Technology Prize – human-centered technology

This prize is offered by former executive board members and institute directors of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and their associated external sponsors. It is awarded biennially – alternating with the Stifterverband Science Prize – to members of staff whose research and development work has made a significant contribution to the quality of life, enabling people to remain fit and active in their daily lives up to an advanced age. Endowed with 10,000 €, the prize will be awarded on May 26 on the occasion of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft annual conference in Nuremberg.

Dr. Jürgen Drossard, Dr. Thomas Rademacher,  Dr. Stefan Schillberg (Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME)

Biologically manufactured pharmaceuticals, such as recombinant insulin or the antibodies used in cancer therapies, have become an integral part of medical practice. Plants are especially well-suited for the production of complex active ingredients. In plants, these substances can be produced on a large scale and inexpensively.

Dr. Jürgen Drossard, Dr. Thomas Rademacher and Dr. Stefan Schillberg of Fraunhofer IME, together with Prof. Dr. Wiltrud Treffenfeldt of Dow AgroSciences and Dr. Uwe Gottschalk of Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A., have succeeded in manufacturing active ingredients in transgenic plants and plant suspension cell cultures – economically and safely. The resulting proteins are currently being evaluated for use in clinical trials.

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