Innovation Stage
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 to
Thursday, March 12, 2026
The program of the Innovation Stage
The Innovation Stage is the place where visionary ideas and ground-breaking solutions for the circular economy are brought to life. This is where thought leaders, innovators and doers come together to shape the future of the circular economy. Innovative start-ups and companies will use this stage to present their pioneering ideas and technologies that are making a significant contribution to the transformation towards a circular economy. You can look forward to exciting talks, practical discussions and inspiring presentations. Get infected by the latest innovations and discover how creative solutions and future-oriented technologies can change our world sustainably.
Thursday, March 12, 2026
10:00 - 11:15 a.m.
Opening & Innovation Pitch
09.45 - 10:00 a.m.
Welcome from the Moderator
Format: Opening & Welcome
Session: Opening & Innovation Pitch
Sprache: English
Speaker
TBA
Moderator
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Start-Up Pitch Session: NRW Ministry for Environment
Format: Pitch Session
Session: Opening & Innovation Pitch
Sprache: English
13 Circular Economy Start-Ups
Start-Ups
- Varea Water
- Kumo Cloud Solutions GmbH
- Polygon One
- Outfit4Rent
- recarbished
- Sacred Valley Tech
- Perolink GmbH
- Secara (KOALA)
- Mech Syn
- Kurovia
- Staltec
- Anferra
- positive impacts
11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
New Economics & Global Solutions
11:00 - 11:15 a.m.
Plastics production beyond fossile raw materials – Status quo and perspectives
Format: Lecture
Session: New Economics & Global Solutions
Sprache: English
Speaker
Dr. Ingo Sartorius
Managing Director
BKV GmbH
Lecture information
The use of raw materials for plastics production is essential with respect to resilience, economy and sustainability of the plastics industry. Our investigations about the plastics flow in Germany, which analyses plastics as a material in the course of its life cycle, show that a trend towards defossilisation is in place. As a result, there is a development of fossile vs. non-fossile resources for plastics production. Here, secondary raw materials, which result from recycling processes of certain waste streams are used for the production of recyclates, which are the key factor of circular economy with plastics. The presentation will illustrate the current situation in Germany and globally, and finally give perspectives towards a circular economy in the future.
11:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Plastic material tracing – options, opportunities and challenges from a gobal perspective
Format: Lecture
Session: New Economics & Global Solutions
Sprache: English
Speaker
Dr. Henning Wilts
Director Circular Economy at the Wuppertal Institute
Wuppertal Institut / FernUni Hagen
Lecture information
This lecture provides a global review of the technologies, challenges, and opportunities associated with plastic material tracing as a key enabler for a circular economy. It is based on a report initiated and funded by GIZ that analyzed:
● Physical Markers and Tracers.
● Digital Watermarks
● Digital Product Passports
The presention puts a specific focus on the Global South Perspective: There is a risk of a ‘Circularity Divide’, where high technology costs and specialised skill requirements exclude stakeholders in the Global South from international trade. High-tech, formal traceability solutions could potentially displace these workers if they are not intentionally integrated into the system’s design. Against this background it will be crucial to develop a global business model especially in the context of upcoming DPP regulations.
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Value Chain Collaboration in practice: Closing the loop for polyamide 6 in the automotive sector
Format: Lecture
Session: New Economics & Global Solutions
Sprache: English
Speaker
Talke Schaffrannek
Director Circular Economy
BASF SE
Andreas Kellermann
Global Sales Director
Pöppelmann
Oliver Geiger
Senior Sustainability Manager at the Performance Materials Division
BASF SE
Eleni Kougioumtzi
Senior Expert for resource‑efficient materials
Mercedes‑Benz AG
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.
12:00 - 12:30 p.m.
Networking Lunch
12:30 - 02:00 p.m.
Panels: Society, Chemistry & International Best Practice
12:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
People, Prosperity, and the Planet
Format: Panel Discussion
Session: Society, Chemistry & International Best Practice
Sprache: English
Speaker
Prof. Dr. Walter Leitner
Director „Molecular Catalysis“
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (MPI-CEC)
Sonja Jost
CEO
DUDECHEM
Dr. Ingo Sartorius
Managing Director
BKV GmbH
Gordana Hofmann-Jovic
Head of Engineering Department Concepts & Solutions
YNCORIS GmbH & Co. KG
Martin Bellof
lead@chemstars
chemstars
Lecture information
Inspired by the Stockholm Declaration, the panel explores how innovation can create actual, positive change. Experts from academia, industry, and startups will discuss how innovation can include social impact, lift diverse voices, and promote fairness. Panelists will discuss how Green Chemistry, circular technologies, and entrepreneurship can challenge old systems, grow sustainable solutions, and build partnerships for a circular economy that is fair and inclusive.
12:30 - 01:00 p.m.
Circular Economy in Plant Engineering and Operations:
Re-use, Re-pair and Re-furbishment of Industrial Equipment
Format: Panel Discussion
Session: Society, Chemistry & International Best Practice
Sprache: English
Speaker
Torsten Wagner
Manager Piping
Covestro Deutschland AG
Volker Buchta
Sales Director DACH Flow Controls
Emerson Sempell GmbH
Eckhard Alles
Sales Manager Chemistry and Biotechnology
Centrimax-Winkelhorst Trenntechnik GmbH
Dr. Laura Wollny
Research assistant
VDI-Gesellschaft Energie und Umwelt
Daniel Grosse
Division Manager Americas +
Head of Digital Sales
Leser GmbH & Co KG
Lecture information
An equipment manufacturer, valve experts, a representative from the VDI, and a safety specialist discuss how the process industry can become more sustainable. They describe how the circular economy is already working in their work environments, how materials and components can be recycled even better, and how they optimize production processes.
It also involves social responsibility, faster project implementation, and long-term cost savings. The participants discuss best practices, present successful projects, and talk about quality assurance as well as new partnerships. At the end of the meeting, a concrete action plan is to be discussed that promotes sustainable growth and could transform the entire industry.
01:00 - 01:15 p.m.
Hurdles and possible Solutions on the way to a Circular Economy of Plastic Food Packaging
Format: Impulse Lecture
Session: Society, Chemistry & International Best Practice
Sprache: English
Speaker
Dr. Christian Kirchnawy
Project Manager
OFI Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology
Lecture information
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation requires that at latest in 2030 all food packaging contains Post-Consumer recycling material. However, currently only recycling processes for PET are authorized for producing food contact plastic by the EFSA. Major hurdles on the way to a circular economy are printings and adhesives, that are typically not yet designed in a way to allow a circular recycling back to food packaging. The presentation discusses critical risk factors that have been identified as well as possible solutions by improved recycling processes and better design for circular recycling of Food Packaging.
01:15 - 01:45 p.m.
Circular Economy lighthouse initiatives in Austria
Format: Panel Discussion
Session: Society, Chemistry & International Best Practice
Sprache: English
Speakers
Mag. Kerstin Sochor
Editor-in-Chief
Österreichische Kunststoffzeitschrift
Dr. Michael Scherz
Commercial Counsellor /
Innovation Commissioner
AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA (WKÖ)
Claudia Legawiec
Stakeholder Relations Manager
EREMA Group GmbH
Michael Heinzelreiter
Project Manager
Business Upper Austria
Werner Kruschitz
CEO
KRM Recycling
Dr. Christoph Burgstaller
Managing Director, Scientific Director
Transfercenter für Kunststofftechnik GmbH
Dr. Christian Kirchnawy
Project Manager
OFI Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology
Statement - Dr. Scherz
We need to highlight the opportunities of the circular economy much more clearly as one of our key strengths – especially in the global business context.
