{"id":116772,"date":"2026-02-07T10:51:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T09:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.munich-startup.net\/?p=116772"},"modified":"2026-02-05T15:42:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T14:42:04","slug":"circular-technology-award-application","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.munich-startup.net\/en\/116772\/circular-technology-award-application\/","title":{"rendered":"Circular Technology Award seeks greentech innovations"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Circular Republic<\/a>The UnternehmerTUM Circular Economy Initiative, together with Knorr-Bremse, is launching the Circular Technology Award. The call for applications is aimed at startups and small and medium-sized enterprises from across Europe. The goal is to find greentech solutions that advance the automated dismantling and recycling of critical raw materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Europe is increasingly strengthening its economic resilience through the circular economy. This is precisely where the award comes in: It seeks scalable innovations that use artificial intelligence, robotics, and new business models to rethink the recovery of valuable raw materials. Companies are developing solutions that enable the automated disassembly of high-tech components and the efficient return of materials to the economic cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prize money and proof-of-concept with Knorr-Bremse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Circular Technology Award includes four prizes of \u20ac25,000 each. In addition, two of the winning companies will have the opportunity to implement their technology directly with Knorr-Bremse in a proof-of-concept project. A budget of up to \u20ac150,000 is available for this purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthias Ballweg<\/strong>, Co-Founder of Circular Republic, emphasizes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThe circular economy is no longer a niche topic \u2013 it is a strategic answer to geopolitical dependencies, resource scarcity and the increasing pressure to innovate in Europe. The Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award addresses precisely this: It combines entrepreneurial innovation with industrial implementation. As part of UnternehmerTUM, we bring together startups, SMEs and industry to turn ideas into concrete impact.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Knorr-Bremse is collaborating with the Heinz Hermann Thiele Family Foundation and Circular Republic for the award. Marc Llistosella<\/strong>, CEO of Knorr-Bremse AG, says: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cAutomated dismantling and recycling technologies are crucial for a robust and sustainable economy. The recovery of critical raw materials opens up enormous growth potential. With the Circular Technology Award, we are taking an important step towards advancing new greentech solutions together with innovative companies.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The application period ends on March 2, 2026. The award ceremony will take place on May 6, 2026 at IFAT, a trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management, in Munich.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All information about the competition and the opportunity to apply can be found on the associated website.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Circular Republic and Knorr-Bremse are calling on startups to apply for the Circular Technology Award. Prize money, proof-of-concept projects, and strong industry partners await. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":116774,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[4795,2684,4711],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCircular Technology Award sucht Greentech-Innovationen - Munich Startup<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Circular Technology Award: Startups und KMU bewerben sich bis 2. 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