29 28 “Man can harness the forces of nature to an entirely different extent than he has done hitherto,” stated the natural philosopher Raoul Heinrich Francé (1874 – 1943). “He need only apply all the principles which the organism has brought to bear in its operation, in order to have employment for centuries to come for all his capitals, strengths and talents.” There is so much to be learned from nature; it also holds the necessary knowledge as to how we can transform our current economic system into a well-balanced circular economy. Learning is a guiding principle of Festo. From nature and for nature. Festo sees bioeconomy as the economic system of the future. This entails a fundamental transformation that will change society’s system of values and people’s perceptions. However, sacrifices on the part of individuals will not alone be enough to sustainably make a stand against global climate change. We need more intelligent material flows and efficient use of resources along the entire value chain. Just as industrial society superseded agricultural society in the 19th century, the ecological age is now dawning. Our relationship to nature and technology is being reshaped with a changed sense of responsibility. Plants are creative masters of adaptation; as pioneers, they have conquered new realms since time immemorial. With their process of photosynthesis, they create habitats for humans and animals alike and safeguard biodiversity on earth. The specialists from Festo are currently working with algae cells – the ancestors of land plants that have been carrying out photosynthesis for around 2.5 billion years. Their automated cultivation in modern photo-biore- actors is set to make a decisive contribution to climate protection. As soon as so-called artificial photosynthesis becomes established, the efficiency of the photo-bioreactors can be further increased. In the basic research laboratories, scientists are now using methods of synthetic biology to improve natural photosynthesis. They are supported in their work by expertise in automation technology and components from Festo. Natural evolution is inspiring technological evolution at Festo. The plant kingdom, which accounts for around 99.9 percent of the earth’s biomass, holds enormous potential here; humans and animals constitute less than a thousandth of the overall volume. These “green” creatures have neither nerves nor a brain, but react to stimuli in the form of sound, physical contact or smell – and successfully communicate with each other. The bionics experts are investigating this special type of biocommunication. Cooperative robots, for example, could be fitted out with innovative sensor technology in future, in order not only to see and hear, but also to smell, taste and touch. As a globally operating, family-owned learning company, Festo is in a position to develop intelligent products, solutions and applications for a sustainable future. For this great brand promise, the experts are guided by five dimensions in their everyday work: technology, innovation, education, knowledge and responsibility. Their intention is to increase the productivity of their customers and partners and to humanise the increasingly digitalised worlds of work by means of an intuitive relationship between humans and technology. The goal of a value-creating circular economy is a healthy human in a likewise healthy environment. Once these innovations become marketable, they will make a decisive contribution to conserving resources. The automated PhotoBionicCell bioreactor from Festo needs to be scaled up to a dimension of several thousand litres in future, in order for the desired quantities of biomass to be generated with controlled cell growth. The petroleum-based chemical processes that take place in today’s large-scale plants in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries can then make way for biological processes. Industries that produce cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, fats, surfactants, proteins or textiles in small volumes will likewise benefit from bioreactors: the use of artificial intelligence will enable them to arrive at optimal formulations more quickly, and thus also the so- called “golden batch” – their optimum in environment-friendly production. In addition to scaling upwards, Festo is also focusing on the smallest of worlds. Whether it be microfluidics in the bioreactor, dispensing in the digitalised and networked research laboratory or continuous quality assessment of batches produced: expertise, systems and components are everywhere in demand when it comes to automatically handling small quantities of fluid very rapidly and with utmost precision. In terms of personalised medicine, the experts at LifeTech are developing miniaturised laboratories for the mobile analysis of samples wherever and whenever needed. Hospitals will also be able to use bioreactors in future to produce the required medicines for their patients locally and in very small quantities. Biological and flexible batch production that is to be available not only in industrialised areas but on all continents must take further considerations into account. The systems need to be modular, easy to commission and remotely maintainable. The specialists at Festo are using digital twins, among other things, to ensure transparency at an early stage throughout the bioprocess and are devising overarching standards. The individual production modules of the plants should be able to be easily connected, exchanged and extended as required on site – independently of manufacturer. Epilogue Into the ecological age Economy, ecology and responsibility Inspired by pioneers With sense and reason The Festo brand Bioreactors for industry Expertise on a large and a small scale Digital, modular, standardised
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