Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB

We develop and optimizes technologies, processes and products for health, sustainable chemistry and the environment by combining biology and engineering.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB develops and optimizes processes, technologies, and products for health, sustainable chemistry, and the environment. For this, we rely on the combination of biotechnological and process engineering competencies in order to contribute to human well-being, a sustainable economy and an intact environment with the systems approach of bioeconomy and bioinspired, biointegrated and biointelligent solutions.

We offer our customers R&D services ranging from feasibility studies to implementing new processes in industrial practice accompanied by a wide range of analysis and testing services. Our strengths are offering complete solutions from the laboratory to pilot scale applications. Our research focuses on e.g. nucleic acid-based diagnostics, virus-based technologies, 3D tissue models, functional ingredients from algae, water and wastewater technologies, membranes, catalysts as well as regenerative raw materials, industrial biotechnology, bioinspired syntheses, biobased chemicals and functional materials.

This thematic focus has enabled the institute to tackle many pressing challenges including a personalized medicine and creating a sustainable bioeconomy and a climate-neutral, resource-efficient circular economy. Our integrated approach to water management, agriculture, energy management, and chemistry permits industrial value creation and environmental protection to be combined in a single solution for sustainable development.

 

Category Institutes
Working areas Analytics, Bioeconomy, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Development, Research, Processes
Year of foundation
1953
Employees
361

News

15.10.2025

NGS-based diagnostics for identifying sepsis pathogens wins EARTO Innovation Award

A method developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB enables bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic pathogens in sepsis patients to be…

01.10.2025

Better, Faster, Bio-Based: Functional New Plastic Alternatives

How can new bio-based and biohybrid materials with improved features be developed faster? Six Fraunhofer institutes are jointly exploring this question in the SUBI²MA flagship…

04.09.2025

Fraunhofer researchers develop innovative diagnostics for detecting antibiotic resistance in bacterial infections

The rapid increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria is one of the most pressing challenges facing global health. A new transatlantic Fraunhofer research project aims to counter…

01.08.2025

Early Pancreatic Cancer Detection

Tumors of the pancreas seldom cause symptoms in their early stages. This means that in many cases, they are not diagnosed until late, when the chances of successful treatment are…