BIOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION OF MANUFACTURING
I N V I TAT I O N , J U N E 2 8 – 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 I N B E R L I N
Biological Transformation involves changes similarly profound as
the digital transformation for economies and societies around
the globe. The systematic application of principles, resources
and processes of nature in technology will enable entire new
technological solutions and high-tech markets, leading to
far-reaching social and economic change processes. Biological
Transformation is empowered by progress in life sciences,
advances in digitalization, as well as in material and production
sciences. Essential challenges of today‘s societies can finally be
addressed – with sustainable growth strategies and lasting effi-
ciency that affects all areas of value creation.
Understanding the complex effects of new technologies and dis-
ruptive innovations is essential for the success of entire societies
and economies. Any structural change through technological
developments must be recognized, understood and communi-
cated at an early stage in order to actively shape long-term impact
on economic, social, political and cultural terms. To this end, the
conference “Biological Transformation of Manufacturing” will
make a decisive contribution and, at the same time, initiate the
new, future-oriented conference series “FUTURAS IN RES”.
As Europe’s largest organization for applied research and an
established partner to industry, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is
perfectly positioned to prepare an international, stimulating
and controversial debate on the cross-cutting task of Biological
BIOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION IN VALUE CREATION
Transformation. FUTURAS IN RES is the right forum: ideas meet
solutions, developments meet supporters and critics, thinkers
come up with new questions. Industrie 4.0, bio-manufac-
turing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, biomimetic
design, resilience engineering, circular economy and sus-
tainability are brought together in six focus sessions. Leading
international experts from various scientific areas and industries
are invited to share their innovative ideas and discuss opportuni-
ties and challenges in an interdisciplinary setting.
FUTURAS IN RES combines scientific excellence with a global
perspective and a profound focus on value creation.
Sincerely yours
Prof. Dr. Reimund Neugebauer
President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
THURSDAY, JUNE 28
8.00 a.m. Registration 8.45 a.m. Welcome: Prof. Dr. Reimund Neugebauer Political Addresses: European Commissioner Günther Oettinger, Euro-
pean Commissioner for Budget & Human Resources BMin Anja Karliczek, Federal Minister of Education and
Research 9.30 a.m. Session 1: Biological Transformation – is a new era
upon us? Prof. Welf-Guntram Drossel
10.45 a.m. Coffee break11.15 a.m. Session 2: Future manufacturing – disrupted or
disruptive? Prof. Christian Brecher, Fraunhofer IPT; Prof. Gerald Byrne, UCD, Ireland
1.00 p.m. Lunch 2.00 p.m. Session 3: Future production technologies and
processes – are boundaries fading? Prof. Thomas Bauernhansl, Fraunhofer IPA; Prof. Heiko
Zimmermann, Fraunhofer IBMT 4.00 p.m. Coffee break 4.30 p.m. Keynote: Eco-nomics, development and water: Is this
the way to a sustainable future? Prof. Eugene Cloete, Vice Rector, Research, Innovation
and Postgraduate studies, Stellenbosch University
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
FRIDAY, JUNE 29
8.00 a.m. Welcome Coffee 8.30 a.m. Welcome: Prof. Dr. Reimund Neugebauer Political Address: BMin Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for the Environ-
ment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety 9.00 a.m. Session 5: Bio-inspired materials and circular economy – the resource revolution?
Prof. Eckhard Weidner, Fraunhofer UMSICHT; Prof. Peter Gumbsch, Fraunhofer IWM
10.30 a.m. Coffee break 11.00 a.m. Session 6: Bio-intelligent value creation systems – the friendly interaction?
Prof. Jakob Rehof, Fraunhofer ISST; Prof. Michael ten Hompel, Fraunhofer IML
12.30 p.m. Conclusion Official End of Conference12.45 p.m. Farewell lunch
4.50 p.m. Session 4: Sustainability and resilience – what is the impact on society and technological systems?
Prof. Wilhelm Bauer, Fraunhofer IAO; Prof. Stefan Hiermaier, Fraunhofer EMI
6.20 p.m. End of the first conference day and get together in Axica lobby
FUTURE MANUFACTURING – DISRUPTED OR DISRUPTIVE?Scientific responsibility: Prof. Christian Brecher, Fraunhofer IPT;
Prof. Gerald Byrne, UCD, Ireland
Key questions:
Industrie 4.0 – how far did we get?
How will the sustainable growth strategies challenge
the factory of the future?
What elements of bio-manufacturing and digitalization
can accelerate the transformational process?
Keynotes / Panel discussion:
Prof. Christian Brecher, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for Produc-
tion Technology IPT
Prof. Gerald Byrne, Dean of Engineering, College of Engineering
and Architecture, University College Dublin
Dr. Jan Mrosik, CEO Division Digital Factory, Siemens AG
Dr. Masahiko Mori, President, DMG MORI CO., Ltd.
Dr. Thomas Schmitz-Rode, Director, Helmholtz Institute of
Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University
Dr. Joachim Schulz, Member of the Management Board,
B. Braun Melsungen AG
DAY 1 DAY 1
Session 2BIOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION – IS A NEW ERA UPON US?Moderator: Prof. Welf-Guntram Drossel, Fraunhofer IWU
Key questions:
Is Biological Transformation a new frontier of digital
transformation?
Do we need new mechanisms for economic growth?
What is the next stage of biology as a human technology?
Keynotes / Panel discussion:
Prof. Welf-Guntram Drossel, Fraunhofer IWU
Prof. Dr. Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-
Gesellschaft
Dr. Rob Carlson, Managing Director Bioeconomy Capital
Prof. Christoph M. Schmidt, President Leibniz Institute for
Economic Research RWI
Session 1
SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE – WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND TECHNOLOGICAL SYSTEMS?Scientific responsibility: Prof. Wilhelm Bauer, Fraunhofer IAO;
Prof. Stefan Hiermaier, Fraunhofer EMI
Key questions:
Sustainability – how can we ensure environmentally and
socially compatible technological systems?
Resilience – how can systems respond appropriately to both
disturbances and opportunities?
Which impact do transformational technological aspects
have on humans and societies?
Keynotes / Panel discussion:
Dr. Lauren Alexander Augustine, Director of the Program on Risk,
Resilience, and Extreme Events, National Academy of Sciences, Enginee-
ring, and Medicine
Prof. Wilhelm Bauer, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial
Engineering IAO
Prof. Ingo Burgert, Head of Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zurich
Peter Froeschle, Chairman, ARENA2036 e.V
Prof. Stefan Hiermaier, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed
Dynamics EMI
Prof. Klaus Kornwachs, Honorary Professor, Ulm University, Office
for Culture and Technology
DAY 1
Session 4
DAY 1
Session 3 FUTURE PRODUCTION TECHNOL-OGIES AND PROCESSES – ARE BOUNDARIES FADING?Scientific responsibility: Prof. Thomas Bauernhansl,
Fraunhofer IPA; Prof. Heiko Zimmermann, Fraunhofer IBMT
Key questions:
What technologies are currently driving the revolution
in industrial production?
What is the potential of ‘biology by design’ to create
sustainable solutions in production?
What changes are necessary to produce bio-intelligent
systems like co-processors made of biological neurons?
Keynotes / Panel discussion:
Osh. Agabi, Founder & CEO, Koniku Inc.
Prof. Thomas Bauernhansl, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for
Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA
Dr. Barry Canton, Co-Founder Gingko Bioworks
Prof. Michael Goldfarb, H. Fort Flowers Professor of Mechani-
cal Engineering, Vanderbilt University
Dr. Yichen Shi, CEO, Axol Bioscience Ltd
William Whitford, Strategic Solutions Leader Cell Culture,
Bioprocess GE Healthcare
Prof. Heiko Zimmermann, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for
Biomedical Engineering IBMT
BIO-INTELLIGENT VALUE CREATION SYSTEMS – THE FRIENDLY INTERACTION?Scientific responsibility: Prof. Jakob Rehof, Fraunhofer ISST,
Prof. Michael ten Hompel, Fraunhofer IML
Key questions:
Can nature inspire new concepts for supply chain
dynamics?
Is there something beyond simple imitation of human
behavior?
What are the implications for new approaches to
human-machine networks?
Keynotes / Panel discussion:
Dr. Robert Bauer, Chairman of the Executive Board, SICK AG
Dr. Marco Dorigo, Co-director, IRIDIA Lab, Université Libre de
Bruxelles
Prof. Dario Floreano, Director, Laboratory of Intelligent
Systems, EPFL
Prof. Michael ten Hompel, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for
Material Flow and Logistics IML
Prof. Jakob Rehof, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for Software
and Systems Engineering ISST
DAY 2
Session 6Session 5 BIO-INSPIRED MATERIALS AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY – THE RESOURCE REVOLUTION?Scientific responsibility: Prof. Eckhard Weidner, Fraunhofer
UMSICHT, Prof. Peter Gumbsch, Fraunhofer IWM
Key questions:
Nature is an experienced designer – does it make sense
to follow its principles?
Is the substitution of products based on fossil resources
by bio-based materials a step towards sustainability?
Is a stable industrial metabolism without fossil resources
desirable?
Keynotes / Panel discussion:
Prof. Peter Fratzl, Director, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and
Interfaces
Prof. Peter Gumbsch, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for
Mechanics of Materials IWM
Dr. Maria Soliman, Research Fellow SABIC
Dr. Volker Wagner-Solbach, Procurement & Supply Chain
Manager, AMSilk GmbH
Prof. Eckhard Weidner, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for
Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT
DAY 2
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Hansastr. 27c
80686 München
Germany
© Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V., 2018
Venue
AXICA
Kongress- und Tagungszentrum
Pariser Platz 3
10117 Berlin
Participants’ service
Kontrapunkt Agentur für Kommunikation
phone +49 40 278476-28
Chairman
Prof. Dr. Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Concept
Corporate Think Tank, Dr. Sophie Hippmann, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Conference fee
The conference ticket for the complete program June 28 to 29, 2018 costs
EUR 449,99 VAT included.
Registration
www.futuras.fraunhofer-events.de
Photo acknowledgements
Cover: gettyimages; Page 3: Bernhard Huber; Pages 5, 7, 10: iStockphoto;
Page 6: Fraunhofer IFAM; Page 8: Fraunhofer IML; Page 9: Fraunhofer ILT
CONFERENCE FACTS AND REGISTRATION
sponsored by