2021
Technology development for carbon-free energy systems enters implementation phase
The "WIR! – Change through Innovation in the Region" programme, launched in 2017, is progressing. Twenty-three alliances, selected in August 2021 as part of "WIR!", are now in their six-year implementation phase.
Germany's goal is to become largely greenhouse gas neutral by 2045. At least 80 percent of the electricity supply and 60 percent of the total energy supply are to be provided from renewable energies. The current energy system is to be transformed into an emission-free energy system based on renewable energies.
"We are now subjecting CAMPFIRE to a "target/actual analysis" with regard to new necessary solution and strategy approaches, including the funding projects derived to date, and are setting out our next steps in an expanded concept. To this end, our company-led strategy team and our advisory board reviewed the CAMPFIRE approach for a future global, carbon-free ammonia-hydrogen energy system and further developed the necessary strategy," said Dr Angela Kruth, coordinator and spokesperson for CAMPFIRE.
"CAMPFIRE" stands for sustainable structural change in the North-East region through the development of innovative pathways and the exploitation of economic advantages for small and medium-sized enterprises in the North-East region, which is mainly located in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (M-V). The 72 partners, primarily based in the North-East region, are jointly pursuing the goal of developing exportable technologies for NH3 production, transport and use as a fuel and energy storage medium.
The next phase of implementation will focus on technology transfer and the commercialisation of scientific inventions with the aim of producing ammonia (NH3) for use as a fuel on water and land. This includes the creation of the necessary research interfaces within the framework of TransHyDE, the CAMPFIRE implementation project. It is one of the three hydrogen flagship projects of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) from the future package for implementing the "National Hydrogen Strategy in Germany" adopted in 2020. In detail, this means addressing research interfaces for the seasonal production of green ammonia, the construction of refuelling stations for the import of green NH3 from ship to shore and from ship to ship, the creation of load-flexible ammonia plants for the seasonal production of NH3 from renewable energy, including dynamic conversion technologies for stationary and mobile energy supply, and the construction of ammonia-to-hydrogen filling stations in conjunction with the development of the associated logistics, and the creation of framework conditions for the use of NH3 and hydrogen for fuel cells, ammonia crackers and seasonal micro-Haber-Bosch processes for energy storage.
Above all, the focus is on a carbon-free, secure energy supply. In the long term, effective economic ways of reducing the global carbon dioxide content in the Earth's atmosphere will emerge. "In phase 2 of 'WIR!', we are now ensuring that the industrial and scientific focus of CAMPFIRE is maintained by creating an 'open innovation platform'. Our goal is to establish CAMPFIRE gAG," says Angela Kruth.
"WIR!" is aimed at broad-based regional alliances such as the regional partner alliance "CAMPFIRE" coordinated by the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald and under the strategic and technological leadership of the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology in Duisburg. As part of the CAMPFIRE implementation project in the BMBF's TransHyDE flagship project, industry-relevant testing and trial fields for the new ammonia technologies are being set up in the COIL - CAMPFIRE Open Innovation Lab on the industrial site of YARA Rostock in Poppendorf.
The "WIR!" funding measure is part of the "Innovation & Structural Change" programme family, with which the BMBF supports change in structurally weak regions. Around 600 million euros will be available for "Innovation & Structural Change" by 2025 alone.
Clean water for food production and agriculture
The PHYSICS FOR FOOD research project is testing innovative physical processes for water treatment at its practical partner Cosun Beet Company (CBC) in Anklam.
Greifswald, 22 November 2021
Only around three percent of the water available worldwide is drinkable fresh water. The extreme weather events that have become increasingly frequent in recent years, such as heat waves and droughts, are making it clear even in this country how valuable this resource is. At the same time, large quantities of water are needed to produce food. Innovative physical processes could help reduce the demand for fresh water in food processing through water treatment and water recycling. The removal of particles and germs also reduces the environmental impact of wastewater. Following successful laboratory trials, the PHYSICS FOR FOOD research project is now starting a practical test at the Anklam factory ( ).
The aim is to remove environmentally harmful substances and germs from the process water used in sugar production using a novel combination of various physical processes such as mechanical filters, activated carbon, ultrasound, ozonation, UV treatment and pulsed electric fields (PEF). In addition, a special plasma technology will be used to render pesticides and pharmaceutical residues harmless by means of dielectric barrier discharge (DBE). The various modules will be tested for their effectiveness on different types of wastewater during the course of the project. The mobile demonstrator can purify up to 2,500 litres of wastewater per hour. The plant makes it possible to test the effect of the various processes used on the respective water composition individually and in combination in order to prepare the optimal design of large-scale applications for different areas of use.
Environmentally friendly water treatment processes thanks to innovative technologies
The scientific director of the project, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kolb from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), explains: "The treatment of water in food production and agriculture offers enormous ecological and economic potential. We are looking for new ways to either reuse wastewater directly in the production process or return it to nature in a clean state. By combining classic water treatment processes with innovative technologies such as plasma, ultrasound and pulsed electric fields, we can very efficiently remove germs, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals from the water, thus keeping them out of groundwater or surface waters. In addition to food production, we also see potential applications in plant breeding, animal husbandry and in hospitals."
Cosun Beet Company is involved as a practical partner and operator of the Anklam sugar factory. The plant in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania currently processes around 1.8 million tonnes of sugar beet per year. In addition to granulated sugar, the factory also produces animal feed, bioethanol and biomethane from the sugar beet, which is fed into the natural gas grid as a renewable energy source. Miriam Woller-Pfeifer, process engineer at CBC Anklam, comments: "Our goal is to achieve a complete circular economy in sugar beet processing. We want to make optimal and sustainable use of all components. Water treatment is a central part of our sustainability strategy."
In addition to Cosun Beet Company GmbH & Co. KG and the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and
Technology e.V. (INP), Harbauer GmbH and Power Recycling
Energyservice GmbH. The project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research
and will run until the end of 2022.
About PHYSICS FOR FOOD
The Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology
(INP) and Ceravis AG launched the project 'PHYSICS FOR FOOD – A REGION
THINK AGAIN!'. Together with partners, the alliance is developing new physical technologies for
agriculture and food processing. Atmospheric pressure plasma,
pulsed electric fields and UV light. The objectives are to reduce the use of chemical agents in
protecting seeds and crops and strengthening plants against the effects of
climate change. PHYSICS FOR FOOD is also working on new processes for optimising
agricultural raw materials and reducing pollutants in food production. Funded by the
Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the 'WIR! – Change through
Innovation in the Region', the project ensures technology transfer and secures jobs
jobs in the coastal hinterland of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (funding code 03WIR2803).
Double award for Greifswald plasma medicine researchers
Greifswald, 25 October 2021
Prof. Thomas von Woedtke, member of the Executive Board and Head of Research at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), was recently awarded this year's Plasma Medicine Award by the International Society for Plasma Medicine (ISPM) at the 8th International Conference on Plasma Medicine (ICPM-8). The award is presented every two years to selected researchers for their scientific achievements in the field of plasma medicine. Following the awarding of the prize in 2013 to Prof. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, INP Greifswald, and in 2018 to Prof. Dr. Dr. Hans-Robert Metelmann, University Medicine Greifswald, the Plasma Medicine Award goes to Greifswald for the third time, underlining the importance of Greifswald as a centre of science for this field of medical research.
Dr Sander Bekeschus, research group leader for "Plasma Redox Effects" at the INP, was also honoured. He received the "Early Career Award in Plasma Medicine". The scientist impressed the international jury in this category with his innovative plasma medicine research over the last 10 years and his publications in high-profile journals.
The INP is delighted with this double success and congratulates both scientists on the well-deserved awards for their scientific achievements and successes.
The International Conference on Plasma Medicine, which takes place every two years and is organised by Kwangoon University Seoul, South Korea, in 2021, is the most important international platform for the scientific exchange of the latest findings in the various fields of plasma medicine and plasma bioscience ( ).
Prof. Thomas von Woedtke has been Vice-Chairman of the National Centre for Plasma Medicine (NZPM) since 2015. As one of the leading scientists in the field of plasma medicine, he took up the world's first W2 professorship for plasma medicine at the University Medicine Greifswald in 2011. Since 2008, von Woedtke has headed the "Plasma Medicine" research programme and has been a scientific member of the INP's Executive Board since 2020. Prof. von Woedtke's research mainly investigates the in vitro effects of physical plasma on liquids, organisms and cells. The aim of this work is to improve the characterisation and control of the physical properties of cold atmospheric pressure plasmas in interaction with living systems in order to redesign and optimise plasma devices for medical applications and thus open up new areas of application. Under the leadership of Thomas von Woedtke, the INP is a member of the newly funded research network "Leibniz Health Technologies" and is responsible for the competence field "Plasma Medicine".
Dr. Sander Bekeschus is a human biologist and holds a doctorate in immunology. After research stays in New Zealand and the USA, he headed a third-party-funded junior research group at the ZIK plasmatis Centre of Excellence from 2016 to 2021, which was consolidated into a permanently funded research group at the INP in summer 2021. Bekeschus and his team are researching the redox effects of plasmas using cell biology and translational laboratory models in the disciplines of dermatology, oncology and immunology. "Another focus is the application-oriented optimisation of plasmas through interdisciplinary research," says Sander Bekeschus. His working group's latest findings include intrinsic mechanisms of oxidative stress defence in tumour cells and the use of plasma-oxidised proteins for new approaches in vaccine research. Sander Bekeschus heads the "Plasma Cancer Treatment" working group in the EU project "PlasTHER", has been a board member of the National Centre for Plasma Medicine (NZPM) since 2017 and is a young scientist award winner of the International Society for Redox Biology and Medicine. His research is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the German Research Foundation (DFG), European funding and various medical foundations in Germany.
Great success for eastern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Federal government promotes the utilisation of biogenic residues
The biogeniV alliance – which promotes the utilisation of biogenic residues – was one of 23 WIR! alliances to impress the jury of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). biogeniV focuses on new technologies for the utilisation of previously unused biogenic residues, including carbon dioxide (CO2), at local and regional level.
"Now we can finally start planning the implementation of these projects with our partners," say the three initiators, the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald, Cosun Beet Company (Anklam sugar factory) and the Hanseatic city of Anklam.
In a two-stage process, the alliance prevailed over more than 130 applicants with its regionally and technologically innovative concept " " (CO2-based bio-gas-based bio-fuel). The participating companies and institutions will now receive funding of up to 15 million euros for implementation.
New business models are to be launched and the Anklam region made sustainable. The concept already includes many project ideas from partners in research and industry that focus on various areas of innovation: technologies for biomethanol production, technologies for greater resource efficiency in biogas production, and technologies for the utilisation of previously unused residues such as manure and fermentation residues, all tailored to regional conditions.
Michael Galander, Mayor of Anklam and spokesperson for the alliance, comments: "It is quite special and not an everyday occurrence for a municipality to be involved in a project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), but the opportunity to produce green energy and valuable materials from biogenic residues and CO2 is an incredible chance for our region to establish completely new climate-neutral industries."
Matthias Sauer, Managing Director of Cosun Beet Company, Anklam: "We see the potential for major steps towards a climate-neutral region. Our company wants to act as a catalyst in a process that appeals to and actively involves other interested partners."
Prof. Dirk Uhrlandt, scientific board member of INP, adds: "Furthermore, the implementation of the new technologies, especially by local companies in the region, will provide a decisive economic boost that would not have been possible without the "WIR! – Change through Innovation in the Region" funding programme."
The biogeniV alliance is always happy to welcome new interested companies, institutions and associations, especially from the eastern part of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Green ammonia for a zero-emission future
24 September 2021
CAMPFIRE Symposium in Stralsund
On 30 September 2021, around 100 national and international participants from business, politics and research will meet at the CAMPFIRE Symposium 2021 "Wind and Water to Ammonia - Maritime Fuel and Energy Storage for a Zero-Emission Future" at the Ozeaneum Stralsund.
The symposium will be opened by Christian Pegel, Minister for Energy, Infrastructure and Digitalisation of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Germany's goal is to become largely greenhouse gas neutral by 2045. At least 80 percent of the electricity supply and 60 percent of the total energy supply should then come from renewable energies. The current energy system is to be transformed into an emission-free energy system based on renewable energies.
The CAMPFIRE symposium invites participants to discuss topics related to the future of carbon-free energy supply based on green ammonia. "The aim of the CAMPFIRE partners is to develop new energy conversion and storage technologies based on green ammonia. Wind or solar power is stored in the energy carrier ammonia (NH3) and used as an innovative energy and propulsion energy, for example in shipping. The end products are water and nitrogen, which can be released back into the environment without harm," says Angela Kruth, coordinator and spokesperson for the CAMPFIRE alliance. Ammonia is carbon-free and offers real prospects as an economically storable energy carrier. German industry has more than 100 years of experience in the production, storage and transport of this gas. Germany's largest ammonia terminal is located in the chemical port of Rostock-Peez ( ), where 600,000 tonnes of ammonia are handled for fertiliser production by YARA GmbH & Co KG.
"With the international symposium in Stralsund, we are pursuing even closer networking between the green ammonia consortia from the European Union and Scandinavia to develop and establish innovative technologies for the future global green ammonia ecosystem," explains Kruth. A highlight of the conference is the opportunity to visit the safety facilities of the 150-tonne ammonia bunker ship "Odin" owned by the Spetrans shipping company in the port of Stralsund, which has been used for many years to supply power plants.
In this context, the Rügen-Stralsund region, recently selected for the second time as a "HyExpert" region by the German government, will also be presenting itself at the exhibition. Rügen-Stralsund is taking up the challenge of realising a regional hydrogen economy in Vorpommern. The region aims to promote the development of a local hydrogen infrastructure and implement model projects for the realisation of the hydrogen economy. A hydrogen bus from the company "Busses 4 Future", including a model of a hydrogen refuelling station, will be on display not only for symposium participants but also for the general public.
CAMPFIRE technologies produced in the North-East region will enable an energy economy based on green ammonia and a carbon-free, secure energy supply in the Baltic Sea region and beyond in the future. This will create effective and economical ways of reducing the global carbon dioxide content in the Earth's atmosphere in the long term. On 30 September, keynote speeches on topics such as the EU hydrogen strategy in the maritime sector, ammonia as a maritime fuel, green hydrogen and ammonia projects in Scandinavia, and the CAMPFIRE Open Innovation Lab will provide an interesting overview of global activities in the field of green ammonia and the future direction of the CAMPFIRE alliance.
The CAMPFIRE alliance, financed by the German federal government, was founded in 2018 as part of the BMBF WIR! "Change through Innovation" programme. It provides the initial spark for sustainable structural change in the North-East region by establishing innovative paths and developing economic advantages for small and medium-sized enterprises based there. The alliance now has over 60 partners, representing approximately 80% of the companies in the North-East region, who are working together to realise exportable technologies for a future global carbon-free ammonia-hydrogen energy system.
Development of ammonia technologies for the transport of green hydrogen
09/23/2021
Start of the TransHyDE implementation project CAMPFIRE
TransHyDE is being launched, one of three hydrogen flagship projects of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) from the future package for implementing the "National Hydrogen Strategy" adopted in 2020 in Germany. With its largest research initiative to date on the energy transition, the BMBF is supporting Germany's entry into the hydrogen economy. The three hydrogen flagship projects are the result of an ideas competition. Over a period of four years, they are intended to remove existing obstacles that are hindering Germany's entry into a hydrogen economy. The projects focus on the series production of large-scale water electrolysers (H2Giga), the production of hydrogen and downstream products at sea (H2Mare) and technologies for hydrogen transport (TransHyDE).
To advance Germany on its path to climate neutrality, several hundred million tonnes of hydrogen will be needed annually. Germany will produce some of this itself, but the vast majority will have to be imported from regions with abundant wind and solar resources. In both cases, functioning and efficient transport infrastructures are needed, as hydrogen is rarely used where it is produced. Transport infrastructures for short, medium and long distances are therefore urgently needed.
The TransHyDE flagship project, with over 80 partners from industry, associations, universities and research institutions, will therefore comprehensively develop transport technologies – in a technology-neutral manner along various possible development paths. TransHyDE is advancing transport technologies in four implementation and five accompanying research projects: hydrogen transport in high-pressure containers, liquid hydrogen transport, hydrogen transport in existing and new gas pipelines, and the transport of hydrogen bound in ammonia. The TransHyDE research projects are working on the creation of a roadmap for hydrogen infrastructure. This requires new standards, norms and safety regulations for hydrogen transport technologies, as well as the necessary materials, components and sensors. Research into the efficient extraction of hydrogen from ammonia and the refuelling of containers with liquid, cryogenic hydrogen is also part of the research projects.
As the largest implementation project in TransHyDE, the regional partner alliance CAMPFIRE, coordinated by the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald, the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology in Duisburg and Inherent Solution Consult GmbH & Co KG in Rostock, is coordinating the research and development activities for technologies to implement the entire transport chain for green ammonia. At the Poppendorf site on the industrial premises of YARA Rostock, industry-relevant test and trial fields for the new technologies are being set up in the COIL - CAMPFIRE Open Innovation Lab. The focus is on the development of logistics structures and refuelling facilities for ammonia imports and the operation of ships powered by green ammonia, load-flexible ammonia plants for the seasonal production of ammonia from renewable energy, and dynamic conversion technologies for stationary and mobile energy supply, as well as ammonia-to-hydrogen filling stations. The partners are developing concepts for the economical distribution of ammonia in industrial environments, as well as the legal framework and ways to increase acceptance of ammonia among the general public and en s among customers. "These projects are about opening up new economic potential for our regional companies. On the one hand, the companies are to be introduced to the development of technology fields and the establishment of value chains in the future-oriented field of ammonia and hydrogen. On the other hand, the technologies developed in the TransHyDE project CAMPFIRE offer new economic opportunities for companies to minimise their carbon footprint. A particular focus is also on developing a Europe-wide visible location for green ammonia and hydrogen technologies on the industrial site in Rostock-Poppendorf," explains Dr Angela Kruth, spokesperson and coordinator of CAMPFIRE. New technologies for the implementation of ammonia as a carbon-free hydrogen carrier are an important prerequisite for achieving climate targets, i.e. the necessary reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 95 per cent by 2050.
Info box:
More than 240 partners from science and industry are working together in the hydrogen flagship projects. Total funding will amount to over 740 million euros. The CAMPFIRE alliance was founded in 2018 as part of the BMBF WIR! "Change through Innovation" programme. The alliance now has over 60 partners, representing around 80 per cent of the companies involved, and is mainly based in the north-east of Germany. They are working together to enable companies in the north-east and across Germany to become exporters of new technologies for a future global carbon-free ammonia-hydrogen energy system.
Bacteria-CAM for detecting pathogens
16th National Health Industry Conference 2021
Greifswald, 2 June 2021
In a joint project funded by TBI (Technology Consulting Institute) with Diaspective Vision GmbH and scientific partners (Wismar University of Applied Sciences, Greifswald University Medical Centre), the idea of making non-invasive wound germs visible using a special camera was successfully implemented. The hyperspectral camera developed by Diaspective Vision GmbH for this purpose was extended to a wavelength range. This enabled the detection of bacteria using autofluorescence.
In the interests of wound patients, the expansion of this innovative optical diagnostic method in further research projects is now on the agenda. To this end, local infection sites will be correlated with physiological parameters such as oxygen saturation in clinical tests and the bacterial load in patients will be measured. The scientists' goal is to find out whether an infection or natural bacterial colonisation is present. This is important in order to decide whether antibiotic therapy is necessary for wound healing.
In addition, the researchers are pursuing the vision of identifying infectious agents directly in the wound so that broad-spectrum antibiotics can be avoided in therapy in the long term to minimise the development of resistance.
Preclinical and clinical applications of hyperspectral diagnostics were carried out in advance at the Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg (KDK). For this purpose, both in vitro experiments (in the laboratory) and in vivo experiments in a study with patients with diabetic foot syndrome were carried out. The qualitative bacterial load of chronic wounds was analysed in comparison with standard microbial diagnostics. The tests showed that fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with hyperspectral analysis can detect different bacteria both in laboratory cultures (on agar and meat) and in infected wounds in patients, and can also display them in spatial resolution.
Physical plasma to combat SARS-CoV-2
On 2 June 2021, a virtual kick-off meeting will take place to launch a three-year research project on combating SARS-CoV-2 in the mouth and nasopharynx using physical plasmas. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with a total of €2 million.
Under the project title "PlasmaplusCorona (PPC) - Plasma-based disinfection of the respiratory tract to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in vitro and in vivo", the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald is conducting research together with the Research Centre Borstel, Leibniz Lung Centre (FZB) and the Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology (HPI) in Hamburg on a technical solution for the local treatment of the virus-infected respiratory tract.
This is based on the finding that one of the reasons why SARS-CoV-2 transmission is particularly high is that the virus mainly multiplies in the upper respiratory tract. Even if the symptoms of COVID-19 are not yet present or are only very mild, infected individuals are already highly contagious. Early reduction of the viral load in the mouth and nasopharynx of people who have tested positive but are not yet ill is intended to reduce their infectivity and thus counteract the further spread of the virus and, if necessary, the development of disease in the infected person.
Physical plasma is a mixture of charged and uncharged atoms and/or molecules and freely moving electrons, also known as the fourth state of matter, which is created when a gas is supplied with electrical energy, for example. So-called cold plasmas, generated at temperatures below 40°C and at atmospheric pressure, are already used in medicine to support wound healing. Their effectiveness against microorganisms and viruses has been proven many times over.
The project is designing and testing various technical options for the local application of physical plasma. In addition to comprehensive proof of efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, taking into account the specific requirements for such an application in a clinical context, this project focuses on preclinical investigations into the local tolerability of such plasma-based procedures. This will lay the decisive foundations for research transfer into clinical application.
The aim of the project is to develop a plasma-based technical solution for the local treatment of the respiratory tract that can be further developed into a medical device.
The project brings together the expertise of three Leibniz Institutes in physical, biophysical, biochemical and biomedical research. The three institutes are members of the Leibniz Research Alliances "Health Technologies" and "INFECTIONS" as well as the Leibniz Research Network "Immune-Mediated Diseases" (https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de).
INVITATION to the digital "Plasma Technology User Days" at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP)
Greifswald, 23 April 2021
Under the patronage of Harry Glawe, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Health of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) invites you to attend the digital "Plasma Technology User Days" from 27 to 28 April 2021. "The INP has many years of experience in developing plasma-based processes for various industrial applications ( ). In our "Plasma Technology User Days" event series, we not only present these technologies, but also demonstrate practical examples of how technological plasmas can be integrated into industrial processes and used to develop innovative products. The dialogue between science and industry that this event offers is the central driver for translating scientific findings into innovations and decisively advancing technology transfer," says Dr. Katja Fricke, head of the "Bioactive Surfaces" research focus at INP and contact person on the organising committee for the 2021 User Days.
During the User Days, companies from all industries and interested parties will have the opportunity to learn about plasma-based concepts and implementation strategies for industrial application. They will gain insight into current developments in plasma technology, the key to processes with high potential for innovation, growth and sustainability. Specific applications from industry and research will be presented on the topics of renewable energies, the environment and agriculture, and life sciences.
The detailed programme (programme flyer) is available at:
Participation in the user days is free of charge. Registration is possible at the link: https://bit.ly/3qFMNNk. All participants will receive the dial-in details for the digital event in advance after successful registration. The registration deadline is 25 April 2021.
Continuous research and further development of plasma processes and systems make a significant contribution to opening up new fields of application.
Plasma-assisted surface processes are now user-friendly and give materials new properties and significant added value through the targeted creation of specific surface functionalities. The development of plasma-based surface processes for optimising new materials and substances is a key factor in supporting the transition to an energy supply based predominantly on renewable energy sources.
In the RENEWABLE ENERGIES section, the User Days on 27 April will showcase various industrial thin-film technologies and nanomaterials that open up new avenues for manufacturing essential components and materials for fuel cells and electrolysers. The aim is to increase energy production and efficiency. A key topic is the development of new fields of application with potential for plasma technology in CO2-neutral material conversion processes. Experts will also report on applications for the treatment of wastewater, manure and fermentation residues, including improvements to the fermentation process and increased efficiency of biogas plants.
In the ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE section, experts will report on 28 April on current developments in innovative plasma processes for improving the resistance of plants to abiotic and biotic stress factors and for increasing growth and yield. The aim here is to achieve chemical-free agricultural production in the future. Another topic in this section is the use of plasmas in wastewater treatment to destroy stubborn compounds such as pharmaceutical residues, as well as the potential of plasma treatments for pollutant degradation in groundwater remediation. Scientists will also provide information on possibilities for plasma-based air purification to remove toxic or undesirable pollutants (including odours) from air or exhaust gas streams.
Plasma medicine is an innovative field of research at the interface between physics and life sciences that has been experiencing tremendous international growth in recent years. In the LIFE SCIENCES section, experts will use cardiovascular implants for structural heart disease as an example to showcase activities ranging from biomaterial development to technology transfer. The focus here is on the development of innovative processes and technologies for restoring certain bodily functions or diagnosing specific diseases. In this thematic block, participants will learn about a highly sensitive, marker-free method based on functionalised microparticles for the detection of specific biomolecules. Another focus is on the presentation of plasma-based processes for the deposition of functional layers with the aim of controlling interactions at the interface between a biological system and a technical surface. Examples include promoting the immobilisation of enzymes or the adhesion of bacteria and the associated reduction in biofilm formation. Photocatalytic surfaces with a layer of metal oxide, usually TiO2, which are activated by irradiation in the UV or visible wavelength range, are also included. In combination with a naturally occurring thin film of water, these activated surfaces interact with cells, microorganisms and other liquids. In combination with ideal wettability of the surface, this often results in self-cleaning or "easy-to-clean" surfaces. This technology is used, for example, in architectural glass.
Leibniz Association to fund health technology research network for another four years
Greifswald, 16 April 2021
Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) is involved
Until the end of 2024, the Leibniz Health Technologies research network will receive 1.2 million euros in funding from the Leibniz Association. This will enable Leibniz Health Technologies to launch new projects in its second phase of development, bringing together complementary expertise from 14 Leibniz institutes to develop innovative health technologies. With its approval on 18 March 2021, the Senate, as the highest Leibniz body, is following the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Strategic Projects (SAS).
The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) has been a member of the Leibniz Health Technologies research network since its foundation in 2014.
The Leibniz Health Technologies concept is one of three research network concepts approved by the Leibniz Senate that will receive funding from the community over the next four years.
The network aims to research technologies that, for example, improve molecular diagnostics of chronic respiratory diseases and cancer or enable new forms of plasma medicine wound therapy. It also aims to combine new multimodal imaging techniques with machine learning approaches and develop bioactive materials for targeted drug delivery.
A total of six concept outlines were selected by the Presidium in advance and submitted to the SAS as full proposals. The concepts were evaluated by external experts and based on internal strategic discussions and assessments.
Interdisciplinary research as the core brand of the Leibniz Association
"I am delighted that with the Leibniz Health Technologies research network, we are addressing a topic of great scientific and social relevance. Interdisciplinary research into health technologies within a binding cooperative structure will thus become a core brand of the Leibniz Association," explains Professor Matthias Kleiner, President of the Leibniz Association.
The network spokesperson, Professor Jürgen Popp (Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology), adds: "The overarching goal of Leibniz Health Technologies is to integrate existing and new medical technologies from the member institutes into medical workflows. With the new funding, we will expand the fields of application for our technologies and develop them into mature systems."
In the network's five areas of expertise – "point-of-care technologies," "biomarkers," "bioactive materials," "plasma medicine" and "imaging methods" – new projects will be launched in the coming months, bringing together the strengths of the 14 participating Leibniz institutes and the two spin-offs. The individual research projects will be financed by additional funding and the network members' own resources.
The INP is responsible for the field of expertise "Plasma Medicine" within the research network. "Leibniz Health Technologies offers us an excellent environment for cross-sectional collaboration with other Leibniz institutes and industry partners to conduct interdisciplinary research into plasma medicine devices and therapeutic approaches and bring them into application," says Prof. Dr. Thomas von Woedtke, scientific board member and head of plasma medicine research at the INP in Greifswald.
The projects focus on accelerating the translation of Leibniz technologies. Extensive dialogue with various stakeholders from the healthcare sector and with commercial companies that are driving development through to approved medical products supports the process.
Scientific contact:
Prof. Dr. Thomas von Woedtke
Head of Plasma Medicine Research
Scientific Member of the Executive Board
Spin-off of INP wins Leibniz Start-up Award
Greifswald, March 31, 2021
Nebula Biocides GmbH, the latest spin-off from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald, is one of two recipients of this year’s Leibniz Start-up Award. Founders Dr. Jörn Winter, Dr. Ansgar Schmidt-Bleker, and Prof. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann received the happy news directly from the Leibniz headquarters in Berlin. The award is endowed with a total of 50,000 euros and is presented annually by the Leibniz Association to start-up projects that distinguish themselves through outstanding achievements in the development of innovative and sustainable business ideas.
“We are, of course, very pleased about this recognition. The award highlights the great importance that effective hygiene must have in our society today, and encourages us to continue pursuing our path towards effective protection against pathogens,” said Dr. Jörn Winter, one of the managing directors of Nebula Biocides GmbH.
Since 2016, the scientists have been researching a highly effective disinfectant agent which, within just 30 seconds, is effective against both stubborn bacterial spores and resilient viruses. In particular, it can completely inactivate Clostridioides difficile spores. Broad use of this new disinfection method could significantly reduce infection risks, for example in hospitals.
After three years of intensive research, in 2019 the scientists took the plunge and founded Nebula Biocides GmbH. “The efficacy, fundamental compatibility, and safety of the process have already been confirmed in accredited laboratories. Now all that remains is the official approval, which we are now working towards intensively together with our partners and, of course, the regulatory authorities,” explained Dr. Ansgar Schmidt-Bleker, the second managing director. “This award naturally gives us a motivational boost in this situation.”
Although the formal award ceremony will not take place until November in Berlin due to the current situation, Prof. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Chairman of the Board and Scientific Director of INP, is already delighted along with the two scientists. “This is a great achievement for Nebula Biocides GmbH and, of course, also especially for our institute. It demonstrates that our strategy at INP of ‘from idea to prototype’ is working,” said Prof. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann.
Through spin-offs, the INP has now successfully completed technology transfers for the fifth time.
Für weitere Informationen:
Nebula Biocides GmbH
Dr. Jörn Winter
Brandteichstraße 20
17489 Greifswald
E-Mail: winternebula-biocidesde
Tel.: +49 (0)159 / 04283902
www.nebula-biocides.de
Dr. Gesine Selig
Referat Kommunikation
Tel.: +49 3834 554 3942
gesine.selig@inp-greifswald.de
Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) lays foundation for "fair" research data in application-oriented plasma research
Scientists Steffen Franke and Markus Becker from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) have teamed up with colleagues to develop the Plasma-MDS metadata schema. In the article "Plasma-MDS, a metadata schema for plasma science with examples from plasma technology" (authors: St. Franke, L. Paulet, J. Schäfer, D. O'Connell, M. M. Becker), this metadata schema has now been published in the Springer Nature Journal Scientific Data [1].
In the course of the digitalisation of research processes, the sustainable handling of data is playing an increasingly important role. The so-called FAIR principles [2] describe recognised criteria for "fair", i.e. findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable research data. The collection of metadata for documenting data according to a well-defined schema is an essential component of "fair" data. For the field of application-oriented plasma research, Plasma-MDS defines such a scheme based on a process-oriented approach that does justice to the multitude and diversity of the research methods used and takes into account that in plasma research, the development of diagnostic methods is often an essential part of the research process. Last but not least, the heterogeneity of plasma physics research data is also the reason why there are hardly any standards for the collection, documentation and storage of research data in this field.
At the same time, plasma technology is represented both in established fields of technology, such as plasma surface technology, and in new areas of application with great social potential. The latter include, in particular, plasma applications in the fields of medicine and hygiene. The establishment of processes and standards for "fair" data in applied plasma physics and plasma medicine is therefore of great importance and has been supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) since 2017 as part of the projects " InPT-Dat ", funding period: 2017–2019, funding code: 16FDM005 and " QPTDat ", funding period: 2019–2022, funding codes: 16QK03A, 16QK03B and 16QK03C.
The Plasma-MDS metadata schema was developed as part of the project " InPT-Dat " and forms the core of future developments of tools for sustainable research data management in the field of application-oriented plasma research. However, the metadata schema is deliberately open to data sets from other areas of plasma physics, such as nuclear fusion research or related topics, such as research on particle accelerators. The further development of this initial metadata schema and the establishment of an expanded research data infrastructure is being pursued at the INP together with project partners at FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz Institute for Information Infrastructure GmbH and at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences as part of the project " QPTDat ". On the other hand, it is now extremely important that the scientific community adopts the plasma metadata schema, integrates it into local processes and actively participates in its further development. Initial community workshops have been held and further workshops are planned. The Research Department "Plasmas with Complex Interactions" at the Ruhr University Bochum is already involved in the developments and, with " rdpcidat ", provides its own research data repository using Plasma-MDS to describe the stored data.
With the INPTDAT data platform (https://www.inptdat.de) operated at the INP, there are now two repositories that implement Plasma-MDS. In order to make this step as easy as possible for other institutes and research groups and to create a basis for community-driven further development of the metadata schema, both the INPTDAT data platform and the Plasma metadata schema have been made openly available on GitHub: https://github.com/inpt-dat/.
Physical technologies of the future for agriculture
PHYSICS FOR FOOD delivers promising results and presents basic research at the IWOPA science conference
Greifswald, 1 March 2021 – Climate change and increasing demands for sustainability and ecology are posing major challenges for agriculture. In order to feed the growing world population in an environmentally friendly way, new methods for agriculture are being researched globally. Physical methods such as plasma technologies could help make plants more resistant to drought, flooding and pests and reduce the use of chemical pesticides. Another field of application is the removal of pollutants in food production.
The PHYSICS FOR FOOD project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, is delivering promising initial results in this area. Scientists involved in the project will present excerpts from their research at the third International Workshop on Plasma Agriculture (IWOPA), which starts today as an online conference with around 70 international participants under the auspices of the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP). Following events in the USA and Japan, where the topic has been most actively pursued to date, a German scientific institution is organising the exchange of experiences for the first time. In Europe, too, people are now convinced of the potential and are intensifying their efforts in this still young discipline.
Plasma protects seeds
While basic research into plasma technologies in agriculture is advancing worldwide, the PHYSICS FOR FOOD project is already working on specific applications. For example, trials have successfully sterilised barley and wheat seeds using plasma-treated air, which could replace chemical dressing in the future. According to estimates, around two million litres of chemical seed dressing are used in Germany alone every year. Physical processes such as plasma could offer an ecological and economical alternative to secure crop yields. The scientific institutions involved in the project are working closely with partners from agriculture and seed production to deliver practical results.
Plasma strengthens plants against the effects of climate change
Another objective of the PHYSICS FOR FOOD project is to protect plants from the effects of climate change so that they can better withstand droughts and floods as well as pests and fungal infestation. The experiments conducted so far show promising results. Direct treatment with cold plasma significantly increased the germination rate of barley in trials. A positive effect was also observed in wheat and rapeseed. The use of plasma-treated water also helps to strengthen plants. In greenhouse experiments, this had a positive effect on dry matter formation in the plant species barley, rapeseed and lupine investigated in the project. This affected the root system and, in most cases, also the shoots of the young plants.
Further physical technologies being tested
Plasma technologies are also to be used in the project to purify wastewater from food production and agriculture of pollutants such as agrochemicals. In addition to plasma, PHYSICS FOR FOOD is also researching other physical methods such as UV-C light and pulsed electric fields. Initial tests with UV-C technology in the food industry are already underway. The systems are designed to reduce the bacterial load in production in order to extend the shelf life of food. The use of pulsed electric fields (PEF) makes it possible to extend the shelf life of temperature-sensitive natural substances in food, improve taste and appearance, and obtain high-quality ingredients in larger quantities ( ). This has already been proven with grain-based beverages such as beer and plant-based drinks and is now being tested on lupins.
About PHYSICS FOR FOOD
The Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) and Ceravis AG launched the project 'PHYSICS FOR FOOD – A REGION THINKS AHEAD!' in 2018. Together with partners, the alliance is developing new physical technologies for agriculture and food processing. Atmospheric pressure plasma, pulsed electric fields and UV light are used. The goals are to reduce the use of chemicals in the protection of seeds and crops and to strengthen plants against the effects of climate change. PHYSICS FOR FOOD is also working on new processes for optimising agricultural raw materials and reducing pollutants in food production. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the 'WIR! – Change through Innovation in the Region' initiative, the project ensures technology transfer and secures jobs in the coastal hinterland of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (funding code 03WIR2803). Further information: https://physicsforfood.org/
Das Leibniz-Institut für Plasmaforschung und Technologie (INP) lädt ein zum 3rd International Workshop on Plasma Agriculture
THE LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE FOR PLASMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (INP) INVITES YOU TO THE 3RD INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON PLASMA AGRICULTURE
Greifswald, 26 February 2021
The 3rd International Workshop on Plasma Agriculture (IWOPA) will take place from 1 to 3 March 2021. The event, which will be held as an online congress, will be officially opened with welcoming addresses by the host Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Chairman of the Board and Scientific Director of the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Dr. Jürgen Buchwald, State Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Prof. Dr. Johanna Eleonore Weber, Rector of the University of Greifswald.
The INP Director successfully brought this high-profile event in the field of plasma applications in agriculture and the food industry to Europe for the first time in 2018 at IWOPA-2 in Japan. "The use of physical technologies in agriculture and the food industry is highly topical in view of the public and scientific discussions about replacing herbicides such as glyphosate and the need to increase agricultural yields in order to feed the world's population. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will gain further international recognition with IWOPA-3. The results of the BMBF joint project "Physics for Food", in which several regional companies, farmers, the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences and the INP are involved, will contribute to this in particular," said Klaus-Dieter Weltmann.
IWOPA is an interdisciplinary meeting for the exchange of the latest results of further developments, ideas and future challenges in the field of plasma and agriculture. The conference aims to promote research, development and application of physical processes and technologies in agriculture in order to create alternatives to chemical methods, among other things.
The central topics of the conference include food safety, preservation, storage and transport, seed germination, plant growth and development, biological processes such as stress reactions or resistance, and methods and techniques for treating seeds and plants.
IWOPA-3 is an important building block in the scientific discourse on the provision of new technologies in agriculture. Leading scientists from Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and the United States have confirmed their participation.
Contact
Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology
Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2
17489 Greifswald
Stefan Gerhardt
Communication
Tel.: +49 3834 - 554 3903
Fax: +49 3834 - 554 301
stefan.gerhardt@inp-greifswald.de
www.leibniz-inp.de
