Nordhausen Resources Forum 2026

1 October

until

2 October

2026

09:00

-16:00

Clock

Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences

The Resource Institute at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and the Thuringian Innovation Centre for Recyclables (ThIWert), in cooperation with Innovativ Thüringen (LEG Thüringen) and with the support of the Thuringian State Energy Agency (ThEGA), are once again bringing together people who are shaping the future at this year’s Resource Forum 2026.

Experts from academia, business, industry and local authorities will discuss the latest developments relating to the Action Programme for the Implementation of the National Circular Economy Strategy and explore the topic in greater depth, focusing on the following key areas:

Circularity and sustainability in the construction industry
Recycled materials and mineral by-products given a new lease of life
Biogenic residues: a market of the future
Pyrolysis as a technology of the future

The forum thrives on interdisciplinary exchange. Our aim is to share knowledge, draw inspiration from real-world practice and work together to launch new ideas, innovations and research projects.

The event will be accompanied by a „Young Scientist & Entrepreneur“ session, in which young researchers will present innovations and offer fresh perspectives in short talks. The Thuringian State Energy Agency is also offering a demonstration workshop on the practical development of circular business models.

You can expect an interesting programme with different sessions and an evening event in the "Alte Nordhäuser Traditionsbrennerei" including a tasting of regional spirits.

Registration under: eveeno.com/329629144

Programme for Day 1 – 1 October 2026

Opening & Keynote Speeches: "National Circular Economy Strategy"

Chair: Prof. Robert Wudtke

Time	Programme item	Speakers	Institution
from 9.00	Welcome coffee
10:00	Welcoming	Prof Dr Jörg Wagner	Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences
10:15	Keynote speeches from the worlds of politics, trade associations and industry on the action programme for implementing the National Circular Economy Strategy
12:00	Panel discussion
12:30	Lunch

Session 1: Circularity and sustainability in the construction industry

Chair: Prof. Florian Hohmann

Time	Programme item	Speakers	Institution
13:30	Re-utilisation of precast concrete elements	Prof. Angelika Mettke	BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg
13:25	From slats to walls – the reusability of timber construction elements	Dr Sascha Bicke	Centre of Excellence Timber Construction and Renewable Raw Materials (KHoR)
14:50	Building with Straw Bales – A Report on Research and Practice	N.N.	Z-architecture
15:15	Discussion & coffee

Session 2: Secondary raw materials and mineral waste products: a new look

Presenter: Dr Barbara Leydolph

Time	Programme item	Speakers	Institution
14:40	Metallurgy as the key to European raw materials sovereignty amidst the tension between market-based indicators	Dr Wolfgang Reimer	Geokompetenzzentrum Freiberg e.V.
15:10	The use of regional, finely-grained mineral waste materials to improve resource efficiency in concrete production in Thuringia	Dr Inna Khripacheva	IAB – Institute for Applied Building Research Weimar gGmbH
15:35	Comprehensive remediation and recycling of spoil heaps – mineral materials in the circular economy	Dr Stefan Dierlich	Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology
16:00	Putting the circular economy into practice and creating new value	Rebecca Summer	Thuringian Energy and GreenTech Agency GmbH (ThEGA)
16:25	Discussion & coffee
16:45	Event 1: CIRCO demonstration workshop
16:45	Event 2: Guided tour of the Research Campus, ThIWert
from 6.30 pm	Evening event Traditional distillery
19:00	Tasting & dinner at the historic distillery

Programme for Day 2 – 2 October 2026

Session 3: Young Scientists and Entrepreneurs

Chair: Prof. Sebastian Schmidt

Time	Programme item	Speakers	Institution
from 8:00	Welcome coffee
09:00	A 5-minute keynote talk on the following topics: Sustainability Resource substitution Energy efficiency Resilience of raw materials
10:00	Coffee

Time

Programme item

Speakers

Institution

from 8:00

Welcome coffee

09:00

A 5-minute keynote talk on the following topics:

Sustainability
Resource substitution
Energy efficiency
Resilience of raw materials

10:00

Coffee

Session 4: Biogenic residues – a market of the future

Presented by: Andreas Glimm

Time	Programme item	Speakers	Institution
11:00	Keynote presentation: Waste streams	Prof. Dr.-Ing. Achim Loewen	HAWK Göttingen, Faculty of Resource Management
11:30	Cascade use in value-added networks – How regional bioeconomy ecosystems are opening up new markets	Henning Mertens	DiP Saxony-Anhalt Model region for the bioeconomy
11:50	Best practice in sensor-assisted organic waste collection	Stefanie Heeke	Municipal Utilities Münster SWM
12:10	Low-temperature decontamination of mineral waste and soil contaminated with organic substances	Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Franke	Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology, UMSICHT Sulzbach-Rosenberg Branch
12:30	Could pyrolysis become a new source of income for biogas plant operators?	Elisabeth Schloten	KUROVIA GmbH
12:45	Noon

Session 5: Pyrolysis as a technology of the future

Chair: Prof. Uta Breuer

Time	Programme item	Speakers	Institution
13:45	Keynote presentation: Pyrolysis as a platform technology for regional carbon and resource cycles – From biogenic residues to renewable heat, sustainable carbon products and regional resilience	Dr Maik Mattheis	MattheisConsulting
14:15	Turning waste into raw materials – circular raw materials from pyrolysis; an explanation of the use of pyrolysis and gasification processes to produce non-fossil raw materials from waste, and a discussion of the technological prospects in the context of the circular economy.	Dirk Gerlach	Akkodis Germany Tech Experts GmbH
14:35	Digital infrastructure for scalable CO₂ removal	Oliver Erb	CulaTec
14:55	Pyrolysis as a business model: What really makes the difference between the initial investment in plant and the first revenue	Tobias Neuber	Actanol
15:15	Discussion
15:30	Coffee - Get out

Flyer

Details

Location:	Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences
Date:	1 October 2026 – 2 October 2026
Time:	09:00–16:00
Organiser:	Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental and Recycling Technology programme, ThIWert
Target group:	Graduates, all interested parties, students, companies
Speakers:	From industry, research and science
Type of event/series:	Forum
Costs: