VAAM Industry-Academia Panel
The online lecture series VAAM Industry-Academia Panel presents two scientists working on similar issues in industry and in academia. In short lectures, both present their work from their perspective and thus show how applied microbiological research and basic research are intertwined and interlocked. The programmes of previous IAP events can be found in the archive.
Presentations are online via Zoom every 2 months on the 3rd Thursday of the month, 4-5 pm.
Participation is free of charge and also possible for non-members of the VAAM.
Online Access Link IAP 27 15.10.2026:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81711628288?pwd=di92ZjcxZ0dldHhQSjlXd0JIZzh6Zz09
If you have already registered for a previous event of the series, you do not need to register again. You will automatically receive an invitation and the access data for the Zoom Conference before the next lecture.
27. VAAM
Industry-Academia Panel
15.10.2026, online, 16h
"Protein Engineering for
Advanced Materials and
Polymer Circularity"
Speaker at 27th IAP on 15.10.2026
1. Dr. Lukas Sturmberger, Amsilk GmbH, Neuried/ München
"Engineering Proteins for the Next Generation of Consumer Care"
Protein engineering allows us to design proteins specifically for the functions required in consumer care, from surface adhesion and film formation to protection and sensory performance. Using engineered silk proteins as an example, this talk will show how molecular design can be translated into scalable ingredients that combine targeted performance with biodegradability, offering new ways to replace conventional petrochemical-based polymers in home and personal care applications.
2. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schwaneberg, Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie, RWTH Aachen
"Protein engineering of material binding peptides for synthetic polymer binding and recycling"
© Foto: Martin Braun
The design of material-binding peptides opens up opportunities for innovation in biocatalysis, the polymer circular economy/sustainable materials (focus of the presentation), plant health, and medical technology. Driving factor: the convergence of scientific disciplines.
The unique selling points (USPs) of proteins derived from BioNylons stem from the chemical diversity, structure and material-specific binding capabilities of material-binding peptides.
Significant contributions to value creation as part of a sustainable circular economy require established product concepts to be reimagined in order to harness the next stage of scientific and industrial development and its forward-looking opportunities for industrial value creation.
References:
Chem. Soc. Rev. (2024) 53 (12): 6445–6510; https://doi.org/10.1039/d2cs00991a
https://pubs.rsc.org/cs/article/53/12/6445/763800/Material-specific-binding-peptides-empower
Archive of former Industry-Academia Panels:
