Archive
Structures
Scientists at BRAIN are creatively searching for new structures, for example by decoding biological systems in the skin. In so doing they are exploring the cascades of metabolic processes that are unleashed at cellular level by external stimuli. The better we understand these processes and how they are linked, the easier it will be to transfer them to industrial fields of application such as the development of bio-based care products or natural taste modulators.
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Care
In this issue of BLICKWINKEL, we focus on a story that has connected humanity with insects and diseases for hundreds of years: green bottle fly larvae, which can promote wound debridement. BRAIN has explored the connection and developed a biological wound management based on the Aurase® enzyme.
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Naturals
Not only are natural substances useful for the plants themselves, they are just as versatile when it comes to their application in foods, cosmetics, drugs, freshness retainers or cleaning agents. We have a major part of this "toolbox of nature" available in our BioArchive, and in this edition of BLICKWINKEL, we shine a light on the research we are conducting for which market segments by means of bioactive natural substances and which specific expertise is required for success.
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Circular
Research on the exploitation of unused waste streams for the generation of valuable biomass or the extraction of precious metals is increasing and has substantial market potential. The use of fossil resources may be reduced and the growing need for high-tech valuable material may be met.
Code
The code of life is one of the most important resources of all. DNA molecules provide valuable active ingredients and enzymes, and programme microorganisms to filter precious metals from waste streams, for example. Biotechnology supplements this natural ‘code diversity’, and makes targeted improvements to provide results that nature cannot deliver alone.
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Taste
Taste perception and flavour enhancement in food are highly relevant bioeconomy topics that BRAIN has been working on and promoting with success in several industrial partnerships and in the NatLifE 2020 strategic alliance for a number of years. Aims are less sugar consumption and healthier food.
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Precious
Mikroorganisms help enriching rare earth metals and extracting various precious metals such as platinum, palladium, silver or gold. Biotechnologies offer efficient and environmentally friendly approaches for Green Mining & Urban Mining. The bioeconomy demonstrates that it is more than the biologization of chemical and food industries.
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Trading
On February 9, 2016, BRAIN made a successful entry onto the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The road from Zwingenberg to the Deutsche Börse in Frankfurt can be long and winding, but colourful. Tim Hölscher reconstructed this journey with a creative twist using five pinhole cameras fashioned from mailing boxes. The time is ripe for the bioeconomy to unfold its potential for trading on the capital markets.
Discover
Is there anything left to be discovered nowadays? We have the impression that more organisms are becoming extinct than new ones discovered. Howeever, so far we have discovered only a fraction of the overall scope and creativity of global biodiversity. The microcosmos in particular still contains many mysteries of inestimable potential for various industrial applications.