Future Materials

In our modern society, products of the chemical industry are a part of almost all areas of daily life and our life quality greatly depends on the sustainable availability of functional chemical synthesis products.

In line with the raw materials change, the central subject of the innovation field Bioinspired Chemistry is to enable the controlled utilization of biomolecular functionalities for the development of innovative and green fine- and specialty chemicals, biobased polymers, and functional materials, applying new synthetic pathways.

We understand bioinspiration as the application of exclusive molecular structures derived from renewable resources and their maximal functional integration in chemical products. In this way, innovations in novel synthesis spaces emerge, allowing for advantageous properties particularly due to their biogenic origin.

For this we connect and combine biobased chemistry with already established technologies for future markets, driving forward demand-meeting developments in a way that is inspired by resources, function, and the chemistry of nature. We consider bioinspired chemistry as a valuable, complementary, enhancing, and viable alternative to the established, mostly fossil based chemistry.

Our concept involves focused interdisciplinary approaches of synthetic and retrosynthetic strategies combining chemical and biological aspects und therefore give way to innovative production processes. We develop holistic solutions for diverse and complex problems. We use knowledge of areas of organic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, biotechnology, polymer chemistry and material processing. Therefore, we can give specific and agile answers to the current challenges due to our interlocking research topics, including techno-economical requirements and practical implementation.

The aim is to expand the toolbox for sustainable synthesis by an overall view on resources, conversion methods, desired product properties, processing technology, and end-of-life scenarios of the products. The performance of the products is evaluated regarding application demands and optimized for industrial usage to achieve technology leaps towards new “green” chemicals and materials comprising new functionality. For this, our leitmotif is “easy access, technologically feasible, and highly functional due to the biobased components”.