CIRKLA — UniGR

As a center of expertise set up by the University of the Greater Region (UniGR), CIRKLA aims to develop a comprehensive portfolio of training, research and innovation projects in the circular economy sector.

Attend the Kick-off meeting (1 june 2021)

T

he circular economy cannot be approached from the sole angle of technological innovation. It must necessarily be accompanied by reflections involving the human and societal factor in all its diversity. Similarly, the solutions developed in the research groups must be accompanied by a renewal of the training programmes and a real capacity for reindustrialisation of the region.

With a strong industrial tradition in the field of steel and new materials, the Greater Region is a remarkable ecosystem of research, training and innovation players. The universities associated within the University of the Greater Region (UniGR) are positioned in the most important European and international networks (EITRawMaterials, World Materials Forum, etc.). Together with their research and innovation partners, they have set up CIRKLA, a leading center of expertise in the field of the circular economy. The projects to be developed within this framework will be characterized by a multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral and cross-border approach. Thanks to its international influence, UniGR-CIRKLA will develop into a place of reference where current decision-makers and future generations will be able to draw inspiration and find the resources they need to meet the major societal challenges.

Clearly identified themes

The research and innovation areas identified as priorities are

• Processing & Recycling: the development of innovative processes for the recovery of metals and the recycling of materials.
• Materials & Product Design: the design of materials and products with a view to greatly improved repairability and recyclability.
• Buildings as Materials Banks: the modular and sustainable construction of infrastructure to ensure the reuse of space and materials.

These areas of innovation are complemented by cross-cutting approaches which are :

• Resources & Environment: securing the supply of strategic resources and assessing the environmental impact over the entire life cycle.
• Circular Business Models: the development of new models adapted to the implementation of a more circular, shared and inclusive economy.
• Consumer Behaviour & Social Acceptance: the development of more sober and responsible consumption as well as awareness of resource issues and recycling.

UniGR-CIRKLA intends to interconnect the actors of research, economy and innovation in a single dynamic approach to strengthen the competitiveness of the Greater Region.

The University of the Greater Region (UniGR)

The University of the Greater Region (UniGR) is an alliance of seven universities with a long tradition of crossing borders in the service of learning and scientific progress. Its ambition is to respond to the territorial and societal challenges of the Greater Region by creating "European schools".

These interdisciplinary centres of expertise combine the strengths of the partner universities to offer a range of training courses, high quality multidisciplinary research with joint research projects at the highest level linked to the innovation ecosystem of the cross-border territory. 

Partner universities

• Technical University of Kaiserslautern
• University of Liège
• University of Lorraine
• University of Luxembourg
• Saarland University
• University of Trier
• University of Applied Sciences HTW Saar (associate partner)