Munich, May 11, 2026 – In the impressive ambiance of the Carl Friedrich von Siemens Foundation at Nymphenburg Palace, science, politics, and business came together to celebrate the launch of the second phase of the Bavarian Climate Research Network, bayklif2. Guided by the motto of solution-oriented, translational climate research, the day offered not only high-caliber keynotes but also exciting insights into projects designed to enrich Bavaria’s future both ecologically and economically.
A Captivating Common Thread
Florian Schwarz from Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) guided the audience through the day. With a blend of charisma, humor, and high professionalism, he moderated the dense program, masterfully keeping the audience engaged while bridging the gap between complex scientific topics and societal relevance.
Impulses from Science and Business: The Keynotes
Two impressive keynotes formed the core content of the event and delivered clear appeals:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Franz Essl (University of Vienna): “Nature, Climate, Economy”
Professor Essl painted a powerful picture of the Anthropocene – an epoch in which humanity fundamentally dominates the biosphere to the extent that seven out of nine planetary boundaries have already been crossed. He illustrated that the climate and biodiversity crises are inextricably intertwined, making a passionate plea to turn biophysical limits into the foundation of political decision-making. His conclusion was clear: nature conservation is not only ecologically necessary but also economically sensible, as the costs of inaction far exceed the costs of adaptation.
Gyri Reiersen (Tanso Technologies): “From Research to Founding”
The co-founder of Tanso, a company that brings industrial enterprises up to speed regarding carbon accounting and ESG management, demonstrated how scientific excellence from AI research can be directly transferred into industrial practice to finally make carbon footprints measurable and manageable. She emphasized that with its strong hardware base, first-class research/brainpower, and available capital, Bavaria already holds all the trump cards to lead the transformation. Her central mission was to overcome the mental hurdle of the “fear to dare”: climate protection in the Bavarian economy should no longer be viewed as a burdensome duty, but rather as the decisive future location advantage for health, the living environment, and energy sovereignty.
The Core: Overview of the Network’s Bavarian Research Projects
At the heart of the event was the presentation of the six interdisciplinary joint projects, demonstrating how concretely bayklif2 is working on solutions:
- bAImo: A modern insect monitoring system that utilizes AI and citizen science to provide reliable data on the state of our insect populations amidst climate change.
- BaySenseAI: Developed in the Berchtesgaden National Park, this project builds a scalable AI platform that combines satellite data and field studies to precisely predict Bavaria’s biodiversity.
- ecoBay: Floating autonomous robots revolutionize the monitoring of Bavarian lakes by independently collecting genetic samples (eDNA) and assessing the health of ecosystems.
- HYDROOT: Investigates the hidden foundation of our agriculture – the interplay between plant roots and the soil microbiome – to make harvests more resilient against drought and heavy rainfall.
- MEDICUS: Links urban climate models with environmental medicine to protect particularly vulnerable groups in cities like Munich and Augsburg from heat, pollen, and pollutants.
- SmartReForest: Develops AI-driven strategies for the reforestation of damaged forests to secure multifunctional and climate-resilient forest ecosystems for the future.
Science Panel: Climate Protection and the Economy in Bavaria – Contradiction or Opportunity?
As part of the bayklif2 kickoff event, Prof. Dr. Karen Pittel (ifo Institute), Prof. Dr. Florian Diekert (University of Augsburg), Prof. Dr. Chris-Carolin Schön (Technical University of Munich), and Christine Völzow (vbw – Bavarian Industry Association) discussed the compatibility of climate protection and economic development in Bavaria, moderated by Florian Schwarz.
Not a Contradiction, but a Design Task
Agreement prevailed among the panelists: climate protection and the economy are not opposites. The actual core of the challenge lies in the transition – from a fossil-based to a renewable economy. This structural change is painful but manageable if the right framework conditions are set.
Bavaria as a Living Lab
Prof. Diekert highlighted Bavaria’s unique role: the large number of municipalities and companies allows for testing different solution approaches and learning from experience. Bavaria thus offers ideal conditions as a living lab for climate protection measures.
Bureaucracy as an Obstacle
Christine Völzow pointed out a central bottleneck: between 2021 and 2024, over 300,000 jobs were created in Germany solely to fulfill new reporting obligations – capacities that do not benefit climate protection itself. Furthermore, funding programs are often too complex, such as the industrial electricity price, whose regulations de facto exclude many companies from utilizing it.
Scaling Research Results
Prof. Pittel emphasized that innovation does not end with invention: the critical step is scaling – transferring successful solutions from individual projects to a broader application. She sees a gap here in funding policy, which often fails to consider this final step into the market and practice.
Wishes for the Future
To conclude, the panelists formulated their wishes: more evidence-based climate policy that gains acceptance among the population; making climate protection more tangible – for instance, by protecting the local lake instead of focusing on abstract future scenarios; and a tighter integration of research, business, and implementation from the very beginning.
When Science Comes Alive: Networking and Community
The official part of the kickoff was concluded by the head of the bayklif2 coordination office. Dr. Ulrike Kaltenhauser drew a positive summary and emphasized that the bayklif2 research network, funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts, helps bundle the expertise available in Bavaria. The networking of interdisciplinary projects creates added value – both for the citizens of Bavaria and far beyond.
It was precisely this spirit of networking that shaped the event: following the intensive specialist lectures, the day transitioned into a lively exchange over coffee and cake. In a relaxed atmosphere, animated discussions took place, laughter was shared, and new connections were forged. It became clear that bayklif2 is far more than just a research program – it is a network of dedicated scientists and visionaries working together to keep Bavaria livable for future generations and to advance it both scientifically and economically.
