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Laying the foundation stone for the research campus: the future of the circular economy begins!
On June 11, 2025, the “Green Circular Economy” research campus was founded in Spreetal to develop innovative circular economy technologies and create new jobs in Lusatia.
Laying the foundation stone for the research campus: the future of the circular economy begins!
On June 11, 2025, the foundation stone for the “Green Circular Economy” (CircEcon) research campus was laid in the “Schwarze Pumpe” industrial park near Spreetal. Representatives from the Technical Universities of Chemnitz (TUC), Dresden (TUD), Freiberg (TUBAF) and the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) took part in the ceremony. The campus, which is funded by the federal and state governments with around 108 million euros, is committed to the development of advanced technologies for the circular economy and will work on innovative solutions until they are ready for the market by 2027 at the latest.
The research campus will provide around 14,500 square meters of space for the development and testing of new processes and technologies. These include, among other things, intelligent sorting and processing technologies, the development of recyclable materials, and digitalization in the circular economy. These measures are intended to help close material cycles and promote decarbonization and climate neutrality.
Future-oriented technologies and structural change in Lusatia
The CircEcon project is part of a broader approach to manage the structural change in Lusatia, which is being driven by the phase-out of coal use by 2038. The initiative is aimed at creating new jobs and promoting business establishments and spin-offs in the region. Regina Kraushaar, Saxon State Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, and Dr. Ronald Werner, head of the universities department in the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism, emphasized the importance of cooperation between the universities in her speech.
A central point of the research project is the development of a demonstration factory that is unique in Europe to promote the circular economy. The focus is on recycling and creating new economic perspectives for the region. This also includes close cooperation with companies in order to design the newly developed solutions in line with the market and to implement them efficiently.
Interdisciplinary collaboration and modern technologies
The project benefits from the targeted linking of Saxon research competencies, which includes, among other things, the areas of health sciences, biomedicine, materials and materials science, as well as digitalization and energy management. Modern methods such as artificial intelligence and digital tools are used to maximize resource efficiency and minimize energy consumption.
With the aim of creating an innovation economy focused on sustainable raw material use, CircEcon aims to develop and ultimately industrialize relevant technologies and processes. A planned infrastructure enables the shared use of pilot lines and test facilities, which supports the realization of these ambitious goals.
Through these comprehensive measures, CircEcon wants to make a significant contribution to the creation of a sustainable, greenhouse gas-neutral circular economy at regional, national and European levels. The research campus not only represents an important development for Saxon universities, but also an opportunity for economic value creation and innovative strength in the entire Lusatia.