New VLB research projects in 2022/2023 for the brewing and beverage industry – an overview

Third-party funded research projects are an important pillar of the VLB. In the aftermath of the federal election in September 2021 (Bundestagswahl), there were major restructurings and redefinitions in the area of public research funding. During this period, which lasted almost a year, a provisional budget was in effect, during which no new research projects were allowed to be approved. In the meantime, the situation has eased again.

(BF) In 2022, VLB had submitted seven new project applications to the providers of third-party funding, primarily the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz), the start of which had to be postponed to 2023 due to this funding block. As a consequence, VLB – just like many other private research institutions in Germany – had significantly less thirdparty funding available last year than originally planned. In the meantime, the situation has eased: The German federal budget for 2023 provides an increase in third-party fundings. Application approvals are returning to normal level this year, so the VLB anticipates significantly higher thirdparty fundings for the current year. Despite these delays in the approval procedures, it was nevertheless possible to start some new projects.

Research projects started in 2022

Two new projects started at the Research Institute for Beer and Beverage Production (FIBGP): In July the ZIM1 project “HyTaste – Development of a combined mid-infrared/

UV-VIS-FL measurement system” (KK5335205BA1) started. In October the INNO-KOM2 project “Crossflow III – mixed fermentation” (49MF220089) began. At the VLB Research Institute for Management and Beverage Logistics (FIM), the ZIM project “HarshLaser – Development of a laser system for permanent and automatic labeling of returnable glass bottles” (KK5335203SY1) was launched in July. The VLB Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water (FIBW) received approval for the cross-working group INNO-KOM project “WafeG – Water quality and fermented beverages ” (49MF220050). Project start date was August 1.

Research projects started in 2023

In 2023, research at VLB is off to a good start with five more projects approved: The ZIM project “TrebComCrate – Material recovery of brewer’s spent grains to a biocompound” (KK5335207SK2) began on January 1 under the leadership of the VLB Packaging Testing Unit in collaboration with FIBGP and FIBW. In addition, the INNO-KOM project “Development of a forced pallet effect test (EFOPA)” (49MF220230) launched on

March 1. FIBW is pleased to start the year with two approved INNO-KOM projects: “Raw water monitoring with biogeochemical indicators (MoWa)” (49MF220172) and “Pasteurization of novel fermentation products (PaFerm)” (49VF220041).

In the area of brewing raw materials, the INNO-KOM project “Production and use of carbonization malt for beer production” (49VF220042) began at the Research Institute for Raw Materials and Beverage Analysis (FIRGA) on February 1.

Contact:

VLB Research Coordination

Gerhard Andreas Schreiber g.schreiber@vlb-berlin.org

1) Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) is a nationwide, technology- and sector-open funding program of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection for R&D funding to SMEs.

2) Innovation Competence INNO-KOM is a nationwide, technology and industryneutral funding program of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection for R&D funding at legally independent non-profit research institutions.