Welcome to the ZIM – Innovation Network „Environmental Technology and Soil Reclamation“
ZIM network of the year 2025
initiated and coordinated by T+I Consult
About us
The international ZIM innovation network “Environmental Technology and Soil Recultivation” (UtBr) pursues the goal of recultivating contaminated soils ecologically, economically and sustainably in order to make them usable for agricultural purposes again. By reclaiming high-quality and productive land, the aim is to increase resource efficiency and support food security in the long term.
The network has developed projects on innovative processing and harvesting technologies for wild plants, a sensor and AI-supported decision support system to optimize nutrient and water management for field crops and a monitoring system for animal activities.
A total of 24 partners from industry and science in Germany, Australia, South Korea and Egypt worked closely together. The solutions developed in the R&D projects are intended to open up new market opportunities, particularly for the participating companies.
The network was officially active from April 1, 2017 to September 30, 2021. At Innovation Day 2025, UtBr was named “ZIM Network of the Year 2025” by the BMWE. This success is thanks to the dedicated efforts of all partners. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for your active support.

Network Partners
Bauern AG Neißetal
Location: Groß Gastrose
Established since: 1991
Agricultural industry – soil reclamation, crop production, pig and cattle farming
CeCon Computer Systems GmbH
Location: Berlin
Established since: 1990
IT system house, data analysis, image processing methods
HST Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
Location: Meschede
Established since: 1985
Machinery and equipment as well as IT and automation technology for water management
hydro & meteo GmbH
Location: Lübeck
Established since: 1999
mechakon
Location: Bad Liebenwerda
Established since: 2019
Environmental technology, special machines for production and process engineering, robotics and handling technology
ProFunk electric Service GmbH
Location: Cottbus
Established since: 1998
ITC services for industrial needs
RS. aero GmbH
Location: Trebbin, OT Schönhagen
Established since: 2018
Side-by-side electric powered motor glider for private and sports use
Associated Partners - Science
Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg
Location: Cottbus
Research areas: Environment, Energy, Materials, Construction, Biotechnology, Information and Communication Technology
Forschungs- und Transferzentrum Leipzig e.V.
Location: Leipzig
Research areas: Energy and Environmental Technology, Construction Technology, Automation Systems / Technical Informatics / Communications Technology
Fraunhofer-Institut für Elektronische Nanosysteme ENAS
Location: Chemnitz
Technologies and methods for Smart System Integration
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Location: Berlin
Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture, Department of Horticultural Plant Systems
Technische Universität Berlin
Location: Berlin
Research areas: Wastewater discharge, rainwater management and treatment, wastewater treatment, drinking water, water pollution control, microplastics in urban water management
Technische Universität Chemnitz
Location: Chemnitz
Research areas: System miniaturization, integration of heterogeneous system components, functional improvement of microelectronic components
Universität Paderborn
Location: Paderborn
Research areas: Development and deployment of sensor systems and wireless communication systems, simulation and design of antennas for wireless communication in harsh environments
Associated Partners - Industry
Food Generation Systems GmbH
Location: Potsdam
Established since: 2015
Veterinary medicine, food technology, nutrition physiology, product management
Nagola Re GmbH
Location: Jänschwalde
Established since: 2011
Agricultural industry – Production and resettlement of native plant species
SGL Spezial- und Bergbau-Servicegesellschaft Lauchhammer mbH
Location: Lauchhammer
Rehabilitation of industrial plants, construction works
viimagic GmbH
Location: Dresden
Established since: 2009
Sensors for the TV and transport industry, security, industrial and medical applications
Foreign Partners
IMB Centre for Solar Biotechnology – The University of Queensland
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Development of new solar powered technologies and industries based on photosynthetic green algae; Strain purification, cryopreservation, nutrient and light optimisation, metabolomics and metabolic engineering, high-value product development and screening, photobioreactor and raceway system design, technoeconomic analysis, scale-up
Hanyang University
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Bioinformatics, Stem cell biology, Genomics, Proteomics, Epigenetics, Immunology and Neuroscience
Lincoln Agritech Ltd
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Sensing Technology Solutions, Precision Agriculture Technology, New Materials
Global Futuremakers Pty Ltd
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Sustainable and innovative energy and water solutions
Greenbelt Outdoor Project Solutions Pty Ltd
Location: Cairns, Australia
Economical soil rejuvenation using microbiome technology (bio-fertiliser); Waste-to-fertiliser technology transforming agricultural waste efficiently into bio-fertiliser; Water clean-up technology
J. L. Algae Science Pty Ltd
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Soil Assist
Sitz: Cairns, Australia
Trading Engineering Group (TEG)
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Our International Activities

News
ZIM Network of the Year
BMWK's Innovation Day - 5. June 2025
Circular Bioeconomy Clustermeeting in Australia - 31. October – 4. November 2022
International Circular Bioeconomy Cluster Meeting - 18. September 2020
We are moving: new address and phone number as of April 23
New guidelines for the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM)
Circular Bioeconomy Cluster Meeting & Workshop – 18.-19. November 2019
4th Australian-German Science and Innovation Day 2019 - 9 October 2019
Travelling Conference in Australia - 17.-23. February 2019
Projects
BodenRadar
Project start
1. February 2022
Status
completed
Partners
HST Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG | hydro & meteo GmbH | Technische Universität Berlin | Trading Engineering Group (TEG) (Egypt)
Short description of the project
Development of a data management and decision support system to understand the soil as a water reservoir, e.g. to obtain implementation recommendations for the optimal nutrient and water supply of soils in agriculture or for preventive flood protection measures.
Intelligent Cattle Observer
Project start
1. July 2021
Status
completed
Partners
CeCon Computer Systems GmbH | Technische Universität Chemnitz | Universität Paderborn
Short description of the project
Development of an animal monitoring system that can be used for both close-up areas, e.g. stables, and long-distance areas, e.g. pastures. This complex system has a modular structure and includes very innovative solutions in the various sub-areas. Powerful sensor technologies are used for data acquisition and some of the sensors have been developed in-house. The sensors are equipped with appropriate radio technology. The latest artificial intelligence methods, which represent the latest state of research, are used to analyse the data.
BodenPflaster (Green Patch)
Project start
1. May 2021
Status
completed
Partners
Nagola Re GmbH | mechakon | Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg | The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience (Australia) | J.L. Algae Science Pty Ltd (Australia) | Soil Assist Sales Pty Ltd (Australia)
Short description of the project
Development of a highly stressable, functionally integrative seed mat for the needs-based rapid greening of erosion-prone areas with soil-improving properties based on renewable raw materials.
Navitech
Project start
1. April 2021
Status
completed
Partners
Texplor Exploration Environmental Technology GmbH
Short description of the project
Development of a mobile, high-precision navigation technology for autonomous position localisation in severely restricted reception situations.
SaatGutSauger
Project start
1. February 2018
Status
completed
Partners
Nagola Re GmbH | ProFunk electric Service GmbH | Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg
Short description of the project
Development and redesign of an autonomously travelling, electrically powered seed vacuum cleaner in modular design based on a base frame for collecting seeds from wildflowers
T+I Consult
Network Management
T+I Technologie- und InnovationsConsult GmbH has extensive know-how in the field of ZIM network and cluster management. Within the networks that we initiated we support partner companies and scientific institutions in the identification of ideas and development of joint projects. We also support funding applications for innovative projects and ensure that reporting and billing to the promoters is compliant with the guidelines.
Furthermore, we ensure a constant exchange between the participating companies and scientific cooperation partners.

Prof. Dr. Michael Groß
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
E: gross@ti-consult.de

Nikita Sklyomin
Project Management
E: sklyomin@ti-consult.de

Bärbel Riemann
Administration
E: riemann@ti-consult.de