The Hamburg University of Technology welcomed Senator for Science Maryam Blumenthal on her official inaugural visit to present current research successes and innovations in the field of sustainable technologies and materials development.
Together with TU President Prof. Andreas Timm-Giel and Vice President for Research Prof. Irina Smirnova, Senator Blumenthal gained a comprehensive insight into ongoing projects and their significance for science and society.
In the Technikum, where pioneering processes are researched under real conditions on a pilot scale, Prof. Irina Smirnova presented the world's largest pilot plant for the production of bio-based aerogels. These ultra-light, highly porous materials offer great potential for energy-efficient insulation materials and other industrial applications. The plant illustrates ways in which production processes can be made more resource-efficient and economical.
The tour also took visitors through the new CampusLab Circular Economy, which links research, teaching, and transfer in the field of circular economy and demonstrates in a practical way how sustainable innovations can be successfully implemented.
There, Lignopure, a successful start-up from TU Hamburg, presented its bio-based materials made from wood, which make an important contribution to sustainable value chains. The Institute of Plastics and Composite Materials demonstrated the integration of carbon fibers into polymers using a stitching process. This allows conventional polymers to be reinforced to the point where they achieve the hardness of metals, opening up a wide range of applications in the field of lightweight materials. Prof. Christian Thies also explained how his working group is driving forward the optimization of sustainable supply chains—a key component of climate-friendly production systems.
