(Translated with ChatGPT without further editing)
Matthias Scholz is the lead coordinator of TransBIB, the national transfer network for accelerating the industrial bioeconomy, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). In this role, he acts as a bridge builder, connecting regions, initiatives, and stakeholders to enable the efficient transfer of bio-based innovations from research into industrial application.
What is TransBIB?
TransBIB is a meta-network — meaning a network that connects existing regional or thematic networks. It emerged from the “model regions” of the industrial bioeconomy, which were approached by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) in 2021 to strengthen regional value creation — an issue that gained significant importance due to the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical crises.
We recognized that many regions face similar challenges. Instead of reinventing the wheel each time, TransBIB leverages “collective intelligence.” Today, TransBIB is a central building block of Germany’s bioeconomy innovation ecosystem: with 18 partners, more than 30 competence hubs that have emerged from the regions, and a network of over 1,200 companies and research institutions, we actively accelerate technology transfer.
How exactly do you accelerate this transfer?
We do so through two key levers: networking and knowledge. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups often lack the expertise or the right partners to make the leap from the laboratory to the market. Our meta-network provides ideal access to address this gap. We offer a wide range of networking formats — digital, regional, and national.
In addition, our one-stop shop provides a digital knowledge hub. It currently integrates 167 bioeconomy-related databases and 127 certification databases. Where specific knowledge is missing, we develop it ourselves — for example through our scaling database.
TransBIB is widely regarded as the scaling network in Germany. Why is this so important?
Our core mission is to bridge the so-called “valley of death” of scaling — the critical phase in which promising technologies fail because the transition from the laboratory to industrial production is too costly or too complex. Until recently, information on available scaling facilities in Germany was barely accessible; on European platforms such as Pilots4U, Germany was — and in some cases still is — largely a blank spot.
In our first year, we conducted a comprehensive mapping and identified more than 60 scaling facilities that not only exist but are also open to external projects. Initially, this information was captured in a large, non-user-friendly Excel spreadsheet. In the second funding year, we therefore implemented an AI upgrade within TransBIB. Our proprietary AI tool now makes these data easily accessible via our one-stop shop. In addition, we developed an intuitive “Booking.com-style” interface for scaling facilities to efficiently match supply and demand.
Your assessment after two years of TransBIB?
The development of TransBIB has exceeded our original plans. We have already integrated more competence hubs than originally scheduled for the end of the third year. Beyond the new AI integration, we have delivered more overall than initially anticipated — for example, our highly practical scaling guide. Our annual symposia are also very well received and have become an important meeting point for the sector. The next TransBIB Symposium will take place on 20–21 May 2026 at the Kunstkraftwerk in Leipzig.
In addition to TransBIB, you are also active as a start-up mentor and in agriculture. How do these roles fit together?
Start-ups are the innovation engines of the bioeconomy, but they often need support to navigate and establish themselves within a complex ecosystem. With my background in the natural sciences and my experience in technology transfer and through TransBIB, I support start-ups both strategically and technically — for example at Start2 (German Accelerator) or as an external mentor for the Max Planck Foundation.
As for agriculture: agriculture and the bioeconomy are intrinsically linked — as the term itself already suggests. We need to end our dependence on fossil carbon. Since circularity will never be 100% closed, we will always require “fresh,” renewable carbon. This is where farmers come into play. I see myself as an “experimental farmer”: on my own land, I test both traditional and new crop varieties to evaluate their potential as food, (construction) materials, or feedstocks for biotechnology. At the moment, I am eagerly watching my vegetables and “carbon trees” — let’s see whether they survive the cold winter!
About the person: Dr. Matthias Scholz
Dr. Matthias Scholz (born 1981) is a chemist and biochemist who earned his PhD in bioinorganic chemistry at the University of Leipzig and gained international research experience in Sweden and the United States. Following a postdoctoral position in structural biology at Vanderbilt University, he worked for ten years as an independent project leader in basic medicinal chemistry research at the universities of Cologne, Bonn, and Zurich, with a focus on small molecules, peptides, radiochemistry, and automated synthesis.
In 2021, he joined the Chemie-Cluster Bayern, where he was responsible for bioeconomy-related topics with a particular focus on the TUM Campus Straubing. In addition, he coordinated the Innovation Working Group of VCI Bavaria. He is currently leading the nationwide BMWE network “TransBIB” at the Technical University of Munich. He is also active as a start-up mentor and at the European level, including involvement in ESFRI and the Community of Practice for Bioeconomy Education, and supports Germany’s participation in large-scale European initiatives such as IBISBA and IPCEI Biotechnology.
