Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA
Analyzing Biointelligence Worldwide »International Benchmark Study InBenBio«
In brief
The InBenBio study aims to identify the latest developments in the field of biointelligence worldwide, comparing them with the framework conditions in Germany and evaluating innovative technologies and processes in international workshops. The study is important for decision-makers from industry and research who are engaged in tomorrow’s value creation. Because in the future, companies will have to develop new technologies and business models to meet the growing demands of customers and society. Wanted: high-level experts for personal interviews. Your expertise will help identify and analyse biointelligent technologies, products, processes, methods/tools, business models, and concepts.
In detail
Currently, Germany is not leading in Biointelligence. It can become a lead market for Biointelligent products and production due to its privileged position in international trade, even today.
The project «International Benchmark Biointelligence» systematically records and analyses worldwide activities to identify lead countries and target markets and assess Germany's current position. The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, the Chair for Innovation Economics at the University of Hohenheim, the Institute of Bioprocess Engineering at the University of Stuttgart, McKinsey & Company Inc. and VDMA Services GmbH work together in this interdisciplinary project.
Through structured sets of criteria and interviews with national and international experts, country-specific benchmarks of all activities will be determined to identify the current lead countries and the market volume of dominant Biointelligent technologies. The findings of the project provide valuable perspectives for Germany’s strategic orientation concerning Biointelligence.
Supplementary international workshops on site shed light on the potential of Biointelligent innovations in current lead countries. InBenBio has a practical approach and involves companies and experts via an industry and expert advisory board. The project consortium‘s scientific approach ensures a broad transferability, distribution, and adaptability of the results to the specifics of the respective target group.
The study results are particularly relevant for decision-makers in industry and research. They illuminate the role of German industry and business compared to global competition and show the political and social scopes for action to operate as a lead market and lead provider in the field of Biointelligence. Interested parties have the opportunity to participate in international workshops. They will receive the final study to expand their knowledge Biointelligence and benefit from the project’s findings.
Project overview
| Instantiation | Comparison of prevailing paradigms Definition of focus topics |
| Analysis | Identification of lead countries, their actors and technologies |
| Expert interviews | Deepening of analysis results through personal interviews |
| Benchmark | Identification and analysis of key factors and development opportunities for all focus areas and market segments |
| International workshops | On-site assessment of technologies and processes in international workshops to expand, deepen, and evaluate the insights gained |
| Genesis | Discussion of the need for action in industry and research. Discussion of strategy and research perspectives and identification of future research fields for each area |
| Publication | During the VDMA Industry Day 2024 |
Insights into the project
»At Festo, we are working on innovative system architectures that open up new ways of creating value by combining digitalisation and automation. The biobased resources obtained from algae biomass in the Festo high-tech bioreactor, such as fatty acids, colour pigments, and surfactants, offer great potential for climate-neutral products. Unlike petroleum-based products, they can usually be biodegraded and recycled in a climate-neutral way, which promotes the circular economy.
I see a high relevance in identifying the latest developments in the field of biointelligence. The InBenBio study will help us set interdisciplinary impulses between engineering, life and information sciences, and evaluate innovative technologies and processes. The study’s findings will also help us better understand and implement the potentials of biointelligent value creation."«
Christian Stich, member of the expert industry advisory board in the InBenBio project and Festo representative in the industry working group of the Biointelligence Competence Centre e.V.
»From vertical farming to DNA data storage – the VDMA considers biologisation and biointelligence as one of the most relevant topics for the industry in the next ten to fifteen years, which in their potential impact are comparable to digitalisation and artificial intelligence. Biointelligence is a new and powerful tool, highly relevant for sustainable production. The international race for knowledge, resources and new markets for it is in full course – Here export-oriented machinery and plant engineering must be at the forefront!
From the structured overview for biointelligence with industry relevance to the analysis of best practices of international stakeholders with on-site delegation visits - with InBenBio we want to clarify the full scope of this top issue for the industry and in particular for the SME-oriented mechanical engineering sector and support its implementation. The Biointelligence Benchmark will not only enable companies to adapt their own business strategies. I am firmly convinced that the project will help the industry to better compete with leading players worldwide and to eventually find the way to becoming the leading provider of biointelligent solutions.«
Dr Eric Maiser, expert at the project partner VDMA Sevices GmbH in the InBenBio project and Chairman of the EU sub-platform Manufuture Biointelligent Manufacturing
Focus areas
| Technology perspectives | Framework conditions | Innovative strength and pioneer spirit |
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Expert interviews
Wanted: high-level experts from the fields of research and development, industry, and politics with expertise in one of the specific technology fields from the start-up sector, people with an overall view in the field of biotechnology or biointelligence or AI, in the field of regulation or legislation or investors.
Your expertise will help identify and analyse biointelligent technologies, products, processes, methods/tools, business models, and concepts. Personal interviews, approx. 90-120 minutes.
Contact Maximilian Schutzbach at maximilian.schutzbach@ipa.fraunhofer.de for more information and participate in our survey.
Background
Biointelligence is the result of the convergence of bio-, hard- and software. This cross-fertilization of knowledge between life science, engineering and information science has the potential to trigger the emergence of a new technological paradigm that unlocks innovative transformation paths and technologica chnological advancements in various areas.
Biointelligent systems contain a technical and a biological component as well as a feedback loop and exhibit generally accepted characteristics of (artificial) intelligence. Biointelligent systems are intended to contribute to a sustainable design of products and production in various fields of human needs, including health, nutrition, energy, housing, and consumption. Accordingly, a system only becomes biointelligent if it utilizes biological resources reasonably and strives to align itself with both its natural environment and the systems in its surroundings.