The presentation by Christoph Tänzer and Horizon X, titled "Engineering Sustainability by Imitating Life", explores the concept of biomimicry in sustainable engineering and business. It begins with an image of a nautilus shell that introduces the theme of nature-inspired solutions. The presentation includes quotes and analyses that show the inefficiency of current practices compared to natural systems. It discusses the potential of biomimicry in various fields, including medicine, materials and technology. Key concepts such as the biomimicry design spiral are explained using examples such as photosynthesis-inspired solar cells and wind turbines modelled on whale fins. The deck concludes with a look into the future, where AI is combined with biomimicry for innovation, and a call for collective action for a sustainable future.

1. Engineering
life
Sustainability
by imitating
Strategies for regenerative Innovation
beyond unlimited growth.
#03

2. “The truth is, natural
organisms have managed to
do everything we want to do
without guzzling fossil fuels,
polluting the planet or
mortgaging the future.”
Janine Benyus
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
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3. After the rather unpromising initiatives and outcomes
of COP28, there is a clear and pressing need to find
innovative solutions to address the climate crisis
before reaching an irreversible tipping point.
However, we often focus on searching for
technological solutions or reshaping existing
business models with a short-sighted "take, make,
waste" mentality. This approach leads us to overlook
the obvious solutions within the system that
surrounds us, of which we are a part.
Instead of embracing nature, we often prioritize
artificial alternatives such as synthetic fuels, which
suffer from energy inefficiencies, lower density, and
high infrastructure costs.
Finding the Root cause - A Problem Statement
The excluded System
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
02

4. Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
Designing innovation - Nature-Inspired Revolution
Life’s Blueprint for Innovation
03
Biomimicry offers a promising path to mitigate the
climate crisis. Nature's system provides an
inexhaustible variety of designs, tools, methods, and
processes that, when adapted and reengineered for
specific use cases, could hold the key to building
sustainable and regenerative solutions.
Biomimetic innovations can help combat the climate
crisis through sustainable design, renewable energy,
carbon sequestration, and eco-friendly materials,
reducing environmental impact and attracting
conscious consumers while cutting costs.
By 2031, businesses embracing biomimicry-oriented
business models have the potential to unlock USD
137 billion in profit.

5. Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
Designing innovation - Biomimicry in Business
Biomimicry Market Trends
04

6. By incorporating the
principles of nature, weare
ushering inanew era.
promotingaregenerative
future through sustainable
businessand living.
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
05

7. 1. Resource (Material and Energy) Efficient:
2. Evolve to Survive:
3. Adapt to Changing Conditions:
4. Be Locally Attuned and Responsive:
Using
multi-functional design; Using low energy process;
Recycling all materials; and Fitting form to function.
Replicate strategies that work;
Integrate the unexpected; and Reshuffle information.
Nature is
constantly adapting to changes, with species and
ecosystems evolving over time in response to
environmental shifts.
Leverage
cyclic processes; use readily available materials and
energy; use feedback loops; and cultivate cooperative
relationships.
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
Eco-innovation - Proposed Solution
The 6 Principles
06

8. Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
07
5. Integrate Development with Growth:
6. Use Life-friendly Chemistry:
Self-
organize; build from the bottom-up; and combine
modular and nested components.
Breakdown products
into benign constituents; build selectively with a small
subset of elements.
Eco-innovation - Proposed Solution

9. Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
Eco-innovation - Proposed Solution
The Biomimicry Design Spiral
08

10. 09
3 Examples of
Utilizing
Biomimicry
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.

11. 10
Photosynthesis
to Solar Cells
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.

12. Photosynthesis is the process through which plants
utilize sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to generate
energyandoxygen.
Solar cells, with an integrated system, combine carbon
capture and artificial photosynthesis. They convert
atmospheric carbon dioxide and water into a usable
hydrocarbon gas using sunlight. The inner unit absorbs
sunlight, adding heat to activate catalysts that convert
carbon dioxide and water into a hydrocarbon mixture.
This resulting gas, known as syngas, serves as a
versatilefuelsource.
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
innovationdetails
Photosynthesistosolarcells
11

13. 12
Parasitic Wasp
to MRI-Needle
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.

14. Female parasitic wasps use an ovipositor to deposit
eggs into solid substrates. This slender tube, with three
valves and a groove-and-tongue mechanism, ensures
stability and self-propelled motion.
A 0.8 mm Ovipositor MRI-Needle, inspired by wasp
biomimicry, features six parallel needle segments and a
click-pen-like actuation unit, offering precise linear
movement for MRI procedures.
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
innovation details
Parasitic Wasp to MRI-Needle
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15. 14
Humpback Whale Fin
to Wind Turbines
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.

16. The humpback whale's pectoral fin is crucial for its
swimming and feeding behaviour. It has a unique
design with wing-like shapes and rounded cusps that
control the water flow during manoeuvres.
Utilizing these natural adaptations, wind turbines and
rotor blades have been improved by introducing hump-
like protrusions that disrupt the conventional smooth
design. This biomimetic approach improves the
efficiency of wind turbines and the durability of rotor
blades, challenges traditional design principles and
could revolutionise wind power generation.
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
innovation details
Whale fin to wind turbine
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17. Biomimicry clearly has the potential to help us find new
innovative ways to develop sustainable and
regenerative business models and products. Combined
with AI, these solutions would be improved even further.
AI could be utilised as follows:
1. Biomimicry Research and Design
2. Materials and Manufacturing Optimization
3. Energy Efficiency
4. Supply Chain and Logistics Optimization
5. Climate Modeling and Impact Assessment
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
an outlook - pairing AI and biomimicry
What the future holds
16

18. Engineering
Together
A Better
tomorrow
Contact me or connect
with me on LinkedIn.
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.
17

19. 18
"If we follow the horizon into the unknown, we will find
new paths that we have not thought of before."
Given the climate crisis, we must join forces and ideas to
put our world at the forefront of global change. Horizon is
a project by Christoph Tänzer that aims for new blueprints,
ways, and solutions to engineer a better tomorrow.
We bring together indigenous peoples, pioneers, engineers,
entrepreneurs, and innovators to promote regenerative
solutions and equitable practices. Our goal is to build a
platform as a beacon for sustainable development and
social responsibility that demonstrates the power and
potential of innovation to reconnect us with our planet and a
healthy coexistence.
Join us in shaping an inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable
future where progress and planetary well-being go hand in
hand.
X
Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.

20. Sources & further Reading I
iStock. (n.d.). Nautilus Shell [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.istockphoto.com/
de/foto/nautilus-shell-gm155328605-1136722
The International Council on Clean Transportation. (n.d.). E-Fuels Won't Save the
Internal Combustion Engine. Retrieved from https://theicct.org/e-fuels-wont-save-
the-internal-combustion-engine
Straits Research. (n.d.). Global Medical Biomimetics Market Analysis. Retrieved
from https://straitsresearch.com/press-release/global-medical-biomimetics-
market-analysis#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20India%20had%20the,2031
Statistic. (n.d.). Biomimetic Technology Market - Worldwide Total. Retrieved from
https://www.statista.com/statistics/990539/biomimetic-technology-market-total-
worldwide/#:~:text=Oct%2019%2C%202021%20This%20statistic,8
Allied Market Research. (n.d.). Biomimetic Materials Market. Retrieved from https://
www.alliedmarketresearch.com/biomimetic-materials-market
A12730#:~:text=The%20global%20biomimetic%20materials%20market,the%
20Global%20Biomimetic%20Materials%20marke
Freepik. (n.d.). Little Cute Crab on Beach by Ocean [Image]. Retrieved from https://
www.freepik.com/free-photo/little-cute-crab-beach-by-
ocean_5175688.htm#query=tiny%20crab&position=3&from_view=search&track=ai
s&uuid=0e521d66-f2dc-4185-99d9-b6e5371f6fb
ScienceDirect. (n.d.). Biomimetic Design of Materials and Structures. Retrieved
from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610217359222?
ref=cra_js_challenge&fr=RR-1
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Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.

21. Sources & further Reading II
Biomimicry Institute. (n.d.). Biomimicry Process. Retrieved from https://
toolbox.biomimicry.org/methods/process
Pexels. (n.d.). Macro Photography of White Coral [Image]. Retrieved from https://
www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/makrofotografie-der-weissen-koralle-920163
Pexels. (n.d.). Macro Photography of a Sunflower [Image]. Retrieved from https://
www.pexels.com/photo/macro-photography-of-a-sunflower-4622893/
Pexels. (n.d.). Aerial Shot of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System [Image].
Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/an-aerial-shot-of-the-ivanpah-solar-
electric-generating-system-14096756/
AskNature. (n.d.). Modular Solar Cell Inspired by Photosynthesis. Retrieved from
https://asknature.org/innovation/modular-solar-cell-inspired-by-photosynthesis/
University of South Florida. (n.d.). Organic Photosynthetic Solar Cells. Retrieved
from https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/honorstheses/136/
#:~:text=The%20organic%20photosynthetic%20solar%20cells,necessary%20to%2
0complete%20this%20project
Flickr. (n.d.). [Image]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/2knS39V
Bite Group. (n.d.). Ovipositor MRI Needle. Retrieved from https://www.bitegroup.nl/
interventional-devices/ovipositor-mri-needle/
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). (n.d.). 9 Bioinspired Medical
Technologies. Retrieved from https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/9-
bioinspired-medical-technologies
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Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.

22. Sources & further Reading III
New Scientist. (n.d.). Surgical Device Inspired by Parasitic Wasps Could Extract
Bits of You. Retrieved from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2255694-surgical-
device-inspired-by-parasitic-wasps-could-extract-bits-of-you
Pexels. (n.d.). Humpback Whale Underwater [Image]. Retrieved from https://
www.pexels.com/photo/humpback-whale-underwater-7206869/
Pexels. (n.d.). Close-Up Photo of a Windmill [Image]. Retrieved from https://
www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-a-windmill-10785837/
Mongabay. (2008). Whale Biomimicry Inspires Better Wind Turbines. Retrieved
from https://news.mongabay.com/2008/07/whale-biomimicry-inspires-better-wind-
turbines/
Nature Inspired Design. (2012). Whale Fin Windmills. Retrieved from https://
natureinspireddesign.com/2012/12/whale-fin-windmills/
AskNature. (n.d.). Flippers Provide Lift, Reduce Drag. Retrieved from https://
asknature.org/strategy/flippers-provide-lift-reduce-drag/
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Engineering life
Sustainability by imitating
Christoph Tänzer © 2023 I Not to be distributed without express prior consent.