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The three technical universities in Chemnitz, Dresden and Freiberg as well as the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences signed the cooperation agreement to jointly build the “Green Circular Economy” (CircEcon) research campus, which was funded with over 108 million euros.
Prof. Dr. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TU Dresden, Prof. Dr. Uwe Götze, Vice Rector for Transfer and Further Education at Chemnitz University of Technology, Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, and Prof. Dr. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of the Zittau/Görlitz University (from left to right) signed the cooperation agreement. Photo: Jörg Lubiger (TU Dresden)
On April 5, 2024, Prof. Dr. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of the Technical University of Dresden (TUD), Prof. Dr. Uwe Götze, Vice Rector for Transfer and Continuing Education at Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC), Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF), and Prof. Dr. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG), signed the cooperation agreement in the Schwarze Pumpe industrial park near Spremberg to set up the “Green Circular Economy” (CircEcon), a research campus that is unique in Europe for a greenhouse gas-neutral circular economy. The signing took place in the presence of Thomas Schmidt, Saxon State Minister for Regional Development, and Dr. Andreas Handschuh, State Secretary in the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism.
As part of joint pilot lines, test facilities and demonstration systems, those involved pool their expertise in the field of materials and production technologies as well as process and recycling technology in order to model future-oriented technologies for the circular economy on an industrial scale and thus create new jobs through settlements and spin-offs in the region to initiate.
“CircEcon” is scheduled to begin operations at the end of 2026. The federal government and the Free State of Saxony will invest around 108 million euros by then. Of this, around 48 million euros will flow into the construction of the center and around 60 million euros into equipping it with equipment and pilot systems.
Prof. Dr. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TUD: “By signing the contract today, we are creating the basis for a unique cooperation between the three technical universities in Saxony and the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in the highly innovative field of the circular economy, thereby making a valuable contribution to successful structural change. With CircEcon, we will work together to build a technology network that is unique in Europe in the Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park for the development of new materials and production technologies as well as process and recycling techniques. The TU Dresden is happy to coordinate the construction work in close coordination with its partner universities and on behalf of the state-owned company Saxon Real Estate and Construction Management. In the emerging research center, we are testing the closed cycle from component production to complete recycling and reuse. In this way, Lusatia becomes an internationally visible technology region in the field of circular economy – a win-win situation that opens up the region’s prospects for new jobs and dynamic development and for research and transfer of knowledge gains and new forms of cooperation in the field of circular economy made possible.”
Prof. Dr. Uwe Götze, Vice Rector for Transfer and Further Education at the TUC: “Chemnitz University of Technology consciously pursues the strategy of establishing branch offices in order to promote its regional effectiveness, anchoring and visibility in the Free State of Saxony and to assume its economic and social responsibility. CircEcon is the fourth branch of our university to be launched – in this case as a joint facility with three partner universities. Together with the partner universities, we want to open up new paths towards a highly efficient circular economy through our research activities on the future campus. The transfer of the knowledge gained into innovations will not only provide important impetus for climate protection, but also make a significant contribution to regional development in Lusatia. Our thanks go to the many people involved in this complex and forward-looking project for their valuable impulses and contributions – from Chemnitz University of Technology‘s perspective, in particular to Prof. Dr. Lothar Kroll and his team.”
Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of TUBAF: “The TU Bergakademie Freiberg is contributing its extensive expertise in the areas of processing technology, metallurgy and materials technology to the project. The focus is on high-quality recycling of composite materials and metallic lightweight construction materials. With the large-scale pilot plants planned in CircEcon, we can develop innovative technologies from the basic idea to production readiness. We are sure that this will actively support a sustainable transformation for the region and its economy.”
Prof. Dr. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of the HSZG: “The signing of the cooperation agreement for the ‘Green Circular Economy’ project marks a very special moment for our Zittau/Görlitz University. With this pilot project, which is unique in Europe, we are boldly entering the future of the circular economy together. CircEcon will not only become an innovation center for sustainable technologies, but also a motor for regional development and new jobs in our homeland of Lusatia. It shows what great things universities of applied sciences can achieve and that, together with strong partners, we can play a pioneering role in shaping a sustainable future.”
Hintergrund: „Green Circular Economy“ (CircEcon)
Due to the necessary phase-out of coal-fired power generation by 2038, Lusatia is in the midst of accelerated structural change. This means great challenges for the region and its people – but also great opportunities to emerge particularly strengthened from the change. The Technical Universities of Chemnitz, Dresden, Freiberg and the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences make a contribution to this and pool their expertise in the areas of materials and production technologies as well as process and recycling technology. “CircEcon” is intended to establish a center that is unique in Europe for the research and development of new technologies for the recycling and reuse of fiber composite materials from wind turbines, for example.
With joint pilot lines, test facilities and demonstration systems, the targeted linking of Saxon research competencies will be promoted for the first time and innovative approaches to an efficient circular economy will be developed and brought to market readiness together with regional companies. Modern methods such as comprehensive digitalization and artificial intelligence should be used for energy and materials management in order to realistically map the entire value creation cycle – from the extraction of raw materials and the processing of valuable materials and materials through to re-production – and to make it greenhouse gas-neutral on a scale that is relevant to the industry.
(Source: press release from TU Dresden)
Mario Steinebach
05.04.2024