For us, sustainability is not just a buzzword. Rather, it is a central theme of our research and development work - and has been for more than a decade. Sustainability means far more than just the resource-saving use of raw materials and their energy-saving production. We consider all aspects of sustainability and work to develop cross-scientific concepts for the most pressing problems facing humanity.
Real sustainability must not just be a new marketing concept or a cloak to reassure society through industry and politics. Rather, it must address the root causes and consider the entire problem of its implementation in order to drive forward a comprehensive transformation of technology, politics and society.
The Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology pursues precisely this approach - across all topics, globally and taking into account political, economic and technical feasibility. We join innovative forces to actively contribute to solving global challenges.
Solution-oriented and applicable: We are aware that new technologies can only be disseminated and applied if they are technically feasible and economically viable. Only then will they receive the necessary acceptance and support in society, politics and business.
We are convinced that we can achieve great things with the possibilities available to us, the excellent expertise of our scientists, technicians and engineers and the enthusiasm of everyone involved.
The technologies we develop have a wide range of applications - from food and energy production to waste recycling and medicine. Our aim is to develop highly efficient and innovative solutions for the most pressing problems facing mankind. In the medium term, energy supply and production should be completely sustainable and self-sufficient. Our work incorporates developments and technologies from other TUM faculties as well as expertise from various Werner Siemens research projects.
Our goal is to actively research all aspects of a sustainable, urban industrial society and to gradually make every area environmentally friendly and economical from this point of view.
For us, sustainability is not just a word or a slogan - it is our motivation, our drive and our goal: for a healthier and perhaps better world.
The Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology pursues a holistic approach to the development of sustainable bioprocesses. Our core competence in the development of new enzymatic or whole cell-based biocatalysts is complemented by aspects of bioinformatics, chemical biology, bioprocess engineering as well as synthetic and systems biology.
This leads to a systemic-recursive, data-centric optimization of sustainable bioprocesses that are embedded in a socio-economic environment.
We follow our 4-S guiding principle:
„Science, Systems, Sustainability, Society”
Teaching mission
Our interdisciplinary research into sustainable bioprocesses demands and promotes thinking beyond one's own specialist discipline and requires strong communication skills across hierarchical boundaries. Our students and staff are trained and encouraged to become actively involved in biotechnology-oriented sustainability research and innovation.
In addition to interdisciplinary scientific excellence, we attach particular importance to specifically promoting motivation for a personal contribution to the social and industrial transformation towards a circular bioeconomy.
We thus pursue the guiding principle in teaching:
“Creating Purpose through Education and Personal Empowerment”