Preface

Dear readers,

in light of the broader economic climate and the reduction in public research funding, which is also perceptible in the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Executive Board was prompted to establish a crisis prevention and response program. Institutes that, like Fraunhofer IME, reported a net loss for three consecutive years were classified as critical in 2025. By mid-2026, a catalog of measures will be developed and put into effect by the Executive Board, implemented over the following two years, and reviewed through close monitoring. With its 2024 Strategic Plan, the IME has already developed a series of measures, begun their implementation, and achieved initial successes in 2025. In 2025, the annual financial statements were still negative in all three scientific areas; however, in the areas of Molecular Biotechnology and Applied Ecology, a clear upward trend toward a balanced annual financial statement in 2026 is foreseeable. This was also aided by a significantly increased scientific exchange between the locations through the further development of the agrinomics concept in a total of three workshops.

Of great importance to the Aachen-based locationis the research project "OrbiRoboTree", funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). In this project, we are collaborating with the Fraunhofer IPK, the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, and EUtech Scientific Engineering GmbH to create a promising foundation for robust tree seedlings—better prepared for outdoor planting—using a combination of AI-supported robotics and vertical farming. In the "SCOPE" research project, funded by Gates Agricultural Innovations, we are collaborating with partners from Nigeria and Ghana to develop an innovative approach to increasing the photosynthetic performance of cowpeas—a key plant-based protein source for nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa. As part of the "Mikro-MeDi-LAMP" research project recently launched at the Aachen location, a patient-centered point-of-care testing (POCT) system is being developed that enables rapid, culture-independent diagnosis of pathogenic microorganisms and their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in patients with sepsis.

At the Münster location, the "RUBIN 3" research and development project on the industrialization of natural rubber from Russian dandelion (2026–2031) is proceeding successfully. In addition, the "SEASON – Slow Release of Biostimulants from Seed Coatings" project was successfully selected in the "GreenEconomy.IN.NRW" innovation competition. In this joint project, the partners are developing a novel technology for the targeted release of biostimulants via seed coatings. The focus plant is winter rapeseed, the most important oilseed in North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany.

The appointment process at the University of Münster for the joint "Chair of Trait Optimization in Crop Plants" based on the Berlin model is in its final phase; we expect the appointment to be made in the summer of 2026.

With the approval to build a research greenhouse, an infrastructure project of vital importance for the Münster location has been set in motion. All planning and approval documents are currently being prepared. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2029, with completion expected in April 2030. With the research greenhouse, we are strengthening our research and teaching infrastructure, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and securing the long-term competitiveness of our location. We thank the federal government, the state, and all partners for their commitment and support, which are making this project possible.

The Bioresources Division in Giessen, as a non-university research institution, is participating in the joint application submitted by Justus Liebig University Giessen and the University of Marburg for funding under the Federal and State Excellence Initiative. This is intensifying cooperation with both universities in Central Hesse, particularly in the agricultural sciences.

A particular highlight in 2026 was the visit by Federal Minister Dorothee Bär, who announced in her welcoming remarks that the Fraunhofer IME Division of Bioresources is actively involved in the federal government’s high-tech agenda. As part of the PhytoProtect program announced by the BMFTR, two project outlines were invited to submit full proposals. In this context, Ms. Bär learned about the collaboration with the U.S. company Grennlight BioSciences, which has received the world’s first approval for an RNAi spray for the U.S. market. This RNA interference-based spray is effective and specific against Colorado potato beetles, thereby ushering in a new era in sustainable plant protection (Press Release).  At the Giessen branch of the institute, intensive work is underway on new formulations of RNA sprays so that they can be used in the future for the sustainable control of reed leafhoppers, among other applications. Furthermore, two new industry partners (SWARM Biotactics and InsectImpact) have been secured, with whom our research in the field of insect biotechnology is being expanded to include applications for cockroaches.

The former Fraunhofer Application Center in Soest became a branch lab of the Applied Ecology Division at the beginning of 2026.
Construction work on the large-scale laboratory building in Schmallenberg was still not completed in 2025, meaning that the full move to the new building cannot take place until 2026. The early-career research groups in immunotoxicology and the Fraunhofer Attract B-Pol mentioned in the last annual report have been successfully established. The regulatory implementation of our ecotoxicological research into guidelines has advanced with the completion of the UBA project report, including the protocol for the "ZEOGRT" (zebrafish extended one-generation reproduction test) as part of its validation as an OECD test guideline, as has the development of the tPOD (transcriptomic point of departure) as a molecular method for determining threshold effects, which is being investigated for comparability to classically determined chronic NOECs for 24 substances with the help of an ECHA project (Highlight). ECHA recognized both test methods even before the adoption of the OECD guideline; corresponding industry studies have been and are currently being conducted. In the challenging large-scale project "BioDive4Soil" for the baseline survey of soil biodiversity in Germany, the first year—during which the very diverse institutions had to be brought together—has been successfully completed. The participants' enthusiasm shows no signs of waning.

We would like to thank all our employees, as well as our partners and supporters, for their trust and dedication.

This annual report provides insights into our work and selected projects. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and driving innovation forward together.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Schillberg

Prof. Dr. Christoph Schäfers

Institute management