Validation Projects

The project is concerned with the development and validation of production processes that enable the manufacture of car bodies in sandwich construction (a construction method in which a core material is used between two outer layers to combine strength and lightness) with high productivity. The aim is to reduce manufacturing costs to such an extent that series production becomes possible. The project is based both on production processes that are already state of the art and on ideas developed at the DLR Institute of Vehicle Concepts.

Thermoplastics - plastics that soften when heated and can then be moulded when they cool - are used worldwide in various industries ranging from consumer goods to aerospace thanks to their adaptability and ease of recycling. A new product idea for a sound field flow cell for extrusion processes, the most relevant process for the production of semi-finished thermoplastics, makes it possible to treat the plastics with high-frequency sound waves during processing. As a result, the fibres are better penetrated and the fillers are distributed more evenly. This technology can be easily integrated into existing production environments, reducing costs and making it easier to bring new plastics to market. It also enables new ways to recycle plastics and opens up opportunities for innovative process technologies such as plastic welding.

The project aims to develop an intelligent pre-processing device which can protect conventional satellite navigation receivers from the influence of radio frequency interference signals (RFI) and deceptive signals (Spoofing).

According to forecasts, the production of cement, a key component of concrete, is expected to increase by 50 % by 2050, resulting in significant CO2 emissions. The production of one tonne of cement is associated with the release of around 600 kg of CO2 and is responsible for more than 8 % of global man-made CO2 emissions. Reducing concrete consumption by reinforcing it with carbon fibre reinforced spatial lattice structures (CCFSLS) is seen as a promising solution. The microwave-assisted 3D printing system "SERPENS" developed at KIT already enables the successful printing of CCFSLS in the centimetre range and is being scaled up to an industrial scale by the MWPrint4ReCon project. This technology is being validated by a collaboration between various institutes at KIT and external partners and could reduce the CO2 footprint in the future through lower concrete consumption.

Munitions dumped in the sea, particularly in German territorial waters in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, pose a significant long-term threat, as the dumped parts corrode and release explosive compounds. In addition to the ecological impact, they also threaten various maritime industries such as the offshore energy sector. The search for these objects underwater is complex, with many potential objects proving to be false positives. The use of autonomous underwater vehicles such as SAM (Smart AUV-based Magnetics) with integrated magnetometers has the potential to provide a low-cost and effective solution to speed up the detection and verification of such munitions, as well as significantly reduce the cost of future offshore construction projects (e.g. wind farms).

Chiral diols (organic molecules) are valuable building blocks for the production of modern high-performance catalysts, but their production using conventional methods is complex and cost-intensive, so that the market demand is not met. To solve this problem, an enzymatic synthesis platform was developed that produces high-quality chiral diols in a cost-efficient and resource-saving manner. This technology enables lower production costs and higher purities compared to conventional processes and is now being transferred to a market-relevant kg scale by "E-Tech PRO-Diols". This technology opens the door to market entry, where it can also be transferred to other fields of application and product classes in the future as a blueprint.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and represents a considerable challenge with its high incidence rate, considerable burden for patients and high costs for society. New immunotherapies could be effective in the early stages of the disease, but precise testing methods for early detection for broad population groups are still lacking. The EpiPhaGO project aims to identify predictive biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease in at-risk patients without clinical symptoms by analysing the degradation of certain proteins in the blood and comparing them with changes in DNA methylation. The test procedure will be cost-effective and suitable for high-throughput testing so that it can be made available to the general population for early detection.

The lifetime and efficiency of semiconductor devices, such as those in solar cells or cameras, are often affected by electronic defects, which not only results in economic losses but also poses safety risks. In order to understand and prevent defects, a new technology called 3D power analysis has been developed, which makes it possible to map the X-ray-beam-induced current and reconstruct the 3D performance of components. This innovation offers the possibility to measure power in areas that are otherwise difficult to access and has the potential to improve various semiconductor devices. Feasibility has already been demonstrated through experiments with synchrotron X-ray sources and technology transfer to laboratory-based X-ray sources is underway. The Perform3D project aims to transfer the technology to an industrial environment and validate its adaptation to commercial X-ray microscopes and the development of user-friendly software.

Fibrotic diseases (diseases in which excess connective tissue develops in organs or tissues, leading to scarring and loss of function) are widespread and account for a significant proportion of deaths in industrialised countries. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), among others, requires new pharmacotherapies. A promising new class of antifibrotic compounds has been discovered that may be effective against IPF. In order to successfully bring them to the market, it is important to understand their targets and modes of action and to demonstrate their proof of concept in animal models. This is done through medicinal chemistry and experimental tests on IPF animal models. In addition, chemical modifications will be performed to identify and confirm the targets of the compounds in human IPF fibroblasts. Subsequently, the effects of the compounds on biological processes and intercellular communication will be investigated by experiments on tissue sections of fibrotic lung and analysis using single-cell RNAseq technology.

The transition of the energy sector to renewables requires the expansion of offshore wind farms and the decommissioning of oil and gas platforms, which necessitates improved seabed monitoring. Current underwater technologies are expensive, cumbersome and designed for specialised applications, limiting access for many users. The deployable prototype of the Modular Ocean Lander Architecture (MOLA) will create a cost-effective solution that enables multiple applications and facilitates access to seabed observations for a broader user base such as SMEs, NGOs, government agencies and scientists. The MOLA system consists of compact, versatile sensor platforms that are significantly easier to handle than conventional devices and allow complex measurement concepts.

Novel therapeutic approaches such as gene replacement therapies require the targeted transport of macromolecules such as proteins, RNA or DNA into diseased cells. Until now, mainly viral vectors have been used, but these often caused numerous side effects. To solve this problem, Synthetic Tansport Vehicles (STVs) have been developed, artificial vesicles composed of synthetic designer proteins that enable the efficient transfer of molecules with few side effects. Due to the modulability of STVs, they can package programmable RNAs and release them into target cells, which offers broad application possibilities in biomedical research and clinical use

The COVID pandemic has highlighted the need to rapidly access health information, especially DNA or RNA sequences, to identify unique genetic make-up and pathogens and their resistance spectra. The development of the LEOPARD diagnostic platform, based on recent discoveries in CRISPR biology, could revolutionise access to health data. As part of the Helmholtz Validation project, a lateral flow assay version of LEOPARD is being developed to detect RNA biomarkers cost-effectively and without instrumentation or trained personnel. These tests are aimed at the detection of respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus, and the genotyping of common SNPs for the selection of antiplatelet drugs. A spin-off will be established in Germany to drive the commercialisation of LEOPARD and secure external seed funding.

The RIM2D validation project aims to transfer a GFZ 2D flooding model into practice that enables rapid simulation of flooding in urban areas. The model is less data-intensive and the individual models are easy to create, which enables widespread use in applied flood risk analysis, flood management and flood forecasting. In view of increasing heavy rainfall events and the associated flooding, the use of such analyses is becoming increasingly important for all German municipalities in order to ensure sustainable urban development. However, the RIM2D model still needs to be expanded for practical use and adapted to the specific user requirements of hydrological consultants, which is being done as part of this validation project.

The project aims at the development of the bacterial natural product darobactin as a novel antibiotic against Gram-negative pathogens. Darobactins, which represent a novel compound class inhibiting the BamA complex in the Gram-negative periplasm, will be produced and optimized chemically and biotechnologically up to the preclinical candidate stage.

The project aims at addressing two key problems: 1) the paucity of vaccine adjuvants currently on the market, and 2) the lack of a prophylactic vaccine against hepatitis C virus-caused diseases. To address both of these, the team plans to conduct a clinical phase I trial of an HCV candidate vaccine comprising an HCV envelope protein E1E2 heterodimer and 4 T-cell peptides encompassing CD4 and CD8 epitopes as antigens formulated with their adjuvant candidate c-di-AMP.

The project aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of shrimp farming through a sorting system that was newly developed at AWI. Collaborating with partner ECOshrimp from Israel, the AWI Shrimp Sorting System is being validated and adapted to the needs of various commercial tanks. Pre-commercial tests will quantify the benefits of the system for shrimp producers and establish animal health parameters to emphasize its value. The results are intended to highlight the economic benefits of modular sorting products and contribute to a more sustainable and efficient global food production.

The Memorthotic project aims to validate a textile technology developed at Hereon for use in compression garments to restore lost fit and mechanical properties. This is intended to overcome issues with current technology where compression garments are ineffective due to uncontrollable deterioration. Through technical and user validation, a prototype will be developed, and a viable business strategy established to increase the project's market value and attract investors.

The MYTOS project serves to validate the cosmic muon imaging technique for monitoring large objects such as process industry plants, buildings and storage containers for nuclear waste. For this purpose, a 2 x 0.5 m² 4-chamber detector will be set up as an example. In advance, tests will be carried out to determine whether a variant with scintillation fibres or a variant with gas ionisation is better and more robust. A novel feature is the channel addressing scheme, which makes the detector cheaper than the few comparable systems on the market. Together with partners from industry and testing authorities, the imaging method is demonstrated in an exemplary manner.

The project aims to validate a novel gas sensor concept based on black phosphorus, specifically for CO2 detection. The unique properties of black phosphorus, such as its low energy consumption and high sensitivity are intended to fill a technological market gap across various industries. Specifically, the project intends to develop a sensor that exhibits very high accuracy and response speed while being cost-effective to manufacture. This sensor is expected to accurately measure the CO2 levels in indoor air, contributing to indoor air quality monitoring. Through integration into PCB-based hardware and determination of characteristic specifications, the sensor will be made market-ready.

The ValidITy project aims to simplify the time and money intensive process of evaluating bathymetric data. This can be achieved through the use of artificial intelligence and Terrain Classification Dictionaries. Bathymetric data are measurement data that capture the topographic structure of the seafloor, providing important information about depths, seabed composition, and objects such as rocks and reefs. These data are utilized by various stakeholders including environmental scientists, oceanographers, marine engineers, fisheries scientists, and government agencies to explore marine resources, ensure maritime safety, and protect ecological habitats. The project aims to develop a user-friendly software application that enables the import of sonar data and reliably identifies different object types in the data.

The project aims to optimize and increase the production of therapeutic proteins in mammalian cells. These are of great use in biotechnology as they can be used for the development of drugs to treat various diseases such as cancer, autoimmune diseases and infections. By overexpressing a protein, the production of erythropoietin (a hormone produced in the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow) could be increased by up to 290%. The aim is to maintain this improved production over many cell passages and in industrial incubator volumes as well as to confirm that these cells can also increase the production of a wide range of proteins, in particular therapeutic antibodies.

The project aims to develop new painkillers to treat neuropathic pain (pain caused by damage or dysfunction of the nervous system), which cannot be effectively relieved so far. STOML3 antagonists are considered promising candidates for htis as they can block the sensitization of pain receptors and effectively combat neuropathic pain. The development of these new drugs, which can be administered orally, is intended to improve the inadequate care provided by the available drug Lyrica, which is only effective in 25% of patients.

Developing new medications is costly and risky, with many clinical trials failing. One reason is the inability of existing preclinical models to reliably predict how drugs will act in humans. Organ-on-Chip (OoC) technologies have the potential to change this: In the project, a newly developed chip called the µLumen-Chip is being validated, which mimics human tissue and is suitable for various applications. The chip is unique as it combines features not found in commercial OoC systems: it captures the 3D architecture of human tissue, facilitates large-scale screening with standard lab equipment, and is expandable to advanced designs with higher tissue complexity. This also opens up the possibility of accelerating the modeling of diseases of human tissues which cannot yet be modeled. Thus, the project offers significant value for customers in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, and society.

Natural colorants, especially phycocyanin and phycoerythrin, which are found in microalgae, are increasingly in demand in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries due to their safety and sustainable production processes. Although phycocyanin is already established as a food colorant, many potential applications have not yet developed their full potential due to deficiencies in its properties, such as photostability, acid stability or thermal stability. PHYCOLOR aims to address these shortcomings by developing improved variants of these dyes biotechnologically and producing them in cyanobacteria. The aim of the project is to take a significant step towards a broader application of these safe and sustainable dyes.

The freeze-and-deposit method for sample preparation in high-resolution cryo-EM imaging of biological samples is validated for commercialization. The innovative approach promises improved resolution of structures at the atomic level and faster turnaround times. The aim is to move from a formulated technology concept to a fully developed technology and to partially validate it with partners. The partnership with scientific institutions such as the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and industrial partners such as Thermo Fisher Scientific will enable the efficiency and effectiveness of this method to be tested in different environments and ensure that it is equally useful for research laboratories and industrial applications.

Cancer drug development is an expensive and failure-prone process. While cancer kills 9.5 Million people per year, developing a single drug cost up to 2.7 Billion USD. The cost of drugs per dose could be between tens of thousands of dollars to half a million dollars. The project is based on an AI platform which bears the potential to reduce the costs and time-to-market for cancer therapies. The platform uses state-of-the-art deep learning methods and a vast molecular database. The projects aims to validate the platform''s technical and business aspects.