Innovation Stage
Donnerstag 12. März 2026
Das Programm der Innovation Stage
Die Innovation Stage ist der Ort, an dem visionäre Ideen und bahnbrechende Lösungen für die Kreislaufwirtschaft zum Leben erweckt werden. Hier treffen sich Vordenker, Innovatoren und Macher, um gemeinsam die Zukunft der Kreislaufwirtschaft zu gestalten. Innovative Start-ups und Unternehmen präsentieren auf dieser Bühne ihre wegweisenden Ideen und Technologien, die maßgeblich zur Transformation hin zur Circular Economy beitragen. Freuen Sie sich auf spannende Vorträge, praxisnahe Diskussionen und inspirierende Präsentationen. Lassen Sie sich von den neuesten Innovationen anstecken und entdecken Sie, wie kreative Lösungen und zukunftsweisende Technologien unsere Welt nachhaltig verändern können.
Mittwoch, der 11. März 2026
10:00 - 11:45 Uhr
Opening, Startups & Global Perspectives
10:00 - 10:15 Uhr
Welcome from the Moderator
Format: Opening & Welcome
Session: Opening, Startups & Global Perspectives
Sprache: English
Speaker
TBA
Moderator
10:15 - 11:15 Uhr
Start-Up Pitch Session 1
Format: Pitch Session
Session: Opening, Startups & Global Perspectives
Sprache: English
Speaker
TBA
Moderator
11:15 - 11:45 Uhr
From Market Entry to the NRW.Global STAGE: NRW.Global Business empower International Start-ups
Format: Keynote
Session: Opening, Startups & Global Perspectives
Sprache: English
Speaker
Bety Chu
Head of Business Unit Sustainable Transformation
NRW Global Business
Lecture information
The session presents NRW.Global Business as the one-stop agency for foreign companies entering NRW. It showcases the NRW.Global HUB as a platform for pitching on the NRW.Global STAGE and for building connections with key players in NRW’s circular economy ecosystem.
11:45 - 12:15 Uhr
Science & Data Insights
11:45 - 12:00 Uhr
Circular Construction Hub Düsseldorf: Empowering Circular Practices and Reuse in Built Environment
Format: Keynote
Session: Science & Data Insights
Sprache: English
Speaker
Jana Bauer
Research associate and Project Lead
Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences – Institute for Livable and Sustainable Urban Development (In-LUST)
Andrea Scholz
Circular Business Development
Sustina AG
Lecture information
Attendees gain insight into the KoHaB, a living lab dedicated to strengthening circular practices and enabling the recovery and reuse of building materials and components. As a collaborative project involving local government, practitioners, skilled crafts and educational institutes, KoHaB demonstrates how various stakeholders are working together to transform the construction industry. The focus is on a prototype circular construction hub as a knowledge and transfer center for crafts, construction industry and urban society. The hub is accompanied by a digital platform assessing and recording material flows and by urban community events. KoHaB is funded as part of “Circular Economy – CircularCities.NRW” (Eby FRE/JTF-program NRW 2021–2027) by MWIDE NRW and co-financed by the European Union.
12:00 - 12:15 Uhr
Keynote
Format: Keynote
Session: Science & Data Insights
Sprache: English
Speaker
Dr. Ingo Sartorius
managing Director
BKV GmbH
Vortragsinfos
The printing industry constantly faces the challenge of producing as efficiently as possible while maintaining the highest quality. Printing errors lead to overproduction, undetected errors lead to costly recalls, both of which result in large quantities of waste. With the help of intelligent print inspection, errors can be detected at an early stage and immediate action can be taken to prevent waste effectively. The artificial intelligence in the software helps the user to differentiate between relevant and non-relevant errors and increases efficiency - resources are conserved and work and machine time are utilized in the best possible way.
12:15 - 13:30 Uhr
Networking Lunch
12:30 - 13:30 Uhr
Design & Municipal Strategy
12:30 - 13:15 Uhr
Panel Discussion: Circular Design
Format: Panel Discussion
Session: Design & Municipal Strategy
Sprache: English
Speaker
Kira Berns
Global Sustainability Manager
ThyssenKrupp
Arne Hinz
Manager Circularity Strategy
Continental AG
13:15 - 13:30 Uhr
Keynote
Format: Keynote
Session: Design & Municipal Strategy
Sprache: English
Speaker
Dr. Carl van Heijst
Head of Circular Economy
NRW.Energy4Climate | Landesgesellschaft für Energie und Klimaschutz
13:30 - 15:00 Uhr
Deep Tech & Digital Solutions
13:30 - 14:15 Uhr
Fraunhofer CCPE Session: Chemical Recycling
Format: Deep Dive Session
Session: Deep Tech & Digital Solutions
Sprache: English
Speaker
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Franke
Head of the Fraunhofer CCPE Office
Fraunhofer CCPE
Torsten Müller
Speaker Core-Expertise Polymer Technology
Fraunhofer ICT
Dr. Andreas Mäurer
Head of Department
Fraunhofer IVV
Dr. Alexander Hofmann
Head of Department Recycling Management
Fraunhofer UMSICHT
14:15 - 15:00 Uhr
Making a Digital Difference: Green Tech Solutions for the Industry’s Circular Transition
Format: Panel Discussion
Session: Deep Tech & Digital Solutions
Sprache: English
Speaker
Marieke Eckhardt
Project Manager Circular Economy and Green Tech Innovation
Prognos AG
Antoine Gaillard
Project DiCES
FIR Institute
Ellis Bauer
Project ProDiNA
AWS-Institut
Sebastian Karnapp
Project CliCE-DiPP
TU Darmstadt
Lecture information
Digital technologies are transforming the potential of circular production.
In this panel, the DiCES, ProDiNA, and CliCE-DiPP research projects demonstrate how circular production can be organised in a value-adding and multidimensional way. They will show how digital product passports and digital twins can be used in production facilities and product type testing. We will discuss the technical and economic feasibility as well as realistic scaling. Which solutions are still just pipe dreams, and how can we start to put them into practice now?
The GreenTech Innovation Competition is sponsored by the BMFTR.
15:00 - 18:00 Uhr
Masterclasses
18:00 - 21:40 Uhr
Circular Night auf der Main Stage
