From the magazine Wirtschaftswoche: “There is hardly any other region where so many first-class research in- stitutes are concentrated as in Braunschweig”. In fact, around 15,000 people work in research here. 27 institutes and 250 high-tech companies ensure a close network in conjunction with the Technical University and many oth- er educational institutions. These include an aerospace center, a research airport, the Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH and chip developer INTEL.
There are a number of institutes directly related to milling whose regular excursion destination is the Deutsche Müllerschule Braunschweig.
These include, for example the institute of animal nu- trition ITE, the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute (FLI), and the federal research institute for animal health (Bundesfor- schungsanstalt für Tiergesundheit). Feed science and evaluation are important fields of knowledge in the milling industry, after all, the mills also produce compound feed. ITE researches in this area and therefore is an important information source for existing personal contacts.
Another institute which focuses on animal nutrition is the IFF, an international research association for feed technology. The IFF was founded as part of an initiative of the Profes- sional association of the animal feed industry. In the Thune district the institute is engaged with basic research on tech- nological issues of compound feed production. The ongoing development of process engineering is the focus of the scientific work – one of the core competencies of the DSMB.
Less obvious is the connection between the German milling school and Germany’s national metrology institute PTB. Atomic clocks, linear dimensions, calibration weights – this is where measurements and calibrations are carried out. It is the highest authority in all questions of correct and reliable measurement, and as such is also a popular excursion destination of the DMSB, because as the highest authority it is also responsible for the calibration capability of the moisture meters. These are essential for the trading and processing of cereals.
Because of its relationship to agriculture the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) is interesting for the DMSB. This independent federal higher authority conducts research and advises on all aspects of cultivated plants. These include cul- tivation, soil science, crop protection, harvesting and stock conservation – the latter a very interesting topic for mills when it comes to pest control, for example. JKI has been investigating the long-term effects of agriculture and pesticides in endurance field tests for over 20 years.
The Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute is also active in agriculture. Fields, forests and seas are the three research areas of the institute. How do agricultural and forest ecosystems react to climate change?How does it change the marine biocoenoses? Which technical innovations make renewable raw materials particularly efficient? Conserving resources while guaranteeing care and quality of life is one of the institutes tasks. And a lot more besides.
