TUHH SOCIETAL IMPACT

What do aircraft turbines and hip implants have in common? They can both be manufactured with a 3D printer. At Hamburg University of Technology, research on the process is ongoing. The findings are also part of an entirely new generation of shoes.

(September 2025)

Plant-based milk powder is increasingly finding its way into food production. The problem so far: the powder tends to form lumps when it is liquefied again.

(April 2025)

Researchers at the Hamburg University of Technology are investigating new processes that use enzymes to gently extract complex carbohydrates and high-quality proteins from aquatic plants in order to produce new products for the feed and food market.

(January 2025)

During the production of bioethanol, valuable proteins for nutrition can be obtained from residual materials.

(November 2024)

With the help of special enzymes and a biocatalytic method developed at the TU Hamburg, drugs could be produced in a more environmentally friendly and cheaper way in the future.

(August 2024)

Chemical production processes often require a lot of energy and involve the use of environmentally harmful substances. A team at TU Hamburg is working on an alternative that essentially gets by with water, electricity and enzymes. 

(March 2024)

Researchers at TU Hamburg are producing climate-neutral energy sources from renewable raw materials such as wood residues and straw. The molecule lignin plays the main role here.

 Phosphorus can be removed from fodder plants with the aid of biocatalysis. This avoids nutrient-rich excretions from livestock that pollute soils and groundwater. And the scarce resource can be reused.

At the Institute for Aircraft Production Technology (IFPT) an AI algorithm is being developed that optimally configures the packing density of air cargo.

(February 2025)

Lighter ships that adapt to the conditions at sea can ensure more sustainable shipping. This is made possible by the rapid data processing of machine learning.

(May 2024)

Aircraft powered by hydrogen and fuel cells could help to meet climate targets. This is because they do not produce any greenhouse gases, only water is emitted.

(February 2024)

Container ships that lose some of their cargo not only suffer an economic loss, every accident leads to major ecological damage.

Alternative fuels such as green methanol are CO2-neutral and can ensure that climate targets are met in shipping. A TU joint project is researching their practicality in detail.

The “Hamburg Mix” shows that construction waste can provide high-quality raw materials for concrete production, thereby making the industry more sustainable.

(January 2025)

The production of biomethane from kitchen waste offers an as yet untapped potential for the energy transition. So far, only a small portion has been used for this purpose.

How can the consequences of storms and rising water levels in the tidal river Elbe, resulting from climate change, be minimized? This is what the TU Institute of River and Coastal Engineering is investigating for several time frames up to 2200.

(May 2023)

Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier, but explosive and difficult to store. But with a new method, households can even produce and store the gas without it becoming dangerous.

(February 2023)

By 2050, the global water demand is expected to increase by 55 percent, much of which is attributed to agriculture. No wonder, since a good 40 percent of all food worldwide is grown on artificially irrigated land. Any savings in agricultural water use can free up water for other pressing needs like drinking water. A TU Hamburg-project shows how water and fertilizer use can be drastically reduced with a new cultivation concept.

(June 2022)

Global climate targets call for rapid decarbonization of energy generation and increasing integration of renewable energies. But the wind doesn't always blow or the sun doesn't always shine. To ensure a secure supply, electricity, gas and heat grids must be coupled. 

(April 2022)

As part of the COSY-SMILE 2 project, the Institute for Product Development and Mechanical Engineering Design (PKT) supplied numerous models produced using 3D printers. These models eliminate the need for animal testing, ensure high-quality treatment, and enable improved training for surgeons.

(August 2025)

New approaches to tumor imaging: Using 4D ultrasound images and mathematical models, researchers at TU Hamburg are developing a method based on the liver that enables rapid quantitative analysis of tumor vessels – directly at the patient's bedside.

(June 2025)

New types of antennas are able to establish a connection to a satellite from an airplane and maintain it during the flight. Thanks to their extremely flat design, installation in the outer skin of the aircraft can save a significant amount of fuel compared to conventional solutions.

(December 2023)

With the help of test stations, the habits of animals will be measured in order to gather more and more precise information about the effects of climate change on humans and their environment. The goal is to be able to better model the development of life on our planet.

Epilepsy is a regulatory disorder of the brain. If it is not treated, it manifests itself in adults, for example, in the form of seizures or even unconsciousness. In newborns and young children, however, epilepsy is often overlooked because they do not exhibit seizures, and can therefore be fatal.

A four-member, interdisciplinary team is working on an ultra-thin coating that could revolutionize steel construction. This “nano bandage” made of nickel and copper can multiply the lifespan of offshore wind farms, among other structures. The project combines fundamental research with high practical relevance.

(November 2025)

How do you increase the economic strength of a structurally weak region without using more resources? A joint project has selected two districts in Lower Saxony and installed a sustainable recycling system there.

(June 2024)

Flying is harmful to the climate because a lot of CO2 is released when kerosene is burned. One environmentally compatible solution could be to run aircraft on sustainably produced hydrogen in the future. To do this, suitable supply chains must be established. A joint project in which Hamburg University of Technology is involved is investigating what this might look like.

(June 2023)

A TU Hamburg project shows that metal aircraft parts created in a 3D printer are much lighter and can be manufactured faster than conventionally produced ones. They help save kerosene and reduce the CO2 footprint of aircraft.

(March 2023)

Smart buildings can already measure and analyze their condition with sensors. In the future, they will learn to behave sustainably and future-proof with the help of this data and the Internet of Things.