Biointelligence and Sustainability

The Biointelligence and Sustainability research area develops and investigates sustainable, bioinspired, and biointelligent structures, processes, technologies and models to design and manage value-added systems in a resource-optimised manner over their entire life cycle.

Biointelligent Production Technology and Process Engineering

Focus: Enzyme-Based Manufacturing Technologies

  • Production through the use of enzymes to build, convert and degrade materials
  • Production of bio-based raw materials using additive manufacturing technologies as a sustainable replacement for plastics
  • Effective material degradation by enzymes, bacteria and fungi, for example, in plastics and other problem substances

Enzyme design methods are used to increase production efficiency, and biotechnological enzyme production is optimized. AI-supported optimization and testing procedures are used. Digitized material development data is used to control production machines.

Focus: Nature-Inspired Solutions

  • Technical transfer of principles from nature into production technology and processes
  • This includes constructive, organizational, evolutionary and ecosystem approaches that are applied directly to production technology as well as to upstream and downstream steps, such as logistics.

Contact
Prof. Dr. Oliver Schwarz MBA
Telephone ++49 711 970 3754
E-mail oliver.schwarz@iff.uni-stuttgart.de

Life Cycle Theory and Modelling of Industrial Value Creation

The interdisciplinary team Life Cycle Theory and Modeling of Industrial Value Creation focuses on systemic issues in the context of life cycle theory. For this purpose, life cycle analysis methods are further developed and used. Based on the modeling of the systems to be considered, improvement measures for the three pillars of sustainability are to be derived and evaluated. Interdependencies and conflicting objectives are taken into account. The purpose is the holistic optimization of industrial value creation systems over the entire life cycle.

Main topics include:

  • Optimization of LCA applications ex ante with the help of simulation
  • Scaling of laboratory-scale balances in the early product development phase
  • Approximation of product carbon footprints from the corporate carbon footprint
  • Development of a model for the economic-ecological optimization of regional bioeconomic production clusters using the example of industrial hydrogen supply
  • Economic-ecological evaluation of decarbonization measures for industrial companies (MACCs)

Contact:
M. Sc. Steffen Kiemel
Telephone ++49 711 970 1436
E-Mail steffen.kiemel@iff.uni-stuttgart.de 

Projects

Rekowi
E-scooters are caught in the tension between their potential to solve urban challenges, such as lack of space and environmental pollution, and significant problems, such as short lifespans and a lack of sustainable disposal concepts. The aim of the project was to assess the relevance of the circular management of e-scooters in Baden-Württemberg, with a focus on product design and the end-of-use phase. Concepts for assessing circular justice were developed, return logistics were analyzed, and regulatory, ecological and economic aspects were examined. Interviews with stakeholders helped to identify drivers and obstacles. The results show the potential for conserving resources but emphasize the need for better infrastructure, adapted regulations and circular designs. The University of Stuttgart took over the project coordination, created a decision model for the end of use, outlined the return logistics, identified regulatory framework conditions, examined ecological optimization options and derived circular business models.
SmartBioH2
The SmartBioH2-BW project aims to integrate an innovative biorefinery into the existing production environment of an industrial partner using industrial wastewater and waste streams generated there. The biorefinery combines two biotechnological processes for hydrogen production: the so-called "dark photosynthesis" using purple bacteria and a microalgae plant in an illuminated photobioreactor. The CO₂ produced during "dark photosynthesis" is used as a carbon source for algae production. In this way, the CO₂ is bound in the algae biomass, which leads to a reduction in CO₂ emissions for the University of Stuttgart is developing a simulation model for the techno-ecological and economic evaluation of the overall system. The model is used to analyze the ecological impacts and the economic framework of the process and shows the advantages of the integrated biorefinery.
S-TEC ZKP
The Center for Climate-Neutral Production and Holistic Accounting, or ZKP for short, offers a comprehensive range of services for companies in Baden-Württemberg (especially SMEs) to master the transformation to climate neutrality and to assume a leading role in environmental and climate technologies. As part of the project, companies can apply for various transfer project formats. The IFF of the University of Stuttgart supports this by developing low-threshold tools and procedures in the context of evaluating and selecting measures to reduce greenhouse gases and accounting for the corporate carbon footprint (CCF). >100 completed or ongoing transfer projects demonstrate the success of the S-TEC ZKP
RhoTech2
The purple bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum can convert biogenic residues into green hydrogen and valuable by-products. The special thing about this process is that it takes place in the dark, meaning that upscaling to an industrial scale will likely be easy to implement. In the RhoTech2 project, partners from science and industry have joined forces to test this new approach to hydrogen production in an industrial environment. To this end, a pilot plant for biohydrogen production is being set up and optimized at a fruit juice manufacturer. In this project, the University of Stuttgart is responsible for the process simulation, which is the basis for process optimization. The University of Stuttgart is also carrying out the economic and ecological evaluation of the new process. A roadmap for the industrial use of biohydrogen production using purple bacteria forms the basis for transferring the process into industrial practice.
BioHolz3D

EVAKEE

Teaching

 

Teaching focuses on teaching the methodological basis of life cycle theory and analysis. In addition, the basics of bio-intelligent production and design options for sustainable value creation are to be taught. Semester-specific internships and seminars are offered to increase the application orientation. If you have specific questions about teaching in the research area, please feel free to contact us:

Contact: PD Dr.-Ing. Robert Miehe
Tel: +49 711 970-1424
E-Mail: robert.miehe@iff.uni-stuttgart.de

Student Jobs

Are you looking for a bachelor's/master's thesis or a research assistant position in one of the research topics listed above? Interested students are welcome to contact us. robert.miehe@iff.uni-stuttgart.de

Kontakt

This image shows Robert Miehe

Robert Miehe

PD Dr.-Ing.

Leiter des Forschungsbereichs Biointelligenz und Nachhaltigkeit

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