InnoVIEW: Bio-based innovations for SMEs – INNOVENT profile

A conversation with Dr. Bernd Grünler, board member and managing director, and Sabrina Hauspurg, head of the Biomaterials division, about opportunities, challenges and the role of Thuringia in the bioeconomy.

INNOVENT is one of the leading industry-oriented research institutions in Thuringia. What are the origins and current focus areas of your institute?

Dr. Grünler: INNOVENT was founded in 1994 with the aim of offering highly qualified academics new career opportunities after German reunification. What began as a non-profit association has grown into a high-performing research institute that now employs around 130 people. The institute's origins lie in surface technology. In the following years, we expanded our scope: firstly, to include magnetic materials and optical systems – this expertise came to us from the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technologies (IPHT) in the late 1990s. At the same time, the field of biomaterials was also established with federal funding. These three areas of focus remain today. 

What role does the bioeconomy currently play in INNOVENT's strategic direction and research activities?

Hauspurg: The bioeconomy has gained significant strategic importance for us and moved into sharp focus with the acquisition of this division three years ago, as we as an institute are increasingly addressing issues that extend beyond biomaterials for purely medical material development. The bioeconomy opens up more complex fields of application for us – from packaging to the utilization of residual materials – and addresses key societal goals: sustainability, resource conservation, climate protection, and ultimately, the preservation of health. As an industry-oriented research institute, our developments are strongly market-driven. Alongside our medical research, the topics of the bioeconomy often offer a significantly shorter timeframe from idea to marketable product than in medicine, even though regulatory hurdles exist that must be overcome and can be time-consuming.

Dr. Grünler: As an institute with close ties to industry – particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – we continuously monitor technological developments and market trends. We actively seek out topics with long-term potential where we can build stable, sustainable partnerships. The bioeconomy has become a strategic focus for us, as it offers enormous opportunities. Usable by-product streams and bio-based alternatives can be found everywhere and hold great potential. Furthermore, we are aware of our responsibility to current and future generations and want to actively contribute to this.  

How do you define the term bioeconomy at INNOVENT – and what motivated you to become so publicly involved in the topic, for example as co-organizer of the InnoMEET “Bioeconomy meets Production Technologies”?

Hauspurg: At INNOVENT, we understand bioeconomy to mean the development of bio-based and biodegradable materials, the use of sustainable and renewable raw materials, and the application of biotechnological processes for material development. We do not cover the entire value chain, but rather create innovative materials that integrate as seamlessly as possible into closed-loop material cycles. 

To transition the bioeconomy from academic research to industry-oriented research, we have been seeking partners from SMEs, industry, and research institutions from the very beginning. New materials must also be industrially viable. Therefore, we want to involve machine manufacturers and users early on. 

Dr. Grünler: Our public engagement – ​​such as at InnoMEET organized by Innovativ Thüringen – enables us to tap into new markets and find project partners. Last but not least, it allows us to make our research more visible. This fosters understanding and acceptance, especially among younger generations, and opens up new perspectives for our work.

What current bioeconomy projects are you working on – and are there already concrete bio-based processes, materials or applications that are being tested in practice or used industrially?

Hauspurg: We are currently managing several bioeconomy projects, all of which were launched within the last three years. We are currently working on a project with microalgae, investigating silicates for cosmetic applications, among other things. We are also conducting intensive research on bacterial cellulose, which is already used in medicine, among other fields. The project's focus is on making its production more economical and scalable. Another area we are working on is the development of biodegradable adhesives.

Typically, the first practical testing takes place at the partner company in the collaborative project – for example, in the form of field trials. Direct market entry is rarely possible immediately, as numerous regulations and economic hurdles exist. Even in the bioeconomic sector, the path to market is challenging.

What typical challenges do you encounter when transferring research results into industrial applications?

Hauspurg: In principle, laboratory experiments are usually far removed from industrial applications. The first major hurdle is technology transfer: How do you scale up process engineering from the laboratory to an industrial level? Depending on the application, this often requires a completely different or modified process infrastructure compared to the existing one – and, in turn, the necessary funding. While subsidies can provide support, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often lack the funds and resources to build new infrastructures. 

Furthermore, Thuringia lacks systematic networking platforms. Low-threshold opportunities are needed where industry partners can simply say: "I have a problem – can we develop something together?" We are also working with LEG to establish such exchange formats and support events of this nature. 

Another challenge in technology transfer lies in the regulatory hurdles, which entail high costs, tie up personnel resources, and thus stifle innovation. We are currently seeing this development and its consequences for companies in the medical field with the implementation of the MDR (Medical Device Regulation). 

Dr. Grünler: Another problem is the fragmented nature of Germany. Each federal state pursues its own bioeconomy strategy. Federalism is a major obstacle here. A common, nationwide approach is lacking; instead, we are getting bogged down in regional, isolated initiatives. The Transfer Network for Accelerating the Industrial Bioeconomy (TransBIB) represents a good first step in this direction.

How is INNOVENT integrated into regional and supra-regional bioeconomy networks – and what role do companies, universities and start-ups play in this?

Hauspurg: We strive to be present in as many networks as possible. One example is the nationwide TransBIB network, which brings together stakeholders from all over Germany. We are also active in the BioZ (Biosciences Center), and collaborate with universities and LEG (Landesentwicklungsgesellschaft – State Development Corporation) partners. We work with startups, among other things, within the framework of the "Get Started 2gether" funding program.

What significance do funding programs (e.g., BMBF, EU, State of Thuringia) have for your work in this area?

Hauspurg: Funding programs are essential for us – whether from the federal government, the state, the EU, or foundations. We finance around 70 percent of our work through such funds, including in the field of bioeconomy. As a non-profit organization, we are only allowed to make a limited profit and are therefore dependent on this funding. We are currently preparing a new collaborative project within the framework of the Thuringian R&D Directive – this project focuses on the utilization of previously unused by-product streams. We actively collaborate with companies on funded projects. We are therefore regularly looking for industry partners – and we encourage interested companies to get in touch.

How do you assess the economic potential of bio-based solutions in the next five to ten years – especially with regard to Thuringia and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)?

Hauspurg: The bioeconomy is not a given – it requires close cooperation and targeted political support. Thuringia has a strong network of research institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and universities and can play a pioneering role, provided we think beyond regional boundaries and see ourselves as part of the bigger picture. But this requires support from funding policies and a reduction in bureaucracy. Otherwise, this potential often remains untapped.

Are there already marketable products or business areas that have emerged from your research on bio-based materials?

Hauspurg: In the bioeconomy, we're not quite there yet – it naturally takes time. From idea to market launch, it often takes up to ten years. In the medical field, however, we and our industry partners have already been able to launch products, especially in the area of ​​bio-based and biodegradable materials. 

Which technological or societal developments do you see as particularly groundbreaking for the bioeconomy?

Hauspurg: Technologically, we see biotechnology, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and digitalization as key drivers. From a societal perspective, topics such as the circular economy, bio-based and biodegradable materials, and a changing awareness of sustainability are shaping the direction. Also important are the political framework, a targeted funding strategy, and, above all, interdisciplinary collaboration between science and industry. And last but not least, regional value creation plays a crucial role.

What role can Jena or Thuringia play in the German or European bioeconomy sector in the future?

Dr. Grünler: We don't want to say, "We're saving the world." But if Thuringia networks well nationwide, we can play an important role. Crucial to this is support through research funding, networks like the LEG, and a willingness to collaborate across state borders. 

What political or structural changes would be necessary for the bioeconomy to progress faster in Germany?

Dr. Grünler: I see a major obstacle in the fragmentation caused by federalism. There are many good approaches, but they often run parallel in the individual federal states. Meaningful cross-state projects often fail due to jurisdictional issues. 

Hauspurg: Another major problem is bureaucracy. The processes are far too slow and often too complicated. This is particularly off-putting to industry. When someone from the business world tells me, "We can't afford that," it's a clear warning sign for me. We need simpler, faster structures and more flexibility.

How do you view the cooperation with LEG Thüringen? What specific synergies do you see arising from it?

Dr. Grünler: My collaboration with LEG Thüringen is exemplary. I have worked closely with my colleagues there for over 20 years. It's a very collaborative relationship that consistently generates concrete projects and new ideas.

How do you contribute to Thuringia's Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS Thuringia)? What impetus does the strategy provide for your work?

Dr. Grünler: “As an elected member of the RIS specialization field "Industrial Production and Systems," I see my role as bringing our business-related topics into the strategic process. I see myself not only as a participant in this process, but also as an active contributor to shaping Thuringia's innovation policy.

Thank you for the interview!