Networking with universities Basic research is a must for the applications of tomorrow. Thus Fraunhofer IGB maintains close contacts with neighbor- ing universities, both through scientific cooperation and through the professorial and other teaching commitments of Fraunhofer employees. In addition, our branches in Straubing, r burg, and euna have enabled us to e tend our scientific network to locations outside of Stuttgart. Fraunhofer IGB is particularly closely allied to the Institute of Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology IGVP at the University of Stuttgart, which until the end of 2015 was chaired by Fraunhofer IGB director Prof. Thomas Hirth. Priv.-Doz. Dr. Susanne Bailer Private lecturer in the Faculty of Energy Technology, Process Engineering and Biological Engineering at the University of Stuttgart Dr. Kirsten Borchers Associate lecturer in the Faculty of Energy Technology, Process Engineering and Biological Engineering at the University of Stuttgart Prof. Dr. Dieter Bryniok Professor of Environmental Biotechnology at Hamm- Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences 18 FRAUNHOFER IGB’S NETWORKING ACTIVITIES Fraunhofer IGB is an active participant in numerous national and international research networks. Coop- erative ventures with various universities and non-university research institutes, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration with other Fraunhofer Institutes, complement our own expertise and enable us to exploit synergies in developing new solutions for the needs of industry. We are also actively engaged in shaping research policy through championing strategic, economic, and sustainability standpoints. PROFILE Prof. Dr. Thomas Hirth Professor, Chair and Director of the Institute of Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology IGVP at the University of Stuttgart (until December 2015) Prof. Dr. Petra Kluger Professor of Tissue Engineering at Reutlingen University, Faculty of Applied Chemistry Dr. Christian Oehr Associate lecturer in the Faculty of Energy Technology, Process Engineering and Biological Engineering at the University of Stuttgart apl. Prof. Dr. Steffen Rupp Außerplanmäßiger professor and private lecturer in the Faculty of Energy Technology, Process Engineering and Biological Engineering at the University of Stuttgart Prof. Dr. Katja Schenke-Layland Professor of Biomaterials in Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at the University Hospital for Women of the Eberhard Karls University Tübingen; Adjunct associate professor at the Medical Faculty/ Department of Cardiology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA Dr.-Ing. Ursula Schließmann Teaching activity in the Faculty of Energy Technology, Process Engineering and Biological Engineering at the University of Stuttgart