Bio-inspired technology and technology-inspired biology

Over billions of years, evolution has produced biological systems with extraordinary functional capabilities. These systems have inspired a wide range of bio-inspired technologies, from soft robotics to adhesion mechanisms. Yet, the reverse process—where technological tools and models inform biological understanding—is equally powerful but often underappreciated. This Focus Session highlights both directions of this interdisciplinary exchange. We present a diversity of organisms with remarkable traits that have motivated novel technologies, including cephalopods, mussels, flying insects, and spiders. Their ecological, developmental, and phylogenetic contexts will be discussed to emphasize the importance of selecting biologically relevant models for technological translation. Crucially, we explore how biomimetic technologies—such as robotic flyers, synthetic adhesives, and microfluidic systems—can serve as experimental platforms to test biological hypotheses. These models allow for controlled manipulation of parameters, reproducibility across trials, and exploration of trait combinations beyond those found in nature. By closing the loop between biology and technology, we gain deeper insights into the principles governing biological function and evolution. This session aims to inspire a new generation of multidisciplinary scientists to not only draw inspiration from nature but also use technological innovation as a lens to better understand it.