How can new and environmentally friendly materials be developed, tested and optimized? And how can primary raw materials be reused in the best possible way? To support industrial and university research groups in these issues, more than 50 research infrastructures in Europe have now joined forces. Among them are researchers from the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) at the University of Bonn. They bring a social science perspective to strategic sustainability research and will receive 317,000 euros. The European Commission is providing a total of 13.6 million euros for the project.
The four-year project called ReMade@ARI (Recyclable Materials Development at Analytical Research Infrastructures) will start on September 1. "The project answers the need for a radical shift from a linear economy to a circular economy," emphasizes Dr. Katharina Cramer of CASSIS at the University of Bonn. The project is a response to the limited availability of natural resources, Europe's dependence on imported raw materials and the alarming increase in waste, both from industrial production and societal consumption. "The resulting consequences are clearly evident in the global loss of biodiversity, the desertification of agricultural land, and climate change," says Jun. Prof. Maximilian Mayer of CASSIS.
The participating researchers from the University of Bonn analyze the (geo)strategic and technology policy significance of linking the circular economy, materials research and industrial partners in Europe. In addition, they produce a multi-dimensional impact analysis of the formats of European research collaboration that are being developed within the project.
The long-term goal of this and similar projects under the Circular Economy Action Plan is outlined in the European Commission's Green Deal: to strengthen Europe's strategic independence from raw material imports and to advance the circular economy in the field of materials analysis and research on the basis of leading experts.
The entire project is led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).