The Bio-economy Research and Technology Council advises the government of Germany on measures to promote the bioeconomy in Germany. The Council makes policy recommendations to policy makers, science and industry in the corresponding fields of research and action. The members of the Council are respected senior figures drawn from across the fields of science.
In developing its reports and recommendations, the Council works independently on its own authority. It is administratively associated with Acatech. The Council is financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
The BMBF links the Council to the Federal Government and the respective Ministries. The first project phase is scheduled to last three years. The Council is supported by a secretariat located in Berlin.
Tasks
The Council's task is to advise the Government on strategic fields of action to improve the framework for innovation and new technologies, to promote the development and diffusion of innovative technologies, as well as to identify prospective needs for research.
The Bio-economy Council produces expert reports including recommendations for action. Reports are handed over to policy makers during public events. Such events serve to promote the exchange between science and industry.
The Council moreover issues expert opinions on current topics in response to requests from policy makers, science, and industry. Reports and recommendations are published and made available to the public online and in print.
The Council meets regularly. It draws on additional expertise by commissioning studies and reports as well as by hosting hearings and workshops.
Members
- Dr. Reinhard F. Hüttl (Chair)
- Chair of the Executive Board, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam; President of Acatech; Professor of Soil Protection and Re-cultivation at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus
- Dr. Andreas J. Büchting (Deputy Chairman)
- Chairman of the Supervisory Board, KWS SAAT AG
- Dr. Bernd Müller-Röber (Deputy Chairman)
- Professor of Molecular Biology; Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology; Professor at University of Potsdam
- Dr. Joachim von Braun (Deputy Chairman)
- Director, Center for Development Research (ZEF)
- Dr. Achim Bachem
- Chairman of the Board of Directors, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
- Dr. Helmut Born
- Secretary-General of the German Farmers' Party (Deutscher Bauernverband e.V.)
- Dr. Hannelore Daniel
- Technische Universität München (TUM), Molecular Nutrition Unit
- Dr. Utz-Hellmuth Felcht
- Managing Director, One Equity Partners Europe, Munich; Member of the Acatech Executive Board
- Dr. Thomas Hirth
- Director, Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology; Director of Institute for Inter facial Engineering, University of Stuttgart
- Dr. Folkhard Isermeyer
- President, Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute Braunschweig, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries
- Dr. Stefan Marcinowski
- Board member of BASF SE
- Dr. Thomas C. Mettenleiter
- President, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI) Isle of Riems, Federal Research Institute of Animal Health
- Dr. Alfred Pühler
- CeBiTec, Bielefeld University
- Dr. Manfred Schwerin
- Professor of Animal Breeding, University of Rostock; Director, Research Institute for the Biology of Farm Animals
- Dr. Wiltrud Treffenfeldt
- Director Bioprocess R&D, Dow AgroSciences LLC, Indianapolis, USA
- Dr. Fritz Vahrenholt
- Chief Executive Officer, RWE Innogy GmbH
- Dr. Holger Zinke
- Chairman, BRAIN AG
- Dr. Christian Patermann (permanent guest)
- NRW Government Adviser on Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy
- Dr. Alexander Zehnder (permanent guest)
- Director, Water Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada