Nation backs 29 initiatives for labors sustainable for climate

Ministry of Science Launches "BWGreenLabs" Competition to Make Research Labs More Sustainable

The Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts Baden-Württemberg has launched an ideas competition called "BWGreenLabs" to reduce the ecological footprint of research labs. The competition, first introduced in March 2025, invites universities and colleges across the state to submit project proposals aimed at making their laboratories more sustainable and climate-friendly.

Each university or college can submit up to three applications for project proposals. The funded projects are located at seven universities, six universities of applied sciences, and the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University. A total of 29 projects will be supported by the competition, with each project receiving up to 35,000 euros for a one-year trial period.

The projects supplement existing energy and climate protection concepts at the universities, as labs consume significantly more resources compared to office spaces. The funded projects aim to implement ideas for a sustainable future, focusing on areas such as energy, water, waste, and materials/chemicals in daily lab operations.

Digital platforms for the shared use of chemicals, cell lines, antibodies, and equipment are to be established. Some faculties are planning to become more sustainable as a "bio-campus," while others are focusing on energy-intensive tests, specific hydrogen labs, or ventilation in clean rooms.

After the one-year trial phase, the three most creative ideas will be awarded 100,000 euros each for further implementation. Separately funded outreach activities will be conducted to promote successful concepts and ideas across the state.

Up to 20,000 euros for personnel costs and 15,000 euros for material costs can be applied for per project proposal. The total funding volume of the ideas competition is 1.4 million euros. Training and awareness-raising offers are available for students or school classes who can become "green champions."

Participating institutions in the "BWGreenLabs" ideas competition include Hochschule Offenburg, Universität Stuttgart, and Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). Each institution has projects aimed at making their laboratories more sustainable and climate-friendly as part of the competition.

After the one-year funding period, roll-out concepts must be submitted by each project. The three best roll-out concepts will each receive 100,000 euros for implementing the proposed measures at the university or college.

The "BWGreenLabs" competition is an important step towards making research labs in Baden-Württemberg more sustainable and reducing their ecological footprint. It is hoped that the successful implementation of these projects will lead to a more environmentally-friendly future for research and development in the state.