Transfer News

2025

Isocitric acid ready for industrial application
Isocitric acid was previously almost inaccessible - now a new bioprocess from UFZ and ChiroBlock makes sustainable production possible. A licence agreement paves the way for scaling up and industrial application.

UFZ/iDiv pollen trap in Leipzig © EAN, Konstantin Albrecht

Leipzig pollen data now live across Europe
The UFZ and iDiv are integrating pollen data into the European Aeroallergen Network (EAN) database to support science and stakeholders with precise data for research, health and better forecasts.

Fewer Toxicity Tests on Birds
Two teams are developing new methodologies within the CRACK IT Wings of Change Challenge to reduce animal testing in chemical assessments. Their goal: to replace tests on live birds with alternative concepts.

2024

	UFZ Technology Transfer Award for Bertram Boehrer The innovative measurement method for monitoring methane levels in lakes and deep water was developed by Dr. Bertram Boehrer and enables the controlled exploitation of methane deposits for energy generation.
	SAFE Challenge: 119 Ideas against pollutants The SAFE Challenge by Fraunhofer IMW and UFZ for detecting and avoiding everyday pollutants has received great response. 119 creative ideas were submitted and are now being evaluated by the crowd and a jury.
	Citizen Science Promotes Environmental Awareness Citizen science strengthens water protection and environmental engagement. Recent publication shows positive effects on participants and the environment, advocating for the promotion of citizen science projects like FLOW.
	UFZ method for sustainability assessment Leipzig startup TRASH GALORE pioneers UFZ's HILCSA method for holistic event sustainability assessment. The method integrates ecological, economic, and social aspects, addressing 14 UN SDGs. Licensing available since March 2024.
	Tapping the entrepreneurial potential at UFZ Strategic cooperation between the UFZ and the HoMe start-up service at Merseburg University of Applied Sciences launched in 2021 draws positive conclusions

	First field trial with TrapOx® zeolites Together with the company Intrapore, the UFZ has tested TrapOx® zeolites as an in-situ material for the first time. The whole thing took place as part of the BMBF-funded ContaSorb project.
	Launched on the market – CAMELUM CAMELUM is an automatic sampler that collects water samples without contamination and protects the sample even after it has been taken.

	Review of transfun^® successful The new funding programme at the UFZ strengthens cooperation with companies to develop new products.
	Sustainable utilisation of sugar beet residues UFZ and DBFZ team wins CONSUN BEET Hackathon - a competition for innovative ideas in sustainable agriculture of the EU project BioBoosters
	Prof. Dr. Matthias Liess advises German Government The aquatic ecologist (Department ETOX) was appointed to the strategic advisory committee for the German government's National Action Plan for Plant Protection (NAP) in the field of ecosystem/environmental toxicology.

	PFAS Innovation Forum 2024 at the UFZ Under the motto "PFAS in the environment - finding solutions together", 135 participants met at the KUBUS in Leipzig on 4 March 2024.
	New: Hydrogen measurement in the natural gas network is possible A research team has developed a low-cost sensor for measuring hydrogen in the natural gas grid. This is an important step towards the future of the hydrogen economy.
	UFZ project: Sustainable phosphorus recovery In a new paper, a UFZ research team presents a sustainable process for phosphorus recovery. They were able to test it on a large scale. The result: a bio-based, phosphorus-rich fertiliser.
	Review on the usefulness of biofilms Biofilms offer advantages – especially in the production of bulk and fine chemicals. In a new review, UFZ researchers provide an insight into the research topics and challenges of biofilms.
	Chemicals for the bio-economy from agro-industrial residues CapUp project launched - A research team from the UFZ and DBFZ, together with industrial partners, is transferring the production process for caproic and caprylic acid from regional biomass to pilot scale
	Exclusive 'Where to Play' Certification for the UFZ Tech Transfer team Unlock your innovation's full potential with the exclusive 'Where to Play' method. Learn to identify, evaluate, and prioritize market opportunities with confidence
	New way to methanise hydrogen The research team was able to demonstrate promising methods for the power-to-gas approach. The challenge: the sustainable storage of surplus renewable energy. Their solution: a plug-flow reactor.
	Indoor air quality: CFD models optimise radon reduction in homes Advances in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are playing a crucial role in predicting airflow in ventilated spaces and assessing indoor air quality.
	Phenol removal with sustainable technology The results of the UFZ research team indicate that microbial electrochemical technologies can be successfully used for the removal of phenol.