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Fusion Bionic creates nature-inspired surface textures using DeepTech

TGFS

08 März 2023

While smart scientists in high-tech labs around the world are working on the next big innovation, the Earth has a few billion years of evolutionary history ahead of humanity: our natural environment is a vast research and development center and its flora and fauna are the result of continuous evolution. So why reinvent the wheel when our planet has already done the groundwork? Fusion Bionic GmbH takes inspiration from nature to enhance the properties of industrial surfaces. For example, the Dresden-based start-up has copied a unique structure from polar bears that makes tiles in swimming pools slip-resistant. Additionally, they mimic the surfaces of butterflies to enable displays to better absorb sunlight and reduce reflections. With this bio-inspired approach, the Dresden-based start-up also attracted the attention of the TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen and the Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Sachsen (MBG). Fusion Bionic’s innovative power lies in the technology used for surface treatment. Using advanced laser technology, the textures are transferred onto carrier materials such as metal or glass, inspired by nature. The process is so rapid and sustainable that the start-up was able to convince several investors of its significant market potential: The TGFS and the MBG invested together with the Fraunhofer Technology-Transfer Fond (FTTF) and the Dresden-based IT service provider Avantgarde Labs in the very same year the company was founded.

The founding of Fusion Bionic in April 2021 was preceded by several years of research work at the Fraunhofer-Instituts für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik IWS and the Technical University in Dresden. „We noticed a lot of interest from industry early on and repeatedly received requests for feasibility studies,“ reports co-founder and current CEO Dr. Tim Kunze. This finally motivated him and his IWS colleagues Benjamin Krupop and Dr. Sabri Alamri to turn the science project into a commercial enterprise. Laura Kunze brought business know-how and important industrial experience to the founding team. In the initial financing round, MBG not only acted as management partner of TGFS but also invested venture capital from the Corona relief fund for start-ups under its management. After all, Fusion Bionic had started under the difficult conditions of the pandemic. Looking back, MBG investment manager Paul Eppinger notes: „Fusion Bionic GmbH has been convincing in many aspects. The technology of laser-based surface functionalisation seemed extremely innovative and exciting, as evidenced by numerous customer inquiries even before its establishment “ Social aspects also influenced the investment decision: „Due to the previous joint activity at the Fraunhofer IWS, the team was already excellently coordinated both personally and professionally at the start of the company and was also very well networked in the industry.“ In November 2022, Fusion Bionic gained international attention as the runner-up in the „Ray of Hope“ competition, which awards outstanding business ideas in the field of biomimicry.

Thanks to the important preliminary work at the Fraunhofer IWS as well as continuous development work by Fusion Bionic, the so-called laser interference texturing (Direct Laser Interference Patterning, DLIP for short) has matured into a surface finishing process suitable for mass production. It is increasingly on a par with conventional technologies in terms of processing speed and is often even superior in terms of sustainability. Up to now, the industry has mainly used sandblasting, etching or coating processes, which, however, often require the use of chemicals or complex cleaning steps. The advantages offered by Fusion Bionic technology are best explained by Dr Tim Kunze himself: „Our highly scalable laser technology is not only simpler and more flexible, but also more resource-efficient in its application. We can apply microscopic textures to even large areas in a very short time without creating environmentally harmful waste products.“ Fusion Bionic has tapped into renewable energy as a key growth market over the past year. The widespread soiling of photovoltaic modules can be avoided by a targeted laser treatment of their glass surfaces. For this, one takes advantage of the lotus effect of the plant of the same name. It prevents desert sand and other dirt particles from adhering to the PV panels and impairing electricity generation. The water-intensive cleaning becomes potentially unnecessary in perspective. Dr. Tim Kunze has the figures ready: according to forecasts by the Solar Industry Association, it would take around 560 billion liters of water in 2030 to clean the existing solar systems. With the saved resources, it is possible to provide water for no less than one billion people for a year.

Not even two years old, Fusion Bionic is already generating six-figure revenues — making it a true rising star in the start-up scene. The revenue model is based on two pillars: On the one hand, contract work is carried out at the company’s application centre in Dresden, where a variety of surfaces are refined on behalf of customers, mostly in small series, for example for prototypes. On the other hand, Fusion Bionic also develops and sells laser modules that customers can integrate into their own production lines. The start-up financing is driving both business areas forward: „With the help of the capital raised, we can add new equipment to our application centre and thus expand our production and development capacities,“ reports the company boss. r Recently, a new machine has been commissioned, enabling the processing of surfaces up to 1500 mm x 1000 mm. Investor funding is also essential for the costly patent application: „We are now financially able to license and commercialise promising approaches.“ In addition, Fusion Bionic has already invested in expanding its personnel. Currently, the start-up has nine employees.According to Dr. Tim Kunze, the goal is to grow the team to 13 people by mid-year. Just like nature, his company is oriented towards continuous and sustainable development. Thanks to the generous pre-seed financing, more than enough financial nourishment is available to accelerate the organic growth of Fusion Bionic.

Deal team TGFS
 Tobias Voigt and Paul Eppinger

The article was published by the MBG Sachsen - management partner in TGFS.
Bildquelle: Fusion Bionic GmbH