Resource-efficient closed-loop economy - Innovative production cycles (ReziProK)

Annual domestic consumption of raw materials in Germany, at around 15 tonnes per capita, is twice as high as the global average per capita. This expresses a predominantly linear economy of raw material extraction – production – use – disposal. Only a drastic increase in resource productivity can counter this development. Therefore, transforming to a largely closed resource-efficient circular economy is intended to achieve the necessary decoupling of economic growth from resource consumption.

The main drivers for implementing a resource-efficient circular economy are the intensification of use and the extension of the life cycle of products and components, e.g., by repair, maintenance, or remanufacturing. Only when no further recycling or use of cascades is possible should the substances contained be recovered by recycling.

Innovations in product design are an essential factor since most of the environmental impacts and costs are determined over the life cycle and the possibilities for subsequent repair and upgradeability. Digital technologies enable comprehensive resource management across complete value chains and IT-based business models. New business models and the associated profit expectations determine the successful implementation of circular innovations.

Within the framework of the Funding Directive, collaborative projects in applied research and industrial research and development are supported jointly by the relevant actors in the value chain and scientific institutions. They are characterised by high scientific and technical risks. The research results are intended to enable actors to develop and imple-ment innovative, economically viable product cycles, networks, and cascade systems.

Research topics include:

• New design concepts and tools for product circulation, integration of additional functions and interfaces for digital systems, and collaboration of stakeholders along the product lifecycle.
• Innovative business models and new forms of cooperation, business management research to evaluate new business models.
• Closing the loop through digital technologies, simulation, and control of resource efficiency effects, IT-based solutions for business models.
• Overall, it gets promoted an overarching networking and transfer project, which strengthens the innovative power of the implementation-oriented collaborative projects through targeted networking of the networks with each other and their environment.

The funding measure concretizes the future task of "Sustainable Economy and Energy" of the New High-Tech Strategy. Furthermore, it strengthens the field of action of the German Resource Efficiency Programme (DREP).