TUMCS

Students explore innovation landscape at the port of Straubing Cycling to the bioeconomy of tomorrow

Last Friday, around 50 students and researchers from the TUM Campus Straubing (TUMCS) experienced how closely science, entrepreneurship and industrial application are connected in Straubing. The group cycled from the campus in Uferstraße to the BioCampus in the harbour and gained insights into the bioeconomy and biotechnology infrastructure. The tour not only built a bridge between two important locations of the regional bioeconomy, but also set an example for sustainable mobility.

A large group of cyclists in front of Uferstraße 53
Otto Zellmer/TUM

Some of the cyclists before departing together at the TUM Campus Straubing

A young woman and a young man in front of rollup displays, the woman speaking into a microphone.
Otto Zellmer/TUM

Students from TUM Campus Straubing presented their business ideas for sustainable technologies at the harbor.

In addition to the students, TUMCS Rector Prof. Dr. Volker Sieber, Straubing's Mayor Peter Stranninger and Matthias Reisinger from the city's Mobility Development Department also cycled. The event was organized by the Professorship for Bioprocess Engineering (Prof. Michael Zavrel) together with BioCampus Straubing GmbH, and the event was sponsored by the National Transfer Network for the Acceleration of the Industrial Bioeconomy TransBIB. 

Students present new business ideas 

After arriving at the technology and start-up centre in the port, the focus was initially on the next generation of entrepreneurs. As part of the "Clean Tech Ventures" course by Prof. Claudia Doblinger, students presented their business ideas around sustainable technologies and bioeconomic innovations. Six teams presented their concepts in pitches. 

At the same time, the participants were able to visit various institutions that make Straubing unique in Germany in terms of scaling and demonstration of new processes for industrial biotechnology. The program included guided tours of the Bio Scale-Up Center of the TUM Campus, the construction site of the BioCampus MultiPilot facility and Bayernhof BioTec. 

Project manager Matthias Scholz presented the goals, offers and support measures of the TransBIB project. Particular focus was placed on the so-called "One Stop Shop": a central point of contact that supports students, researchers and companies in innovation and transfer processes. 

The fact that innovation also begins on a small scale was shown by the award of a student competition. The students had designed new cycle path signage between the campus and the harbour. The winners were honored as well as the most successful teams of the clean-tech pitches. The event ended with a barbecue in the beer garden. The event aimed to make creative ideas visible and to inspire young people for entrepreneurship and sustainable development. And the tour showed: The distances between research, innovation and application are not far in Straubing – and most of them can be covered comfortably by bike.

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