BIONIS

The Biomimetics Network for Industrial Sustainability

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  Biomimetics and Sustainability Members' websites Networks and Centres Funding Agencies and Information Academic Institutions and Research Publications Organisations and Companies

**BIONIS takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the information contained in the linked sites

If you know of other websites that should be included please contact BIONIS coordinator


Biomimetics and Sustainability

Centre for Biomimetics at the University of Reading

The Centre for Biomimetic and Natural Technologies, University of Bath

Biomimicry
This website includes the United States based Biomimicry Guild. It is a very readable source of information about Biomimetics

Members Websites

Peter Forbes. Peter is the author of "The Gecko’s Foot", published in in 2005. His new book on biomimetics, "Dazzled and Deceived" will be published by Yale University Press in October. Dazzled and Deceived tells the story of mimicry and camouflage in the natural world and how one thing got to look like another

Adrian Thomas Animal Flight Group, University of Oxford

Anne Neville  CoSERG: Corrosion and Surface Engineering Research Group at the University of Leeds

John Summerscales at University of Plymouth
Includes a useful list of of books, papers and links about biomimetics.

John-Paul Frazer's Bioinspiration website illustrates how biomimetics has been used in architecture and ecological engineering.

John Pietrzyk - Biomimetic Connections, LLC, a retained technology-transfer firm established in 2002, provides subscriptions to BioParadigm ACCESS, a suite of intellectual property (IP) information portfolios. These portfolios consolidate IP information on corporate and university-based 'biological design paradigms'(R) from around the world. The IPs profiled and available for corporate in-licensing, are used for developing nature-inspired products in material and life sciences, optics, acoustics, and intelligent software, systems and control engineering.

Christopher Drew: SORIS – "THE Chemical Network. Established for 25 years, SORIS has a track record of delivering opportunities, solutions and intelligence, a unique service offering real value."

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Networks and Centres

Biomimetics New Zealand Inc
Biomimetics New Zealand Inc is a society of scientists, engineers and designers working with (or with an interest in) biomimetic research

BIOKON
The Biomimetics Network in Germany. This site is mainly in German, but has the occasional article in English, and is an excellent source of links to people and organisations with an interest in biomimetics (Personen oder Mitglieder im BIOKON), Biomimetic events in Germany and relevant articles in the German press

BioComposites Centre
at the University of Wales, Bangor. The aim of the Centre is to provide world leading fundamental and applied research into products and processes, based upon wood, industrial crops, recycled materials and industrial residues and to transfer these technologies to industry

Biologically-inspired product development
University of Maryland, U.S.A.

Biomaterials Network
This site is a collection of some selected internet links related to Biomaterials and also some relevant links to biomedical engineering, biology, medicine and health sciences in general.

Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse
Remanufacturing is the practice of taking end-of-life goods and re-engineering them back to as-new – or better – condition, with a warranty to match.

Centre for Sustainable Design (and Sustainable Marketing Knowledge Network)

Faraday Packaging Partnership
'Your route to new ideas, perspectives and opportunities to enhance and innovate your consumer packaged goods. This site offers details about Faraday Packaging, working at the interface between academia and industry to stimulate packaging innovation.'

Green Chemistry Network
The main aim of the GCN is to promote awareness and facilitate education, training and practice of Green Chemistry in industry, commerce, academia and schools.

Information/Inspiration Ecodesign support for designers: appropriate information and inspirational ideas

ISNet an EPSRC research network for Industrial Symbiosis (one company's waste forming another's raw material)

The Key Laboratory for Terrain-Machine Bionics Engineering, Ministry of Education, China
The lab, which is at Jilin University, was founded in 2000 based on the Open Research Laboratory for Terrain-Machine Bionics Engineering (Ministry of Machine Industry, China). It has been open since 1993 and has been the principal part of the national key discipline of agricultural mechanisation engineering.

National Non-Food Crop Centre (NNFCC)
A source of information on the use and implementation of non-food crops and technologies in the United Kingdom

SMART.mat
SMART.mat brings together UK research and industry through a consortium comprising the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), NAMTEC (the National Metals Technology Centre) and QuinetiQ. The consortium is developing virtual networks and associated activities to promote the exploitation of smart materials, surfaces and structures in support of UK businesses, with the aim of stimulating wealth creation and economic growth.

Sustainability in Practice (SiP) Network
'The WestFocus Sustainability in Practice Network is focused on bringing together our academics and universities with people from a wide range of different sectors under the broad umbrella of Sustainability.'

Sustainable Composites Network

Sustainable Design Network

TVLSN
‘The Network for Life Science Professionals in the Thames Valley'. The Thames Valley Life Sciences Network (TVLSN) is a networking group for the Life Sciences community in the Thames Valley.

Tempo: Sustainable Design Network

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Funding Agencies and Information

DEFRA
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Sustainable Development page

BERR
UK Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform

EPSRC
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Environment Agency

Envirowise
Sustainable Practices, Sustainable Profits
Envirowise offers UK businesses free, independent, confidential advice and support on practical ways to increase profits, minimise waste and reduce environmental impact.

HMPS Zero Waste Mattress System
HM Prison Service has published a notification in the EU Official Journal of a market consultation exercise relating to an ‘unmet need’ for a zero waste mattress system and is seeking innovative solutions and information to inform its procurement strategy.

Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs)
KTNs are funded by the Technology Strategy Board to help businesses innovate by providing them with networking and partnering opportunities, giving them up-to-date knowledge on markets, technologies and routes to funding and giving them a voice to influence our strategy and government regulation and standards. Their main role is to put companies and innovators in contact with the knowledge and funding that they need to bring new products and processes to market.

Oakdene Hollins Ltd
Oakdene Hollins delivers technical and economic insights for clients concerned with: funding innovation in clean technologies, managing waste, strategy, policy, R&D and business development projects in remanufacturing, evaluating investment in clean technology ventures.


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Academic Institutions and Research

Wessex Institute of Technology
Centre of Excellence in Postgraduate Research
Their website includes a useful list of International Conferences

Bombadier Beetle -  µMist™ technology
The research was funded initially by EPSRC, and subsequently by Swedish Biomimetics 3000 ®, enabling the Leeds team, led by Professor of Thermodynamics and Combustion Theory Andy McIntosh to examine the mechanisms at work in the bombardier beetle.

Sandkings
From the Sandkings website – ‘The aim of the TERMES (Termite Emulation of Regulatory Mound Environments by Simulation) project is to develop a better understanding of the structure and homeostatic function of termite mounds, with a view to identifying any lessons which can be learned, and ultimately applied, in human construction and habitation. This, in turn, will lead to a clearer definition of future research directions aimed at delivering some form of homeostasis for human constructions (for example, buildings which are self-regulating and requiring few or no mechanical services systems, and hence much-reduced energy usage).’

Publications

Bioinspiration & Biomimetics
Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, the essential new journal from IOP, publishes research involving the study and distillation of principles and functions found in biological systems that have been developed through evolution, and application of this knowledge to produce novel and exciting basic technologies and new approaches to solving scientific problems

BioInspired! Newsletter
The newsletter is sponsored by the Biomimicry Institute and is intended to:
educate readers about Biomimicry, inform readers of activities and events related to Biomimicry, provide readers with opportunities to get involved.

Organisations and Companies

Crafty Tech Ltd
'Ingenious Machine Developers', taking many of their ideas from nature

Smartpackaging.co.uk
Smart Packaging Materials and Technologies

The European Space Agency Biomimicry Page
European Space Agency Advanced Concepts Team Biomimicry Homepage
You will find information on past and ongoing biomimetics projects. Also check their publications-page for studies and papers concerning biomimetics at the ACT.

California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Lab’s Biomimicry Page
This is a collection of links to articles, books and other publications, and links to other websites

Forum for the Future
"A sustainable future? We believe we can get there. But what will it take? "

Permaculture Association
Home of the UK permaculture network & the Permaculture Association (Britain)

Inspirerecycle
This site aims to show you some of the ways in which small UK enterprises are using recycled materials to design and create interesting and vibrant products. It includes success stories, and links to financial advice and business support.

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