The world economy today is characterized by increasing global trade relations with a further growing geographical division of labor. Also, the so-called BRIC states (Brazil, Russia, India, China) are experiencing disproportionately high economic growth due to rapid industrialization. A major consequence of this process is a sharp rise in demand for goods transport worldwide.

Functional prerequisites for the smooth handling of these international goods transports are flexible and efficient network structures and maximum transparency along the entire value chain. These basic conditions are increasingly becoming economic success conditions for companies. Furthermore, companies are increasingly required to align their activities, structures, and networks with the principles of resource efficiency and ecological sustainability. This also applies to logistics networks and value chains, as a special form of cross-company networks which, as a performance system to be viewed holistically, produce specific commercial goods for a defined company or a defined target market. An increase in resource efficiency and ecological sustainability can be achieved, among other things, through improved management.

The research project BIONOS is dedicated to these networks and pursues as its central goal the identification and examination of possible solutions for improved control of global value chains in the economy by finding analogies from biology (Fig. 1). The subject areas of the project are logistic (cooperation) networks and value chains in biological organization forms (Biology system area) as well as in companies (Economy system area).