Hereon at the citizens' festival for the Day of German Unity 2025
From October 2 to 4, around 400,000 people gathered in Saarland’s capital city to celebrate the 35th Day of German Unity. The Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, together with GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel University (CAU), and Lübeck Tourism, represented the state of Schleswig-Holstein. In addition to numerous visitors, prominent guests from Schleswig-Holstein, including Minister President Daniel Günther and State Parliament President Kristina Herbst, visited the stand to learn more about Hereon’s research.
This year, Hereon showcased the topics “Membrane Technologies for CO₂ Separation,” “Research for Sustainable Mobility,” “Magnesium in Medicine,” and the research vessel Coriolis. Scientists from Hereon’s Institutes of Membrane Research, Materials and Process Design, and Metallic Biomaterials were on site together with colleagues from the communication team to answer questions. Engaging exhibits offered visitors fascinating insights into these technologies.
Membranes, Mobility, and Magnesium
A large cube demonstrated the inner workings of a membrane module developed at Hereon that can separate CO₂ from industrial exhaust gases. As part of the BMWK project MemKoWI, such membrane modules are being tested in a blast furnace gas power plant at Dillinger Hüttenwerke in Saarland. The State Chancellery of Saarland interviewed the Hereon team on camera about the project — the video can be viewed on the YouTube channel “Saarland.”
The Plexiglas car fitted with magnesium components also drew great interest. Magnesium is about one-third lighter than aluminum, offering great potential for lightweight construction and helping reduce CO₂ emissions. Magnesium is also suitable as a biomaterial in medicine. At the stand, guests could view bone screws and plates, as well as coronary stents developed at Hereon. These implants are being intensively researched with the goal of promoting healing and dissolving in the body after regeneration. A second operation to remove them wouldn't be necessary.
State Politicians visit the Hereon Stand
A special highlight was the visit of Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister President Daniel Günther and State Parliament President Kristina Herbst. Both took a close look at the Hereon exhibits and discussed the research topics in depth with the scientists.
In 2026, the Citizens’ Festival for the Day of German Unity will take place in Bremen under the motto “Many Strengths – One Country.”
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Kristina Herbst, President of the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament, visited the Hereon stand. Scientists Volker Abetz (left) and Torsten Brinkmann (second from right) showed her the membranes developed at Hereon for CO2 separation. Also present: Patrick Kalb-Rottmann (right) from the Hereon communications team. Photo: Hereon/Torsten Fischer -
Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Daniel Günther also stopped by and spoke with Volker Abetz and Torsten Brinkmann to learn more about membrane research at Hereon. Photo: Hereon/Patrick Kalb-Rottmann -
Prime Minister Daniel Günther took a close look at the membranes. Photo: Hereon/Patrick Kalb-Rottmann -
The Hereon team was delighted to welcome numerous interested visitors to its stand. From left: Hereon press spokesman Torsten Fischer, scientists Jonas Isakovic and Björn Wiese, and Patrick Kalb-Rottmann from the communications team. Photo: Hereon/Torsten Fischer -
This exhibit shows the interior of a membrane module for CO2 separation. Photo: Hereon/Torsten Fischer -
The plexiglass car model with magnesium components represents Hereon's research into sustainable mobility. Photo: Hereon/Torsten Fischer -
This display case contains medical bone implants and stents made of magnesium. Photo: Hereon/Torsten Fischer -
Our scientists also appeared on camera and talked about Hereon membrane technology in an interview with the Saarland State Chancellery. Photo: Hereon/Patrick Kalb-Rottmann -
Hereon press spokesman Torsten Fischer in an interview with the Saarland State Chancellery. Photo: Hereon/Patrick Kalb-Rottmann -
Hereon press spokesman Torsten Fischer in an interview with the Saarland State Chancellery. Photo: Hereon/Patrick Kalb-Rottmann
Cutting-edge research for a changing world
Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon`s scientific research aims at preserving a world worth living in. To this end, around 1000 employees generate knowledge and research new technologies for greater resilience and sustainability - for the benefit of the climate, the coast and people. The path from idea to innovation leads through a continuous interplay between experimental studies, modeling and AI to digital twins that map the diverse parameters of climate and coast or human biology in the computer. This is an interdisciplinary approach that spans from the fundamental scientific understanding of complex systems to scenarios and practical applications. As an active member of national and international research networks and the Helmholtz Association, Hereon supports politics, business and society in shaping a sustainable future by transferring the expertise it has gained.