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MatConnect 

Building Bridges for the Transfer of Biohybrid and Living Materials to Industrial Applications

Biohybrids and living materials open up new prospects for the future—from smart implants to novel diagnostic approaches and living therapeutic systems. Their potential extends far beyond individual applications; at the same time, however, they pose unique challenges for research and practical application, particularly with regard to technology transfer, standardization, regulation, and societal acceptance.

This is where the project “Science, Transfer, and Networking for the MaterialVital Innovation Ecosystem (MatConnect)” comes in as a complementary measure to the “MaterialVital” materials hub initiative. The goal of this collaborative project is to systematically connect the research consortia funded within the hub and to make their results transferable to industrial applications in a targeted manner. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR).

One area of focus, among others, is on transfer-oriented activities with an eye toward medical technology applications. These include structured exchange formats between research, industry, and startups, as well as the development of concrete use-case scenarios. An accompanying innovation system study also analyzes publication and patent landscapes and consolidates the results into an interactive stakeholder map to systematically map technology transfer pathways, stakeholders, technologies, and fields of application, thereby revealing new opportunities for collaboration.

Another key element of MatConnect is the early engagement with regulatory and normative issues, particularly in the field of living materials. For example,as part of the project, the Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM) will establish expert networks on regulatory matters, analyze regulatory gaps, and develop practical guidelines to provide guidance for research, industry, and regulatory agencies and to facilitate market access for future applications.

Through this approach, MatConnect helps to responsibly harness the innovation potential of biohybrid and living materials.

MatConnect's Goals

Networking

Creating spaces and formats where networks can learn from one another

Make visible

Translating findings into formats that reach the scientific community, industry, and the general public

Strengthen the ecosystem

Identifying Key Players and Issues Early On — Building Trust in Responsible Research

Work Plan

Work Plan: Two Modules Interlock at MatConnect

Supportive Networking

Exchange · Transfer · Communication
  • Connecting Networks
  • Transferring Technology to Industry
  • Communicating Science

Accompanying Analysis

Understand · Analyze · Categorize
  • Understanding Networks
  • Analyze the Innovation Ecosystem
  • Understanding Regulations
  • Strengthening Communication Dynamics

The findings from the analysis are continuously incorporated into the networking initiatives.

Team

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Dr. Anna Wachsmuth-Pohle

Coordinator, Fraunhofer ISI
As the project manager for MatConnect, I coordinate the collaboration among our partners from Fraunhofer and Leibniz institutes and ensure strategic coordination with related projects in the field of biohybrid and living material systems.
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Dr. Valentin Knitsch

Accompanying Networking & Analysis, Fraunhofer ISI
As a methodologist specializing in scientific foresight and knowledge transfer, I support researchers in their structured exploration of new application areas for biohybrid and living material systems.
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Dr. Ann-Kathrin Dieterle

Accompanying Analysis, Fraunhofer ISI
As a transfer-oriented researcher, I analyze the key players in the field of biohybrid and living material systems, provide feedback on my findings to the consortia, and thereby help shape innovation processes in a targeted manner.
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Marlen Weiße

Accompanying Analysis, Fraunhofer ISI
As part of the MatConnect project, I am analyzing the innovation ecosystem surrounding living and biohybrid material systems. My research focuses on examining the relevant actors, networks, and knowledge flows, as well as the structural and institutional frameworks that influence the development and dissemination of these technologies.
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Dr. Christoph Starke

Accompanying Networking & Analysis, Fraunhofer ISI
As a transfer and futures researcher, I support collaborative projects in identifying new fields of application, opportunities for cooperation, and marketing possibilities for biohybrid and living material systems—using workshop formats drawn from business administration and futures studies.
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Jacqueline Zimmermann

Companion Analysis & Science Communication, Fraunhofer ISI
As part of the MatConnect project, I analyze how different groups of stakeholders frame biohybrid and living material systems in their communications—and use these findings to provide the consortia with specific guidance on how they can position their research in public discourse.
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Anna Rupp

Corporate Design & Key Visuals, Fraunhofer ISI

As a designer, she creates the visual identity for MatConnect —from corporate identity and key visuals to a unified visual language. These elements provide the project with a unifying theme and help ensure that complex content is remembered for longer.

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Nina Oswald

Supportive Networking & Science Communication, Fraunhofer IZI

In the project MatConnect project, I develop formats that make complex research on living and biohybrid materials understandable and accessible. In addition, we at the IZI facilitate networkingamong early-career researchers and create opportunities for exchange, professional development, and collaboration.

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Elisabeth Wenzel

Supportive Networking, Fraunhofer IZI
In the MatConnect project, I contribute my expertise in biotechnology and medicine. As part of Fraunhofer IZI, I support research consortia with networking and coordination. My focus is on promoting exchange between different disciplines and linking research to potential fields of application.

Leibniz INM

The Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM) is contributing its expertise in biohybrid and living material systems to the MatConnect network. The position associated with this role is currently being filled.