skip to main content

CyaPlas - 2nd place in Science2Start competition

07.12.2021 CMFI News

Project "CyaPlas - Nachhaltiges Bioplastik aus Sonnenlicht und CO2" takes second place in Science2Start Competition

The winners of the Science2Start Ideas Competition 2021 were announced in early December. Second and third place went to researchers from the University of Tübingen. 

Second place went to the project “CyaPlas - Nachhaltiges Bioplastik aus Sonnenlicht und CO2.” Karl Forchhammer, CMFI Principal Investigator from the Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine at the University of Tübingen, together with Dr. Moritz Koch (former CMFI member), is conducting research on the polymer PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate), which is characterized by good biodegradability and processing properties. The polymer is derived from cyanobacteria, also known as microalgae. The scientists succeeded in increasing the intracellular content of PHB in the bacteria to over 80 percent of the cell dry mass by means of genetic engineering adaptations. This process would require almost only CO2, water and sunlight for the production of bioplastics, which is both efficient and cost-effective.

 

Due to the pandemic, the award ceremony took place as a photo meeting. The prizes are awarded with 4,500 euros, which had been offered by “Voelker & Partner Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Wirtschaftsprüfer.”

Text: University of Tübingen / Press release of BioRegio STERN Management GmbH.

Contact

Prof. Dr. Karl Forchhammer
University of Tübingen

Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine (IMIT) | Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections" (CMFI)

E-Mail: karl.forchhammer@uni-tuebingen.de

Press Contact

Leon Kokkoliadis
Public Relations Management

Tel: +49 7071 29-74707
E-Mail: leon.kokkoliadis@uni-tuebingen.de

Related Articles

Can evolution run backwards? Nadine Ziemert as a guest on the American Chemical Society's Tiny Matters podcast
05.02.2025 Can evolution run backwards? Nadine Ziemert as a guest on the American Chemical Society's Tiny Matters podcast In the Media
Listeria in the gut: How our body cells fight infections with good communication and teamwork
04.02.2025 Listeria in the gut: How our body cells fight infections with good communication and teamwork CMFI News
Over 600 pupils in the CMFI school lab
03.02.2025 Over 600 pupils in the CMFI school lab CMFI News
Get to know CMFI's Graduate School IGIM
31.01.2025 Get to know CMFI's Graduate School IGIM CMFI News
Podcast "Inside CMFI: Potenziale der Mikrobiomforschung"
10.01.2025 Podcast "Inside CMFI: Potenziale der Mikrobiomforschung" In the Media
CMFI Nikolaus an Universität Tübingen
06.12.2024 CMFI Nikolaus an Universität Tübingen CMFI News