The 64-year-old, who comes from a brewing family, has developed a novel technique that fuses yeast to the sides of specially created ceramic-lined cylinders during the brewing process.

CNN: New ideas brewing in beer industry

His own process allows the yeast to work quicker and involves first fixing the yeast to the ceramic lining of a stainless steel cylinder.

CNN: New ideas brewing in beer industry

Dr Claus has already used this process to make a flexible kind of photovoltaic cell, made from alternating polymer and ceramic layers, that can be sewn on the outside of a tent.

ECONOMIST: MONITOR