Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg Association to bring top international researchers to Baden-Württemberg

Like industry, science is to an increasing extent challenged by international competition. The competitiveness of research carried out at Baden-Württemberg universities increasingly depends on whether outstanding research institutions carrying out excellent projects can be established in the region.

As part of the “Top international research” programme of the Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg Association, three projects will be carried out at the Universities of Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Freiburg and Heidelberg involving top international researchers. In co-operation with the respective junior research groups at Baden-Württemberg universities, scientific issues will be dealt with that enable the positioning of Baden-Württemberg at the very highest level of international research. The Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg Association has set aside funds to the tune of approximately €1.5 million for these projects.

Professor William Batchelor from Iowa (USA) and Professor Wilhelm Claupein’s group at Hohenheim University are using state-of-the-art information, software and communication technologies for their research. The scientists hope to be able to use new approaches in the development of plant growth models that will later benefit environmental protection and stimulate greater productivity, even in geographically restricted areas. This new initiative is of great importance for Baden-Württemberg. The Landesstiftung is supporting the project with around €400,000.

Professor Benjamin Geiger from the well-known Weizmann Institute in Israel is co-operating with Professor Joachim Spatz’s group at the University of Heidelberg on topics related to the specific observation and manipulation of processes in living cells. The Landesstiftung is supporting this project with around €500,000.

Professor Hirotsugu Yasuda from Missouri (USA), who is co-operating with Professor Gerd Urban at IMTEK, the Institute of Micro Systems Technology in Freiburg, is focusing his research into new methods for plasma-based micro and nano processes enabling, for example, new cell cultivation methods for use in medicine. The local medical technology industry in Baden-Württemberg stands to gain approximately €500,000 from this research project funded by the Landesstiftung.

Source: BioPro (www.bio-pro.de)