In 90 seconds he sketched out his idea for recovering phosphate used as fertilizer for agricultural purposes and washed out from the soil by water. To this end, he intends to encapsulate populations of phosphate-enriching bacteria in a carrier material, through which the water will stream. If the material is biodegradable, it can be subsequently be re-spread on the fields.

After the success of 2010, the second Fraunhofer “Netzwert” symposium to foster mutual awareness and cooperation across the institutes, took place late November 2011 with some 350 participants from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, industry and politics. The two-day event showcased ongoing projects as examples of the current Fraunhofer portfolio and served as a communication platform to promote networking.