Biomass Technology

Overexploitation of fossil resources, the climate crisis, or marine littering – biomass technologies are indispensable for solving the ecological problems of the present and future, as they can be used, for example, to develop renewable energy sources or degradable plastics. Students of the English-taught Master's degree programme in Biomass Technology (MSc) learn to develop, analyse, and implement sustainable strategies for biomass utilisation. The joint degree programme at the TUM Straubing campus and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna has a strong interdisciplinary focus. It includes biotechnology, bioeconomy, materials science, and process engineering subjects. Students acquire in-depth knowledge of the cultivation, use, and processing of biogenic raw materials and waste products for energy generation or the production of alternative materials. They learn to evaluate production scenarios from an ecological and economic perspective and develop an extensive understanding of material and energy flows and their environmental impact. In doing so, they acquire holistic problem-solving skills and learn to consider not only the technical and economic but also the ecological, social, and ethical dimensions of the development and application of biomass technologies. Graduates of the programme understand how to secure the energy supply with the help of existing and newly tapped resources while simultaneously strengthening sustainability in forestry and agriculture. They are able to develop new markets, applications, and technologies, taking into account ecological, economic, and political aspects. As experts in biomass technologies, they are just as ideally qualified to work in business as they are in politics, administration, or science. For a comprehensive description of the programme, please refer to the degree programme documentation: Degree programme documentation for the Master’s programme in Biomass Technology (PDF, German)