Competence Network Biomimetics

Plants and animals as concept generators for the development of new materials and technologies

Biomimetics (bionics) deals with the analysis and systematic transfer of constructional principles and problem solvings of nature into technical applications. Plants – beside animals – have increasingly turned out to be a treasure trove of biomimetic innovations with a diversity developed in the evolutionary process over the last 3.8 billion years.

The Competence Network Biomimetics is a forum for scientists of various disciplines and for partners from business and industry to enable the joint development of innovative products and technologies. The network bundles the competences of biomimetically working research groups in Baden-Württemberg. Due to the interdisciplinarity of its active members and the current R&D projects, a transfer of research results into technical products along the whole value chain is guaranteed. Moreover, the members provide competences in the following areas:

Research and Development:

• Form-structure-function relationships in plants, in animals, and in plant-animal-interactions
• Mechanical testing and technical biology
• Surfaces and interfaces
• Light-weight construction and materials
• Optimisation
• Fluid dynamics
• Energy
• Fibre-based materials and composite materials
• Architecture
• Transfer into technical application on laboratory and pilot plant scale, and scaling up to industrial level

Services:

• Consultancy for scientists and industry
• Project management
• Industry workshops, creative workshops, and conferences
• Expert data-base on biomimetics
• Public relations
• Education, further training, and on-the-job training

Competence Network Biomimetics (pdf)

Corporate bruchure (pdf)