The section food process engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has developed a processing concept and the required homogenization valve to produce dispersions of solid particles with reproducible and uniform characteristics without the use of special additives (emulsifiers or protective colloids). The particle size can be adjusted within a broad range, with the possibility of even submicron-sized particles. Particles generated by this process are of particular use in paints, varnishes and pharmaceuticals.

An innovative, energy-saving heat forming method has been developed at the University of Stuttgart for the fabrication of thermoplastic molded parts, in particular fibre-reinforced composites from semi-finished products (organic sheets). The method provides a more effective and surface-preserving way of heating and forming semi-finished products. In addition, it is possible to achieve a process-integrated quality assurance, a documentation of the quality as well as an individual quality assessment.

At the University of Stuttgart (Germany) a new method was developed to significantly improve the stability of laminar flow over e.g. a wing, tail plane or wind turbine rotor in order to reduce drag and therefore reach higher efficiency of machines.

The novel measurement system permits minimally invasive measurements of tracer LIF-signals by a combination of fibre and microoptical elements integrated into a fully functional spark plug. Thus e.g. fuel distribution, temperature or air-fuel ratio can be measured.

The invention describes a new magnetic information storage medium with a uniform and regular array of magnetic nanostructures (<10 nm). Because of its reduced, monodisperse grain size and high magnetic anisotropy with an adjustable easy axes, as well as its intrinsic magnetic decoupling it is capable of increasing information density on the storage medium beyond limits of current technologies. One possible application for this new technology is the production of improved computer harddisks.

A novel device for handling samples sensitive to the atmosphere has been developed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). It allows samples prepared under vacuum or inert gas atmosphere to be stored safely for introduction into the measurement chamber of an analytical instrument. A complex and expensive air-lock or manipulator is thus not required. The novel vacuum container is simple, cost-effective and reusable.

Scientists at the University of Stuttgart developed a new process for confocal transmission microscopy, which permits measuring moving phase objects. The process is ideal for the determination of optical thickness and depth position of living cells or chromosomes. For transparent and opaque micro particles it is possible to determine the spatial distribution and the lateral dimensions quantitatively.

Reading up to 100 superimposed layers in an optical storage volume simultaneously offers a very high data transfer rate such as is needed for example in databases or data storage. Modified DVDs can be used as data storage media.

At present only the symptoms of the hereditary disease CF, which results in death at a young age, are being treated, not the actual cause. The novel preventive therapeutic strategy consists of an early treatment of CF before any disease-specific symptoms can be detected. In animal trials the early therapy with sodium channel blocker amiloride, commencing immediately after birth, prevents the development of CF. Clinical trials of amiloride as an early intervention preventive therapy against CF are already in the planning phase.

The multiresistant hospital microbe Pseudomonas aeruginosa can form protective biofilms, which make its treatment significantly more difficult. Chronic infections, such as urinary tract infections, enterocolitis, and meningitis, can be fatal, particularly for patients with a depressed immune system. The present invention consists of compounds with high specificity and high affinity which are based on the natural ligand Mannose and act against the lectin LecB, which is a component of the biofilm. This opens the opportunity for a more effective antibiotics therapy by inhibiting the formation of the biofilm through the application of these new glycomimetics.

An innovative procedure has been developed to control induction heating of material used for semi-solid metal casting. By analyzing electrical value and permeability of the material the grain structure can be determined during the heating process. The induction heating can be regulated accordingly so that the material retains the optimal grain structure for forming.

The invention offers a method for generation of reproducible secret keys in products which were manufactured by means of lithographic production processes, such as chips.

The invention covers a new kind of monolithically integrated optical fibre coupling and its fabrication method.

At the University of Stuttgart (Germany) a new method and device were developed, which demodulates optical signals with 3 bit information per signal. At the same time the technical complexity of the receiver is reduced.

The new receive equalizer topology permits to reduce the equalizer chip area by a factor of 5 to 10 and to cut down power consumption by half compared to common equalizers.
Data rates far in excess of 10 Gbit/s can be achieved with the new structure.

Researchers at the University of Hohenheim are investigating membrane materials which at room temperature and at normal pressure exhibit a high diffusion coefficient for CO2 and at the same time retain methane securely. The selectively permeable materials could be used in e.g. innovative biogas containers to increase the energy content of biogas in a very simple and effective way.

Hydrogen is regarded as the energy source of the future. At Heidelberg University relatively inexpensive hydrogen storage materials have been developed, that allow a rapid and reversible uptake/release of hydrogen under mild conditions. The innovative storage materials can be used as a molecular, oligomeric or polymeric solid as well as in liquid form.

At the fem Research Institute for Precious Metals and Metals Chemistry in Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany, a novel free-form casting process has been developed for the production of massive metallic glass products. The process is based on a combination of the established processing steps: wax modelling, electroforming, and investment casting. Using this process it is for the first time possible to produce relatively simply, quickly and cost-effectively even filigree and geometrically complex metallic glass products in small to medium production volumes.

Epigenetic modifications at the 5-position of cytosine in DNA provide important clues for diseases such as neurological disorders and a range of cancers. Scientists at the University of Constance have now developed a method which allows the direct detection, i.e. without prior chemical modification of the DNA sample, of the epigenetic modification status in the 5-position of cytosine (such as 5mC and 5hmC) in any user-defined sequence. It is a simple and reliable method with high resolution and can be combined with a multitude of detection methods. Detection both in vivo and in vitro is possible.

At the University of Konstanz a novel method with very high selectivity has been developed, which allows the inclusion of amino acids with nucleic acid-intercalating properties into proteins and peptides. Protein- and peptide-based active pharmaceutical components often contain structures that act as intercalators. The technology uses standard protein expression methods and only requires the presence of the ncAA in the medium and the co-expression of the respective aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases as well as the tRNA. The invention has substantial potential for the development of new applications and products, in particular in the pharmaceutical and biotech fields.