Team of Continental, Fraunhofer IME and the University of Münster Nominated for Federal President's Award
The German Federal President’s Office announced today at the Deutsches Museum in Munich that Dr. Carla Recker (Continental), Prof. Dr. Dirk Prüfer (University of Münster) and Dr. Christian Schulze Gronover (Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME) have been nominated for the Federal President's Award for Technology and Innovation 2021 (“Deutscher Zukunftspreis 2021”) with their joint project “Sustainable tires through dandelions – innovations from biology, technology and agriculture”. Every year, the Federal President presents the Federal President's Award to individuals or teams for outstanding technical, engineering, or scientific innovation.
“This award is a great honor for us. It once again confirms the potential of a new raw material source for natural rubber. Together with our project network, we have been able to significantly advance research into the entire value chain of the Russian dandelion,” explains Dr. Carla Recker, Head of the Expertfield Materials Chemistry at Continental Tires. “The industrialization of the cultivation of dandelion rubber is the goal of our long-term project, where the key to success is mutual trust and perseverance,” she adds. “Our first, series-produced bicycle tire made from dandelion rubber, the Urban Taraxagum, shows that marketable products made of natural rubber from the dandelion plant are possible.”
The path to establishing the Russian dandelion to become a cultivatable raw material source posed a major challenge for the researchers. “Through consistent, knowledge-based action and with modern analytics, we have worked with a plant breeder to establish high-yielding and hardy plants from wild Russian dandelion. We have also developed an environmentally friendly process for extracting rubber from the roots of the plants,” explains Dr. Christian Schulze Gronover, Head of Research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Münster. "The whole of society is already benefiting from these innovations, for example farmers, logisticians, machine builders and, naturally, cyclists."
The extended network, which contributes significantly to the implementation of the project, also includes among others the Julius Kühn Institute and the plant breeding company ESKUSA.
The Russian dandelion is a variety from the dandelion genus (Taraxacum). It originates primarily from Kazakhstan and is particularly suitable for the extraction of natural rubber. Russian dandelion contains more rubber than other dandelion species, but the amount in the wild plant is still not sufficient for industrial production. Moreover, wild plants do not provide stable yields. The development of so-called DNA markers is important for breeding. Such markers are spots naturally present in the genetic material. They can be detected in the laboratory and appear in combination with the section of the genome that generates a specific desired property of the plant. One example is a higher rubber content. Thanks to the markers, the researchers can examine the plant seedlings to determine whether they have the desired properties and estimate whether it is worth continuing to breed with these plants.
The Federal President's Award for Technology and Innovation
The Federal President's Award has been awarded annually since 1997 and is one of the most important innovation awards in Germany. It honors outstanding technical, engineering and scientific achievements that lead to products that are ready for use. After intensive review, the major German scientific and business associations propose innovative developments for the award. Subsequently, the top-class jury of the Federal President's Award selects three teams of researchers and their innovation from a large number of projects every year in a multi-stage process, tothe final round of the award, the “Circle of the Best.” In addition to the innovative performance, the jury also assesses the economic and social potential of the development. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be presenting the Federal President's Award in Berlin on November 17, 2021. More information: https://www.deutscher-zukunftspreis.de/en
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2020, Continental generated sales of €37.7 billion and currently employs around 233,000 people in 58 countries and markets. In 2021, the company celebrates its 150th anniversary. The Tires business area has 24 production and development locations worldwide. Continental is one of the leading tire manufacturers with more than 56,000 employees and posted sales of €11.7 billion in 2019 in this business area. Continental ranks among the technology leaders in tire production and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial and special-purpose vehicles as well as two-wheelers. Through continuous investment in research and development, Continental makes a major contribution to safe, cost-effective and ecologically efficient mobility. The portfolio of the Tires business area includes services for the tire trade and fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for tires.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME has encompassed the areas of molecular biotechnology, applied ecology, and bioresources since the beginning of 2021, and currently employs more than 400 staff. The Fraunhofer IME is a strong partner for contract research in the fields of agriculture, bioeconomy, chemistry, and environmental and consumer protection.
The Institute for Biology and Biotechnology of Plants at the University of Münster consists of seven chairs with a variety of thematic focuses on molecular physiology, genetics, and plant biotechnology. The institute is distinguished by national and international collaborations and offers an outstanding opportunity for cutting-edge plant research thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities in the fields of molecular and chemical analytics as well as microscopy.