Pioneering raw material research: TU Clausthal sets new standards!

Pioneering raw material research: TU Clausthal sets new standards!

On March 13, 2025, the Clausthal University of Technology founded a new major institute: the IGMR (Institute of Geotechnology and Mineral Resources). This Innovative Institute is assigned to the Faculty of Energy and Economics and plays a central role in resource research within the EU. With currently twelve professorships and around 100 employees, the IGMR sets standards in teaching, research and technology transfer.

The IGMR is divided into six specialized departments: Geosciences, Geo-Engineering, Mining, Geomechanics and Subsurface Safety, Resource Processing Technologies and Sustainable Industrial Ecosystems. The aim is to create synergies between different actors in order to increase efficiency in the areas mentioned and to actively contribute to the transformation towards a “circular society”.

Research focus and structure

The IGMR pays particular attention to the resilient and environmentally friendly supply of raw materials from primary raw materials and waste as well as the creation of future-oriented circular economy systems. In addition, the sustainable use of underground space as a storage and final repository for various materials and resources is being intensively investigated. By monitoring geometric, physical and chemical parameters, the institute offers transparency and trust in its processes.

The research work at the IGMR is designed to involve society in necessary measures for the use and recycling of raw materials. Operationally, the institute is led by a board of directors, while strategic development is anchored in the professoriate. Four professorships are currently in the appointment process, and the founding director, Prof. Jens-André Paffenholz, aims to work closely with other institutes and partners.

Insight into the recycling market

Another aspect is the development of countries that have previously relied heavily on exporting their waste, particularly to China. These countries, which include Ireland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, must now adapt as China builds a modern waste management system. Meanwhile, a self-sustaining recycling industry is emerging in the United States, Canada and Mexico, aiming to effectively process waste through refined techniques learned in Europe.

Overall, it can be said that both the IGMR and current developments in the recycling sector boil down to the same denominator: the urgent need for future-oriented solutions to the challenges in the use of raw materials. Dr.-Ing. Sylvia Schattauer, President of Clausthal University of Technology, plans to found eight to twelve thematically focused large institutes in the next three to five years in order to further strengthen the growing importance of resource conservation and the circular economy.

For further details on the developments at the IGMR, interested readers can TU Clausthal visit. There is also comprehensive information on the situation in the recycling market Herbold.