BIOKON is the comprehensive contact for queries on bionics and biomimetics from business and industry, teaching professionals, or the media.
We offer the following services:
- a consulting service on technical implementations of biological solutions
- a pool of experts and cooperation partners for business and industry
- acquisition of external funding for innovative R&D projects
- workshops and exhibition stands at science and industrial fairs
- a database of biological models for technical implementations
- teaching modules for secondary and tertiary education
- university courses and continued learning
- information material for the media and the general public

Bionics taps nature's huge reservoir of structures, process optimisations and functional solutions in order to find technical applications of natural principles. The optimisation of resource and energy efficiency that took place in the evolution of all biological systems is of special interest. It offers a great potential for more sustainability in the economy.
An essential part of the innovative power of bionics is founded on the interaction between basic research in biology on the one hand and the rising technical capabilities of nanotechnology, microsystems technology, optoelectronics, material sciences and processing technologies on the other hand. Mostly it is a long way from the biologically inspired idea to a marketable product. One decisive step on this way is the creation of convincing technical prototypes and demo products derived from nature's energy – and resource-efficient examples. BIONA puts special emphasis on such results.
For ease of information access and furthering the technical exchange, BIOKON has set up committees focusing on particular topics in bionics:
- optimisation processes, e.g. evolution strategies
- bionically inspired new materials and lightweight structures
- biomechatronics and robotics
- sensor technology and data communication
- structures and functions of surfaces and interfaces
- architecture and design

- Transferring self-cleaning abilities of micro and nanostructured hydrophobic plant surfaces into technical products (Lotus-Effect®) - Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Barthlott, Nees-Institute, University of Bonn
- Principles of combining surface structures, sizes and arrangement of biological suction cups with reduced friction as models for industrial suction grips - Dr. Stanislav Gorb, Evolutionary Biomaterials Group, Max-Planck-Institute of Metals Research, Stuttgart
- The goose-like flapping wing model "Igor" as a model of bird flight for analysing instationary aerodynamics - Prof. Dr. Cameron Tropea, Biotechnology-Center (BitZ), Technical University of Darmstadt
- Underwater communication systems based on S2C ultra-wideband technology, derived from original studies on the physics of bio-communication in dolphins - Dr. Rudolf Bannasch, EvoLogics GmbH
- Nontoxic biofouling prevention on objects exposed to seawater - Prof. Dr. Antonia Kesel, University of Applied Sciences, Bremen
- Technical implementation of self-repair processes of plants in technical membrane systems and smart materials - Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck, Botanical Garden, University of Freiburg
- Centre of the Future – Man – Nature – Technology – Science (ZMTW) presents educational indoor and outdoor exhibits on bionics and ecotechnology - Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Berndt Heydemann, Nieklitzer Ökologie- und Ökotechnologie-Stiftung (NICOL), Nieklitz