biointelligence award
resolving impossibilities
Biointelligence is one of the critical innovation pathways for sustainable renewal of manufacturing value added. Dr. Manfred Wittenstein, initiator and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Wittenstein Foundation, is convinced that “In the future, biointelligent concepts, productions and systems will have a decisive influence on the prosperity both of Baden-Württemberg and of Germany as a whole. The Wittenstein Foundation’s involvement here is founded on the belief that biointelligent systems have the potential to resolve today’s impossibilities and conflicting goals."
award 2024
milk and muscles
The Wittenstein Biointelligence Award was presented for the first time in 2024. The award ceremony took place on October 22, 2024 as part of the Stuttgart Bointelligence Congress in Stuttgart City Hall. Outstanding innovations from the fields of biotechnology and information technology were recognized with prize money of 20,000 euros for companies and 5000 euros for individuals.
The winners
Svenja Dannewitz Prosseda, founder and CEO of the biotech start-up Senara GmbH, founded in Freiburg in 2022, won 20,000 euros for her innovative approach to sustainable food production. This consists of isolating breast cells from cow's milk, multiplying them in a specially developed bioreactor and producing sustainable, cost-effective, nutrient-rich whole milk from mammalian cells.
As the beef and dairy industry is responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, this equivalent alternative to cow's milk represents a new solution to meet the growing demand for dairy products with a lower environmental impact. The approach also supports animal welfare by eliminating the need for livestock and improving global food security through a sustainable source of dairy nutrition.
Soft robotics researcher Miriam Filippi from ETH Zurich won 5,000 euros in the Individual category for her principle of developing bio-inspired artificial muscle tissue. Her research focuses primarily on intelligent and sustainable biofabrication, i.e. computer-aided process optimization and automation for the production of artificial tissue with human characteristics.
Possible applications range from medicine and robotics to construction and environmental protection. For example, buildings could repair themselves.
The Judging Panel
Dr. Benedikt Hofmann
Chief Generating Officer of WITTENSTEIN SE
Professor Barbara Lieder
Head of the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Hohenheim
Professor Thomas Bauernhansl
Director of the Institute for Industrial Manufacturing and Factory Operation (IFF) at the University of Stuttgart and Director of Fraunhofer IPA
Adrian Thoma
Managing Director of Gründermotor
Olaf Koch
Partner at Zintinus GmbH
The award
The Wittenstein Biointelligence Award recognizes innovative approaches at the interface of life sciences, engineering and information technology. Individuals and companies whose interdisciplinary approaches effectively combine information technology, production technology and biotechnology are invited to participate.
The solutions submitted should have a clear impact on sustainability, be it by reducing the carbon footprint, promoting renewable energy, reducing waste or improving the ecological balance. The call for entries for the coming year will take place in summer 2025.