Project

The circular bioeconomy is seen as having a potentially high contribution to addressing econom-ic, social and environmental challenges, such as the sustainable use of natural resources, reduc-ing dependence on fossil fuels, protecting the environment and climate, and strengthening eco-nomic activities, especially in rural regions.

There are very promising innovation activities on plant-based fibers in the TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe. These activities cover a broad spectrum of topics and (potential) applications in various sectors. However, the challenge is to clarify which topics offer the highest potential in which con-cretization, how individual activities can be combined into value creation networks, and which further steps are required to realize the potential.

The aim of the project is to set up an initiative on plant-based fibres. The purpose is to identify and broadly communicate potentials for cooperation for plant-based fibers and their various applications and sectors in the regional area of the TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe.

In this initiative

• relevant development potentials/topics across all stakeholders are identified,
• visibility of bioeconomy actors and of topics with high potentials is raised among (corporate) actors,
• actions for the realization of the potentials and further networking of the actors are derived,
• the transfer of the thematic initiative to other regions in Baden-Württemberg is actively supported.

For this purpose, the biobased fibres initiative characterizes processes, products and value-added systems that are in development and close to the market, identifies their application potential in various sectors (in particular agriculture and food, paper, textiles, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals and packaging), identifies challenges for implementation in circular value networks and in industrial production, and derives options and recommendations for action.

The project is being carried out by a core team from TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe GmbH (project management), Fraunhofer ISI and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT. 

Two workshops were held in May and September 2022. About 40 representatives from relevant research institutions, companies and innovation-supporting institutions took part. They discussed potentials, obstacles and cooperation opportunities for plant-based fibers and their applications. There was particular interest in applications and cooperations in the areas of construction, packaging and molded parts, and food.

2 - 12/2022

The project is funded by the Ministerium für Ernährung, Ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz within the strategy "Sustainable Bioeconomy Baden-Württemberg". ISI is subcontractor of TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe GmbH (TRK).