Institute of Bio- und Geosciences (IBG)

Plant Sciences (IBG-2)

IBG-2 at the Innovation conference futureSAX in Dresden - showcasing current innovations

futureSAX - "die Innovationsplattform des Freistaates Sachsen" gave us a platform to present the latest outcomes of IBG-2 research and innovation. The conference sees itself as a network with and for innovative people from the areas of Enterprise, Start-up, Transfer, Invest and NextGen (Youth). Their mission, to increase perception for innovation region(s), to strengthen innovative power and innovation culture and to increase effectiveness of innovation processes, is fully in line with IBG-2.

Dr. Andreas Müller, head of scientific management at IBG-2, showed the progress of the tech- and knowhow transfer activities, using the example of IBG-2 water sensor technologies in cooperation with the deep-tech startup MASILA. His pitch was based on the latest outcomes of his participation in HAFIS. HAFIS – the Helmholtz Academy for Intrapreneurship is a nine-month, project-based training program that empowers researchers to turn their scientific findings into action, thereby generating societal and economic value.

IBG-2 at the Innovation conference futureSAX in Dresden - showcasing current innovations — © Forschungszentrum Jülich – IBG-2

In his presentation, Dr. Müller emphasized the need for tech- and data-driven, optimal water supply for plants in the face of climate change and resource scarcity. Innovative water sensor technology and AI-supported data evaluation, translated into simple decision bases in a dashboard, enable water and financial resources as well as labor and environmental impact to be saved. Unsurprisingly, this has met with great interest from growers of fruit trees or vines, golf course, park or hotel operators through to those responsible for urban greening ("urban trees").