A look back at the AUFBRUCH Summer Event 2026

On 6 July, the AUFBRUCH Graduate Cluster held its summer event. Together with guests from academia, industry and politics, the event provided a forum for specialist presentations, insights into current research projects and discussions amongst the participants.

Following a welcome by Tatjana Schwabe-Marković and opening remarks from Elke Hohmann and Dirk Brügge, Regina Palkovits and Tobias Klement presented the AUFBRUCH Graduate Cluster.

Frank Kensy and Niklas Wolfering then provided insights into green start-ups, the journey from idea to biotech start-up, and innovative approaches in the food industry. The general consensus was that the path to setting up a business is rarely straightforward, but can nevertheless be successful with the right support networks. Stephanie Bienefeld then presented the Foodineum collaboration project, which develops sustainable solutions in the food sector and is based in Neuss.

In the afternoon, our researchers presented the current status of our six areas of innovation at the ‘mid-point’ of the Graduate Cluster. Regina Palkovits, Petra Siegert, Jörg Pietruszka, Sonja Herres-Pawlis, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Holger Beckmann and Ulrich Schörken presented their latest research work. Topics included the conversion of carbohydrate-rich waste streams, new recycling concepts for rubber, the immobilisation of biocatalysts, the chemoenzymatic synthesis of bioplastics, green plasticisers and lubricants, and the development of new biosurfactants. The specialist presentations were complemented by ‘Spotlight’ contributions from our PhD students Alina Tauriainen, Julian Handke and Sven Soerensen, who outlined their collaboration within the project.

Many thanks to all the speakers, participants and contributors for your contributions and the professional exchange. We look forward to continuing the discussions and collaborations initiated here in the coming months.