Main description:

There is a wide consensus about the necessity of sustainable development. There is also a consensus that wide areas of our economy, industry, and technology and the life styles in industrialized countries are not susta- able. Science and technology are widely regarded as (main) causes for this situation. Issues in this context comprise the generally low resource ef- ciency, an increased and mostly undebated technological power, an - creased invasiveness of modern technologies, increasing amounts and - versity of pollutants, and high technological risks. On the other hand science and technology are also regarded as (main) solution providers towards more sustainability. Thus the question is which type of science and technology is rather a part of the problem, and which type is rather a part of the solution? 'Learning from nature' may give some orientation in this context. B- mimetics and bionics are widely regarded as being a part of the solution.

Contents:

Trends in Biomimetics.- Technological Aspects of Learning From Nature.- Topics, Actors, and Research Networks - Results of Literature and Patent Analyses.- Biomimetics and Innovation.- Conclusion.