Research • Educate • Connect
Towards a sustainable bioeconomy
Research • Educate • Connect
Towards a sustainable bioeconomy

12th BioSC Forum (Internal Retreat)

April 15, 2026 • full day • Central Library, Forschungszentrum Jülich

 

On April 15, 2026 the 12th BioSC Forum took place at the Central Library at Forschungszentrum Jülich. Following opening remarks by Heike Slusarczyk, Head of the BioSC Office, Boas Pucker and Johannes Rebelein introduced themselves as new CoreGroup leaders. With their expertise in plant biotechnology and bioinformatics, as well as molecular enzyme technology, they are immediately expanding BioSC’s capabilities and scientific focus areas.

Ulrich Schurr, spokesperson for the Executive Board, provided an overview of how the BioSC has made a significant contribution to the development of a science region focused on the bioeconomy since its founding. In a panel discussion with BioSC members at various career stages, the value of the BioSC was highlighted through personal perspectives and experiences. These insights were further explored and expanded upon in subsequent small-group work.

 

Another focus of the program was on the progress of ongoing research projects. The breadth of the scientific topics addressed by the BioSC as a whole was once again evident on this day. Current projects focus on topics such as innovative crop cultivation and plant protection, food shelf life, the utilization of biologically active molecules from plants and fungi, new bio-based materials, as well as innovative process technologies and new feedstocks for biorefineries. The optimization of enzymes, production organisms, and crops using synthetic biology and bioinformatics is playing an increasingly important role. All projects in the BioSC research network are presented with brief descriptions on the BioSC website (www.biosc.de/researching).

Throughout the day, there was ample opportunity for discussion, personal exchange, and networking. Many thanks to all speakers and participants for the successful event.

Photos: Forschungszentrum Jülich

AGENDA 

08:30

Registration coffee

09:00

Welcome and introduction

09:10

Introduction of new CoreGroups and CoreGroup leaders

09:20

Session I: Recent results and developments in BioSC projects

Elevator Pitches
SoilCE-PV, Otavio dos Anjos Leal, IBG-3: Agrosphere, FZ Jülich
PhotoMat, Magdalena Wrona Pezo,IBG-2: Plant Sciences, FZ Jülich
autoTRAIT, Ankur Sahu, IBG-4: Bioinformatics, FZ Jülich
HARMONIC, Katharina Luhmer, INRES - Renewable Resources, University of Bonn

ASHtoCASH - From ash to cash - Utilizing waste streams from locally produced biomaterials for controlling relevant diseases of sugar beet as a key crop for the national bioeconomy
Patrick Schwinges, Institute of Plant Physiology, RWTH Aachen

ValorCO2 - Gas fermentation with recombinant Cupriavidus necator for carbon-negative products
Ghazi Allagui, ICE-2 – Jülich Systems Analysis, FZ Jülich

Elevator Pitches
C1Power, Subhasri Ghosh, iAMB - Synthetic Microbiology, RWTH Aachen
StRetro, Till El Harrar, IBG-4: Bioinformatics, FZ Jülich
M²app, Kerstin Schipper, Microbiology, HHU Düsseldorf
FamoUS, Valentin Steier, AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen

OptiCellu - A multidisciplinary approach towards the sustainable production of cellulose fibres
Partho Sakha De, Computational Cell Biology, HHU Düsseldorf

IN-FIBRE - Integrated multistep approaches for efficient cellulose fibre extraction from alternative sources
Halim Choo, IBG-2: Plant Sciences, FZ Jülich

Elevator Pitches
ReLign, Sonja Herres-Pawlis, Bioinorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen
SludgeChain, Monika Hartmann, Agricultural and Food Market Research, University of Bonn
CaseIm, Calvin Hohn, Softmatter Process Engineering, RWTH Aachen
10:35

Coffee break

- poster exhibition is open - 

11:45

Session II: Opportunities and benefits of interaction within BioSC

Introduction

Breakout Sessions

13:00

Lunch

- Poster exhibition is open -

14:15

Presentation of Breakout Sessions and Plenary Discussion

14:45

Session III: Recent results and developments in BioSC projects

SmartBio - Smart Matching - Advancing Bioeconomy by understanding substrate process interaction
Kim Keilen, AVT.BioVT – Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen

FiberSysTain - Leveraging Systems Knowledge to Enhance Sustainable Practices in a Thriving Pulp and Paper Industry
Tobias Morbe, ICE-2 – Jülich Systems Analysis, FZ Jülich

HybaSC - Single-Cell Analysis of Hydrogel-Encapsulated Bacteria for Seed Coatings
Michelle Bund, IBG-1: Systems Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich

PepTechFruit - Peptide-based technologies prolonging fruit durability: Fighting food waste with advanced biotechnology
Mark Müller-Linow, IBG-2: Plant Sciences, FZ Jülich und
Jana Kilimann, ILR – Agricultural and Food Market Research, University of Bonn

Eco-T-Rex - Economically Guided Process Development for Biobased Production of Monomers for Polymerization using Terpenoid based Extraction for Purification
Ann Kristin Tholen, ICE-2 – Jülich Systems Analysis, FZ Jülich
Lutz Burow, Bioinorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen

16:00

Summary
 16:05

Poster Session and Get-Together 

Coffee and snacks
17:00

End of the Forum