photo: Knorr-Bremse / Public domain/Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award
Knorr-Bremse is preparing to expand into green technologies as growing demand for raw materials and supply chain challenges change industrial priorities in Europe. At IFAT Munich, the company recognized four startups working on AI-powered dismantling and recycling technologies with the new Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Awards.
Access to critical raw materials is becoming increasingly challenging, while global demand and the need for action are on the rise. New technologies within the circular economy are opening up significant business opportunities—from the recovery of valuable materials to high-margin remanufacturing models. Knorr-Bremse plans to enter the green technologies sector. Together with the Heinz Hermann Thiele Family Foundation and project partner CIRCULAR REPUBLIC, Knorr-Bremse presented the Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Awards for the four most innovative solutions at IFAT Munich.
Marc Llistosella, CEO of Knorr-Bremse AG: "An exciting growth sector like green tech requires creative solutions. Our Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award gives startups the chance to rethink automated dismantling and smart recycling—with impressive results, including visionary applications of AI robotics and high-tech processes with great potential. Especially now, as the demand for raw materials is rising sharply, we want to be among the first to harness this potential and develop it into profitable business models."
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AI Robotics and Recycling Technologies Among the Winners
More than 50 startups applied and submitted their innovative ideas. The four best have now been honored. In the “Automated Disassembly” category, R3 Robotics from Luxembourg was honored for its AI-controlled robotic lines for the automated and safe disassembly of batteries, and Hiro Robotics from Italy for its non-destructive, robot-based dismantling of electronic waste. Both startups are developing key technologies in this field to implement remanufacturing economically on a large scale.
In the "Critical Raw Material Recovery" category, DEScycle from the UK was honored for its innovative, low-emission ionometallurgy process for the highly efficient recovery of metals from electronic waste, and HyProMag from Germany was recognized for its hydrogen-based recycling process for high-performance magnets. Both winners are making a decisive contribution to reducing dependencies in global supply chains and securing a sustainable supply of raw materials for industrial manufacturing.
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The four winning startups will each receive 25,000 euros in prize money; in addition, a proof-of-concept budget of up to 150,000 euros is available twice to jointly translate the most promising approaches into concrete industrial applications.
Dr. Matthias Ballweg, Co-Founder of CIRCULAR REPUBLIC: "Anyone serious about raw material sovereignty in Europe must invest in the industrialization of the circular economy. This means automated disassembly and intelligent recycling. Thanks to these technologies, the circular economy is becoming a business model on a large scale—for startups, for companies, and for Europe. Europe is already taking a leading role globally in this area and is building new export hits based on these technologies."
Source: Knorr-Bremse