DECHEMA Forum 2026

WORKSHOPS

Tuesday 9/15/2026 // 15:30 - 17:00

1.2: Aspects of digitalization – self-optimization in chemical process development

Dr. Patrick Löb, Lars Gössl, Johannes Rocker, Iryna Savych, Ralph Sperling; Fraunhofer IMM

Digitalization is transforming the chemical industry—from R&D to production and supply chains. This workshop focuses on opportunities and challenges of self-optimizing lab set-ups in process development, combining automated experiments (often with flow reactors), Process Analytical Technology, and optimization algorithms. We’ll present and discuss practical approaches and tools to support wider adoption.

1.3: Bioeconomy & Biobased Polymers – from Material to Application

Dr. Daniel Zehm¹, Dr. Antje Lieske¹, Dr. Inna Bretz², Dr. Mona Duhme², Katharina Weßling2, Astrid Wessel2;
¹ Fraunhofer IAP/Fraunhofer CCPE, ² Fraunhofer UMSICHT/Fraunhofer CCPE

The workshop uses biobased polymers as a hands-on entry point to the bioeconomy, highlighting material classes and key trade-offs. After a short keynote, participants rotate through three interactive stations: value creation & sustainability, a material lab with sample comparisons, and use cases & cooperation. The goal is to explore practical applications, identify challenges and innovation potential along the value chain, and spark concrete collaborations.

Thursday 9/17/2026 // 9:00 - 10:30

2.3: Bridging the gap on CO2-based synthetic fuels – What’s left to do for applied research

Dr. Ulrike Junghans¹, Arne Roth², Ferdinand Vogelsang2; ¹ Fraunhofer CBP, ² Fraunhofer IGB

Innovation pathways for CO₂-based synthetic fuels are evolving fast, but scale-up is still constrained by CO₂ feed quality, load flexibility, process integration, volatile markets, and investment risk. This workshop addresses these gaps to accelerate progress from lab to demonstration scale by discussing future customers and the right target scale (including decentralization), the most underestimated technical bottlenecks, and where scaling partners add the greatest value from laboratory to pilot scale.

2.7: DME: How can we unlock its great potential?

Achim Schaadt and Robert Szolak; Fraunhofer ISE

Hydrogen and derivatives like dimethyl ether (DME) are key to defossilizing transport, industry, and energy. Easily liquefied at low pressure and blendable with LPG (up to 20%), DME could support large-scale imports of sustainable energy and industrial feedstocks—yet it receives far less attention than ammonia or methanol. This workshop will identify promising DME applications, potential showstoppers, and innovative solutions.

PRESENTATIONS

Tuesday 9/15/2026
13:50	Rethinking biomass residues – discovering tomorrow’s raw materials for the chemical industry Topic: Feedstock and Raw Material Flexibility Dr. Ulrike Junghans \| Fraunhofer CBP \| Germany
14:10	Ceramic Membranes for Membrane Reactor Applications Topic: Catalysis & Reaction Engineering for Defossilization Dr. Jörg Richter \| Fraunhofer IKTS \| Germany
14:30	Holistic Process Development for Circular Economy Topic: Circular Economy & Chemical Recycling Dr. Ronny Hanich-Spahn \| Fraunhofer ICT \| Germany

Wednesday 9/16/2026
12:00	Electron-mediated Biocatalyzed Synthesis of Chiral Fine Chemicals in Microstructured Flow Reactors Topic: Electrification of the Process Industry Dr. Johannes Rocker \| Fraunhofer IMM \| Germany
14:30	Establishing a Sustainable Ammonia Economy: Innovations and Insights from AmmonVektor Topic: Defossilization of Resource-Intensive Industries Dr. Clara Maria Watermann \| Fraunhofer-Institut für Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und Energietechnik UMSICHT \| Germany
14:50	Techno-economic pathways for decarbonizing industry and maritime sectors: Ammonia as energy carrier Topic: Defossilization of Resource-Intensive Industries Leonie Bahrs \| Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS \| Germany
15:10	AI-Driven Self-Optimizing Organometallic and Electrochemical Flow Synthesis Platforms for Accelerated Chemical and Pharmaceutical Process Development Topic: Digitalization, AI & Automation Dr. Iryna Savych \| Fraunhofer IMM \| Germany
16:20	Assisted Biocatalysis and Cascade Reactions in Continuous Flow: Novel Process Windows in Chiral Fine Chemicals Synthesis and Industrial Biotechnology Topic: Integrated Bio-/Chemo-/Catalytic Process Chains Dr. Thomas Rehm \| Fraunhofer IMM \| Germany
16:20	Establishment and Benefits of Agroforestry Systems for Decarbonizing the Chemical Industry from a Mathematical Optimization Perspective Topic: Digitalization, AI & Automation Dr. Nico Tauchnitz \| Fraunhofer IKTS \| Germany

Thursday 9/17/2026
11:20	Parametric Life Cycle- Inventory and Assessment of hydrogen production from natural gas Topic: System Analysis, LCA & Sustainability Assessment Ankur Gaikwad \| Fraunhofer UMSICHT \| Germany

Science and industry in dialog / September 15, 2026 - September 17, 2026