Imagine a building material that can feel its environment and change its own strength or shape automatically, like a living skin. This team is teaching fungi how to act like biological computers, using light and genetic switches to control how they grow. They are building a robotic system to quickly test and print these living materials into real-world objects.
Traditional synthetic materials are often environmentally damaging and static, unable to adapt to their surroundings. There is a lack of scalable, programmable bio-materials that can perform active functions like self-repair or pollutant removal.
A robotized 4D Explorer platform for rapid material iteration and two physical demonstrators at cm-m scale for structural use and pollutant degradation.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with the high carbon footprint of concrete — this project developed a structural material at cm-m scale that can be programmed for specific mechanical properties. This allows for the creation of self-adjusting, bio-based building components.
If you are a waste management firm dealing with persistent soil or water pollutants — this project developed a material for pollutant degradation. This living material can be deployed to actively clean up contaminated sites using programmed fungal activity.
If you are a bioprinting company dealing with the slow trial-and-error process of material design — this project developed the 4D Explorer, a robotized platform for iterative design-build-test-learn cycles. This speeds up the development of engineered living materials.
Based on available project data, specific unit costs or pricing models are not provided, though the EU has contributed EUR 4,098,438 to the development phase.
The project aims to produce demonstrator materials at a cm-m scale, indicating a transition from lab-scale to larger physical prototypes.
The project has an effective strategy for IP protection and interaction with commercialization partners to ensure the technology can be transitioned to market.
The project period runs from 2022-11-01 to 2027-10-31, suggesting that final results and demonstrators will be ready toward the end of 2027.
The technology utilizes 3D bioprinting and a robotized platform called the 4D Explorer to automate the creation of these materials.
The consortium consists of 6 partners across 4 countries, showing a strong research-heavy lean with 3 research institutes and 2 universities. However, there is a critical commercial bridge provided by 1 industry partner (SME), resulting in a 17% industry ratio, which suggests the project is currently focused on technical validation before full commercial scaling.
Contact INM - Leibniz-Institut für neue Materialien GmbH in Germany
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for the 4D Explorer platform.
