The long-term vision of HyPhOE is to establish a revolutionary symbiosis between photosynthetic organisms and technology, and to rethink and re-establish the concept of green technology. Photosynthetic organisms are intelligent, with unique functions and capabilities, being able to harvest solar energy, synthesize food, and sequester pollutants. By merging the unique characteristics of photosynthetic organisms with smart materials and devices we aim to develop bio-hybrid systems for applications in energy, plant adaptation/control, and environmental monitoring. As the boundary between technology and nature is fading, nature is being used as part of the technology and technology is enhancing nature. The bio-hybrid technology will be integrated in urban settings, agriculture, and forestry – transforming and elevating our interaction with green organisms tapping into the energy and biochemical cycles of the ecosystem.
The ultimate goal of HyPhOE is to develop advanced bio-hybrid systems based on photosynthetic organisms and smart materials and devices. Our strategy relies on developing a set of tools and methods for bi-directional electronic and chemical interfacing with photosynthetic organisms that will comprise the backbone of the project and pave the way for the targeted applications: i. Energy systems based on electronically-functionalized plants and photosynthetic organisms. ii. Plant physiological control using bioelectronics systems. iii. Environmental monitoring using functionalized plants.
