Ricarda Lang in LAB 1 and at the start-up LigniLabs: “Germany must become simpler”
Green Party Federal Chairwoman praises Mainz’s commitment to the biotechnology industry and sustainable economic development
The new Mainz biotech campus is sending out a groundbreaking signal for Mainz and the region. At the invitation of the Mainz district association of ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS, the federal chairwoman of ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS, Ricarda Lang, visited the first building on the site, LAB 1, and one of its first tenants, the start-up LigniLabs – and was impressed by the dynamism and spirit of optimism that can be felt among all those involved.
The developer of LAB 1, which will be ready for occupancy at the end of 2024, is Innovationspark Mainz GmbH & Co. KG, consisting of J. Molitor Immobilien GmbH, G.L. Kayser Immobilien GmbH and IGM Immobilien Gesellschaft Mainz mbH. One of the first tenants in the new building is the start-up LigniLabs, which has been supported by the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovations (SPIN-D) since April 2024 and is committed to “saving wine using bio-based microcapsules made from the wood component lignin” – this is how Justin Grabow from LigniLabs succinctly formulates the idea. The young team explained its product to representatives of the GREENS, which included Günter Beck, the members of the Bundestag Misbah Khan and Tabea Rößner, the member of the state parliament Daniel Köbler and the member of the European Parliament Jutta Paulus, as well as the chairmen of the Mainz GREENS, Christin Sauer and Jonas König.
Founded from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, the scientists are developing the plant protection product “ESCApe”, which is intended to combat the grapevine disease “ESCA”, which was previously considered incurable. “Mainz is a perfect location for us,” says Justin Grabow. Not only because Mainz is known for wine and vaccines – and is therefore predestined for the development of a vaccine for grapevines – but also because the new company headquarters is close to research facilities at the university and at Kisselberg. This offers ideal conditions for the formation of scientific networks.
Ricarda Lang was interested in the company’s still young history – but also asked about the conditions for founding a company. The LigniLabs founders explained that there are no standardized procedures, especially for spin-offs from universities, which makes IP transfer difficult.
Tim Gemünden, managing director of J. Molitor Immobilien and the construction company Karl Gemünden, explained the sustainable construction of the pioneering building on the biotechnology campus: The hybrid wood facade enables CO2 savings; the photovoltaic panels, which extend across the entire facade, supply the building with electricity, heating and cooling are provided by renewable geothermal energy and low-energy surface heating. Tim Gemünden demonstrated possibilities and savings potential – even in old buildings – when using cold local heat – not without advocating targeted promotion of heat pumps for this very technology among the GREEN representatives.
The Federal Chairwoman of the Greens took up the wishes and suggestions and supported the great commitment to Mainz as a biotechnology location: Through initiatives like those in Mainz and the noticeable enthusiasm, it is possible to create ideal conditions for start-ups so that they can become major players themselves. And the “LAB1” is also a lighthouse project in terms of sustainable construction. To ensure that it does not remain just lighthouses, Germany must become “simpler”. “We are putting hurdles in our way with bureaucracy. This must not become an obstacle to innovation,” said Ricarda Lang.
