INFO
We want to make a difference – by preserving nature, protecting the environment, and shaping the future
The potential for utilizing hardwood along the wood value chain is far from exhausted. For example, natural regeneration in the forests of Baden-Württemberg consists of 70% deciduous trees, with this percentage increasing. However, only 30% of hardwood is currently used for construction of houses and furniture. Beyond that, the Technikum Laubholz has identified significant innovation gaps, particularly in the field of renewable raw materials. Therefore, new applications for the raw material wood are now being developed, which were scarcely imaginable not long ago.
The natural resource is intended to remain in the economic system for as long as possible through multiple uses before being used thermally. This method not only offers ecological and economic advantages, but also reduces environmental impact, saves greenhouse gases, lowers costs, and generates higher value. Ideally, the raw material will be kept in the cycle until a new tree has sequestered the amount of CO2 that was released by burning a previously used tree. Therefore, an accelerated development is needed to bring innovative and high-quality deciduous wood products to the market as quickly as possible.
The new funding period for the European Structural and Investment Funds ERDF and ESF has begun.
What is Technikum Laubholz?
The Technikum Laubholz (TLH) is an independent, non-university research institution, newly established in spring 2020 at the initiative of the state of Baden-Württemberg and under the leadership of the Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs, and Consumer Protection.
The mission of TLH is to accelerate the development of innovative and high-quality applications for deciduous wood and to establish Baden-Württemberg as an international leader in the use of deciduous wood-based raw materials.
We see ourselves as a creative driver for linking fundamental research with applied research. This hybrid model allows us to quickly and successfully connect abstract and creative visions with real inventions, processes, and physical productions.
What are our guiding principles?
The Technikum Laubholz is state-funded. Third-party funding, contract research, licensing fees, and spin-offs are intended to gradually reduce the share of state funding until the Technikum operates entrepreneurially. To achieve this, interdisciplinary teams bridge the gap between fundamental research and industrial application, developing processes and pilot systems at scales that anticipate industrial uses. Flat hierarchies and maximum freedom create the atmosphere necessary for application-oriented research.
What topics do we research?
The Technikum Laubholz conducts research in the fields of sustainable materials, biotechnology, and plant-based polymers. The goal is to develop innovative technologies that replace fossil raw materials and transform the industry towards a circular and bio-based production model. This includes the use of deciduous wood and by-products from biorefineries to create sustainable solutions for various industries such as textiles, lightweight construction, and packaging.
What is our USP?
The potential for utilizing deciduous wood along the wood value chain is far from exhausted. However, Baden-Württemberg has what it takes – the wood, research expertise, and a vibrant start-up landscape. Additionally, TLH has identified significant innovation gaps in the field of renewable raw materials. We are exploring new applications for the raw material wood that were unimaginable just a few years ago and are working to quickly and intelligently close one gap after another.
How did the Technikum Laubholz come into existence?
The initial discussions about an independent research institution for the utilization of the deciduous wood resource emerged with the climate adaptation strategy of the state of Baden-Württemberg. At that time, the state government called for strengthening the material use of deciduous wood – moving away from burning it, and instead using it as a material. As a result, the call for the establishment of the Technikum Laubholz was included in the coalition agreement of the state government in 2016. After extensive preparations, the project was officially realized on March 30, 2020, under the leadership of the Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs, and Consumer Protection.
Who do we collaborate with?
Without cooperation partners, scientific exchange and progress in key technologies for our future would be difficult to achieve. Therefore, the Technikum Laubholz sees itself not only as a research and project institution but also as a hub for scientific exchange. Our cooperation partners include both the scientific community and industry. Additional partners are government institutions, which possess significant expertise, particularly in the field of forestry.
What is our mission?
We aim to integrate deciduous tree species, which often possess unique properties, into the raw material cycles in the long term, thereby making a significant contribution to climate protection through carbon sequestration. This includes, first and foremost, accelerating the development of innovative and high-quality products made from deciduous wood to bring them to market as quickly as possible. The long-term goal is to establish Baden-Württemberg as an international leader in the use of deciduous wood-based raw materials.
Where is the Technikum Laubholz located?
The Technikum Laubholz is located at the SCHULER manufacturing site in Göppingen.
