Focus on the Circular Economy

How can a successful circular economy be developed? How can this be achieved in the specific context of e-mobility? A total of 27 outstanding doctoral candidates from universities in North Rhine-Westphalia recently exchanged ideas on these questions with experts in the field as part of the^{Humboldt School} 2026 in Wuppertal. Among those represented were the Wuppertal Institute, universities of applied sciences, and the “Circular E-Cars” Graduate College, in which the University of Siegen participates with five chairs alongside RWTH Aachen University. Under the motto “Focus on the Circular Economy—Research, Networking, Transformation,” circular value chains in the industrial and raw materials sectors were analyzed and discussed. The focus was on the recycling potential of electric cars. Inspired by input from experienced researchers, participants from various disciplines also exchanged ideas about their own research projects in interactive formats.

“It was impressive to see the clarity and openness with which the doctoral candidates presented their research projects and responded to feedback from various academic and practical perspectives. The elevator pitches, networking sessions, and advisory sessions demonstrated how valuable such formats are for critical feedback, forging new connections, and further developing scientific ideas. In this way, the^{Humboldt School} not only strengthens individual research projects but also the ability of the next generation of scholars to take on responsibility for complex transformation processes,” said Siegen University Rector Prof. Dr. Stefanie Reese. The “fishbowl discussion,” in which Prof. Reese and Axel Barten (Achenbach Buschhütten) participated, also played an important role. Prof. Dr. Axel von Hehl (University of Siegen, Chair of Materials Science and Materials Testing) served as moderator.

In her opening address, Prof. Dr. Dr. Friederike Welter, a member of the German Federal Government’s Expert Commission on Research and Innovation (efi), President of the Institute for SME Research in Bonn, and a professor at the University of Siegen, the steadily growing relevance of science-based consulting in the economic transformation process. Drawing on her research as well as her practical experience at the intersection of business, politics, and science, she highlighted the transformative contributions made particularly by small and medium-sized enterprises. The subsequent project presentations by early-career researchers outlined approaches to circular value chains using electric vehicles as an example.

© BUW / von Heyden

“Excellent support for early-career researchers is essential for a successful transformation in North Rhine-Westphalia,” says Prof. Birgitta Wolff, spokesperson for^Humboldtn and Rector of the University of Wuppertal. “The potential for interdisciplinary exchange within academia and with the business community is enormous here, particularly when it comes to the circular economy. This is especially true regarding the recyclability of electric vehicles. The scientific expertise being developed and strengthened through our^Humboldtn initiative in North Rhine-Westphalia also contributes to successfully shaping the transformation in the Bergisches Land region,” Wolff added.

Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration is also a cornerstone of sustainability research at the Wuppertal Institute, and so Prof. Dr.-Ing. Manfred Fischedick, President and Scientific Director of the Wuppertal Institute as well as co-spokesperson for^Humboldtn, fully supports the School: “During the advisory sessions with early-career researchers, it became clear not only how many challenges are associated with the design and implementation of a circular economy, but also what valuable contribution scientific projects across all disciplines can make to this effort. Through creative forms of collaboration, North Rhine-Westphalia in particular can provide important impetus for this transformation.”

© Wuppertal Institut / L. Schenk

The field trips—to Aptiv in the Bergisches Land and to Speira in the Rhineland mining region—vividly illustrated the specific needs and key challenges facing regional industry, as well as the opportunities associated with structural changes and sustainable transformation. The visits provided material for discussion and new inspiration for the participants’ own projects. To conclude, the participants reflected on the startup potential of their research work during a workshop hosted by the Start-up Center at the University of Wuppertal.