Our Research Projects

FSP HoBio stands for the research focus area Wood-Based Bioeconomy. In Germany, wood is considered the most important domestic renewable raw material. It does not compete, directly or indirectly, with food or feed production. Due to its versatility, wood, particularly as a material, offers multiple opportunities for economic analysis and utilization. The Wood-Based Bioeconomy research focus (FSP) at TH Rosenheim is interdisciplinary and spans faculties and locations. It addresses the material use of wood as well as its mechanical, chemical, and biotechnological processing. Wood offers the potential for producing high-value products with low fossil resource intensity and significant CO2 reduction potential. The wood-based bioeconomy makes a substantial contribution to the climate neutrality target set by the German federal government and the state of Bavaria for 2050. For this reason, the FSP “Wood-Based Bioeconomy” is funded by the Free State of Bavaria and collaborates closely with partners from industry and research.

The FSP is part of the Bioeconomy and Wood Technology research area at Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences. The project team consists of experts in wood technology, plastics technology, industrial engineering, chemical engineering, and material sciences. The Center for Bio-Based Materials is responsible for coordinating the various sub-areas. The FSP focuses on the development of innovative materials and the material use of wood in several collaborative sub-projects. The overarching goal of all research activities is the implementation of cascading wood utilization. Therefore, considerations of recyclability for new developments and a focus on circular economy principles are integral to the entire initiative.

Further information can be found on the dedicated project website.

Contact: Theresa Pscherer

HigHRoQ stands for Hybrid, Individual, and Tangible Higher Education in Rosenheim Quality. The digitalization of teaching at TH Rosenheim is taking further shape with the HigHRoQ project. Like a shared mountain expedition, the project connects all stakeholders across the university and invites interested parties to participate. Since its launch in 2021, significant progress has been made. In the sub-project of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering (WI), digital teaching and learning formats are being further developed in collaboration with lecturers, staff, and students to be used purposefully in and for in-person courses. To strengthen both technical and methodological competencies, practical relevance in teaching is made tangible through a WI company (learning factory). This approach trains students in holistic, problem-solving-oriented thinking, with the WI company and its value creation serving as a common thread through various study modules. HigHRoQ runs until December 2025.

Further information can be found on the dedicated project website.

Contact: Gretel Huber

ISAR stands for Innovation Network for Regional Material Use of Waste Wood (ISAR). In this project, a consortium led by TU Munich develops new material-based waste wood innovation pathways that are technically and economically feasible, as well as ecologically and socially suitable. To open up product and technology development to external ideas and expertise, an open innovation approach is applied. The innovation pathways, including the products and processes, are evaluated and optimized in real-world laboratories with practice partners in Bavaria. The results from both phases contribute to the creation of a transformation roadmap, which, among other things, outlines optimization potentials and measures for implementing the concept in practice.

Further information can be found on the dedicated project website.

Contact: Dominik Hüttemann

Research Focus: Climate-Resilient Bioeconomy in the Value Cycle of Wood and Other Renewable Raw Materials

The goal is to build expertise in the processing value chain of new wood species and the material use of waste wood for transfer into research and teaching. This initiative focuses, on the one hand, on the process engineering of new wood species and secondary waste wood assortments and qualities through mechanical and thermomechanical preparation and recycling processes.

Further information can be found on the dedicated project website.

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sandra Krommes

National Transfer and Acceleration Network for Industrial Bioeconomy

The theme and goal of TransBIB is to accelerate the national bioeconomization of industry and society through cross-regional knowledge pooling, evaluation, and collaboration.

Within the framework of the BMWK’s “Industrial Bioeconomy” funding program, TransBIB pursues a bottom-up approach encompassing multiple model regions based on regional initiatives. TransBIB integrates these regional activities, networking and combining them with additional systematic knowledge collections (Data and Tool Hub).

An expert network will subsequently evaluate all information and reflect it back to the model regions, for example, through targeted information events, recommendations for action, or guidelines (e.g., Scale-up Guideline). The Data and Tool Hub is also intended to inspire new projects and start-up formations (e.g., Start-up Formation Guideline). Additionally, TransBIB will promptly communicate findings regarding existing barriers and measures to accelerate bioeconomization through a dialogue platform.

By involving the economic ministries of the federal states, TransBIB will create further synergies and support the onboarding of additional model regions in a state-specific manner. TransBIB offers a comprehensive toolset for the virtual assessment of the economic viability of upscaling processes (e.g., through process simulation databases), thereby supporting the scaling of new processes, making upscale facilities accessible nationwide, and assisting stakeholders in their model regions to establish new pilot plants. The transition to production facilities in Germany is prepared and accelerated. Contact: Dr. Martin Brunsmeier

Contact: Theresa Pscherer

H20_20_ONEforest: A multi-criteria decision support system for a common forest management to strenghten forest resilience, harmonise stakeholder interests and ensure sustainable wood flows.

The overarching goal of ONEforest is to develop a multi-criteria decision support system that evaluates sustainable forest management, synergies, and trade-offs between forest ecosystem services, reliable timber supply, and the interests of stakeholders using indicators for the forest-wood value chain, considering social, economic, and ecological dimensions, thereby facilitating decision-making.

This interdisciplinary approach will contribute to achieving multifunctional, resilient forestry and optimizing the forest-wood value chain while taking into account the interests of involved stakeholders and supporting the development of a bio-based society. ONEforest is of interest to various actors in the forest-wood value chain, such as forest owners, industry, operators, logisticians, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), recreational users, and others, by engaging stakeholders at multiple levels.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Sandra Krommes

FrIDAH stands for Fluorescence ID of Waste Wood. The project aimed to develop an automated application for quality control of waste wood assortments using fluorescence lifetime. Material flows were monitored, and individual categories were sorted to provide a high-quality raw material assortment for further utilization. High-quality waste wood components, contaminants, and foreign objects were identified, systematized, and classified based on their fluorescence properties. To ensure rapid data processing, software was developed that automatically calibrates the camera, evaluates images, and assigns them based on classification features. The SEM working group supported the project by creating material flow analyses and life cycle assessments, as well as conducting an initial economic evaluation of the technology costs.

Further information can be found on the dedicated project website.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Sandra Krommes

Process Development for the Recycling of Organosheet Offcuts with Direct Implementation in the Hybrid Component Manufacturing Process and Additional Evaluation

The project aimed to develop a suitable process to implement these offcuts as injection molding components in the hybrid component manufacturing process. The goal was to establish a closed-loop system with high value creation and high quality of the final product. In particular, the interactions between material properties, machine technology, and economic viability were investigated, taking into account the savings potential through material-efficient manufacturing and processing technologies across the entire process chain.

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sandra Krommes

Increasingly scarce resources and a transforming energy economy in Germany present companies with ever-new challenges. Responsible and efficient use of finite resources is increasingly becoming the focus of our thinking and actions. Sustainable business practices are turning into a competitive factor. As a “by-product” of this mindset and approach, opportunities arise to enhance economic efficiency. The advent of the fourth industrial era opens up entirely new possibilities for the digitalization and networking of production, as well as the integration of resource efficiency themes. Initial approaches in this direction already exist.

The SEM research group at TH Rosenheim views digitalization as an opportunity for companies to uncover specific savings potential in material consumption and energy use. The intelligent use of data along the value chain promotes efficient resource utilization, enabling cost reduction, employee awareness, and the realization of competitive advantages. Our research focuses on existing manufacturing systems with equipment from various manufacturers in the context of small-batch production; ultimately, however, we aim to master digitalization and resource efficiency challenges in single-unit production (batch size 1).

Contact: Prof. Dr. Sandra Krommes

Digital GreenTech - OHA-FLIM: Technical Potential Analysis for the Development of an Optical Method for Species-Specific Sorting of Waste Wood Using Imaging Fluorescence Lifetime Measurement.

In the project, the UV/VIS spectra, fluorescence spectra, and fluorescence lifetimes of ideal wood samples and real waste wood samples were measured using a fluorescence spectrophotometer in a first step. The evaluation of the measured data aims to determine the optimal excitation wavelength. Subsequently, the wood samples were analyzed using the optimal excitation wavelength and the FD-FLIM method. The data evaluation aims to determine whether species identification of wood is possible using the FD-FLIM methodology. An accompanying sustainability analysis investigated the potential of material recycling compared to the previously dominant energy recovery of waste wood in terms of greenhouse gas and resource savings.

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sandra Krommes

e-Mobility Transnational strategy for an Interoperable Community & Networking in the Alpine Space.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Sandra Krommes

aCar: Rural Mobility in Developing Countries

The Chair of Raw Material Management of the Technical University of Applied Sciences in Rosenheim focuses within the scope of the project on sustainable product development. A vehicle designed for and with high local value creation in Africa must meet the highest standards of sustainable product development with regard to environmental impacts, raw material selection and processing, material cycle closure, and social standards. Based on the technical vehicle concept, sustainable product, manufacturing, and recycling properties need to be derived and implemented for the specifications. The materials used should consist of renewable raw and composite materials, as well as be locally produced and sourced.

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sandra Krommes