Dr. -Ing. Ursula Schließmann is head of the Environmental Technology business unit at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB and deputy head of the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform FIP-WEF@SU, Stellenbosch. She heads the office of the Fraunhofer Alliance SysWasser, which is dedicated to the development of conceptual systemic but also technical solutions for industry, cities and regions in the field of environment and climate impacts. As a doctor of engineering, she is a lecturer and teaches bioeconomic issues and biotechnology at the University of Stuttgart and the University of Hohenheim in Germany. She is a board member of the German Water Partnership industry association, where she is responsible for innovation and scientific cooperation.