HFU President Dr. Alexandra Bormann, Project Manager Prof. Dr.-Ing. Volker C. Hass and Head of Administration Andrea Linke (from left) at the symbolic handover of the funding to the joint project at Furtwangen University.
Furtwangen University successful in programme for applied sustainability research
Furtwangen University was able to celebrate a great success this week – as one of six projects in the state, the joint project "MoDe_ProBio (Model-based design of processes for the bioeconomy)" is being funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science as part of the programme for applied sustainability research. Furtwangen University and its project partners were awarded funding of almost €2.4 million over a period of four years. The new President of Furtwangen University, Dr. Alexandra Bormann, Head of Administration Andrea Linke and project leader Prof. Dr.-Ing. Volker C. Hass were delighted to receive further confirmation of HFU's research strength at the award ceremony. "Furtwangen University stands for outstanding research. This success will enable us to significantly expand our sustainability profile. I am delighted and would like to congratulate Professor Hass and the project partners," said HFU President Dr. Alexandra Bormann.
According to a press release from the ministry, the funded projects could provide a blueprint for reducing the energy and CO2 footprint as well as supply chain dependencies in the circular economy – thus triggering a sustainability push in many industries. "We are delighted that we can make an active contribution to sustainable development with this and other research projects," says Andrea Linke, Head of Administration of Furtwangen University. "At HFU, we act with the future in mind – we also train our students and give them the opportunity to develop and contribute their own sustainability-related ideas during their studies."
The "MoDe_ProBio" project aims to reduce the development time and effort for innovative, sustainable bioprocesses with the help of so-called digital twins. "The bioeconomy needs new sustainable processes that can convert complex biogenic raw, residual and waste materials into marketable products," explains project manager Prof. Dr.-Ing. Volker C. Hass. Digital twins, which represent a virtual mirror image of real plants, in combination with model-based test planning and life cycle assessment, are intended to create new, efficient development strategies. "These strategies make it possible, for example, to develop a process for the production of cellulases, biohydrogen, specialty chemicals or biogas from waste materials quickly and in a way that conserves resources," says Hass. The MoDe ProBio project is a joint project between Furtwangen, Offenburg, Biberach and Heilbronn universities and is coordinated by Furtwangen University.