• Topics
  • Publications
  • Dialogue
    • Future Council of the Federal Chancellor
    • Policy advice at European level
    • International cooperation
    • Parliamentary events
    • Public dialogue events
    • Initiatives and partners
    • acatech HORIZONS
    • #FutureWorkDebatte
  • Transfer
  • Events
  • Media
    • News
    • Media Library
    • Ask acatech
    • Subscriptions
  • About us
    • What we do
      • Mission
      • Guidelines for Advising Policymakers and the Public
      • Quality management
      • Transparency
      • History
    • Organisation
      • Executive Board
      • Management Board
      • Members
      • Topic networks
      • Senate
    • acatech Office
      • Jobs (German)
      • Locations
    • Friends Association
  • DE
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Dialogue
    • Future Council of the Federal Chancellor
    • Policy advice at European level
    • International cooperation
    • Parliamentary events
    • Public dialogue events
    • Initiatives and partners
    • acatech HORIZONS
    • #FutureWorkDebatte
  • Transfer
  • Events
  • Media
    • News
    • Media Library
    • Ask acatech
    • Subscriptions
  • About us
    • What we do
      • Mission
      • Guidelines for Advising Policymakers and the Public
      • Quality management
      • Transparency
      • History
    • Organisation
      • Executive Board
      • Management Board
      • Members
      • Topic networks
      • Senate
    • acatech Office
      • Jobs (German)
      • Locations
    • Friends Association
  • DE

Materials Research: Inspired by Nature Innovation Potential of Biologically Inspired Materials

Cover of the publication "Materials Research"

Download PDF (English)

Author / Publisher: Peter Fratzl, Karin Jacobs, Martin Möller, Thomas Scheibel, Katrin Sternberg
Series: acatech DISCUSSION
Published: 31 January 2020

Materials play a crucial part in virtually all products and areas of technology. Demographic change, greater shortages of resources and climate change require a more sustainable economy, while changing requirements are also increasing the levels of complexity to be managed in materials science. The biologicalization of materials research – that is to say taking inspiration from Nature as to how biological resources, principles and methods can be used – in particular holds major innovation potential for Germany as a location for research and business.

The acatech DISCUSSION uses examples to demonstrate the multiplicity of different possible structural, functional and synthesis principles with which Nature is already inspiring and will in future continue to advance materials research. Examples of novel material-based innovations at the interface of biology and technology which will benefit both society and the economy are presented from various fields of application.

Tags

Biotechnology | Materials | Sustainability

  • Topic

    Energy and resources

    Life sciences and health

Newsletter
Our newsletters (in German) keep you up to date with the academy’s current topics, projects and events.
Subscribe

  • Social Media



  • Academy

    • Topics
    • Publications
    • Projects
    • International Cooperation
    • Events
    • Media
    • About us
    • Locations
    • Jobs (German)
  • Legal notices

    • Imprint
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact

    acatech – National Academy
    of Science and Engineering

    Munich Office
    Karolinenplatz 4
    80333 Munich
    Germany

    +49 (0)89/52 03 09-0
    info@acatech.de

© 2025 acatech - National Academy of Science and Engineering