utilizing resources more efficiently, we can strengthen the competitiveness of our partners
- Developing competences: We act as a hub for knowledge transfer, research and training and help to promote the necessary skills for a sustainable transformation of the economy.
Our competences
Our analytical expertise covers a wide range of applications crucial for advancing a circular bioeconomy. From evaluating pollutants and bioactive substances to tracking pathogens and pharmaceuticals, our team uses cutting-edge analytical techniques to assess water, soil, biomass, and products derived from thermal, biological, and chemical processes. We conduct in-depth analyses of both small and large molecules, assess toxicity, screen for resistances, delivering essential insights for environmental monitoring as well as the development of safe and sustainable products.
Our research focuses on optimizing microbial and enzymatic processes for circular bioeconomy applications. Our labs support every stage of biological research, from initial microbial cultivation to full-scale pilot testing.
We specialize in producing enzymes like cellulases and chitinases to repurpose cellulose- and chitin-rich waste streams as valuable raw materials.
Our bioprocess optimization for biogas production aims to maximize energy yield and enhance process stability. Furthermore, we employ anaerobic mixed cultures to convert CO₂ waste streams and green hydrogen into methane, contributing to sustainable energy and carbon management solutions. Microbiome analyses in this context not only provide insights into complex microbial interactions but also establish a foundation for informed, knowledge-driven process optimization.
This field of expertise plays a central role in a circular bioeconomy institute. It is the bridge between research and the practical implementation of innovative, sustainable solutions. It develops and implements processes for converting biomass into high-value products. This includes appropriate pre-treatment of bio-based material streams (e.g. using enzymes), production in (bio)reactors and purification of the valuable products. Model-based description and simulation, as well as the use of sensors, automation and artificial intelligence, help engineers to understand the process. This forms the basis for subsequent scale-up from laboratory to pilot to production scale.
Enzyme technology is a cornerstone of our bioeconomic research, where we focus on enzyme production, analytics, and characterization. Our projects delve into enzyme applications, including cellulases for biomass conversion and chitinases for bioprocess optimization, food and feed enzymes. Our enzyme research underpins the bioeconomy’s shift towards resource-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions.