7 October 2022

On 22 and 23 September 2022, more than 40 experts met to discuss gypsum recycling in the southern Harz region as part of the federal funding programme "WIR! Change through innovation in the region".

Expert meeting on the topic of gypsum recycling (Photos: Verein für Wirtschaftsentwicklung)

The main objective of the nationwide WIR! funding programme is to achieve sustainable structural change in the region through innovation - initiated, planned and implemented by committed local stakeholders. With this in mind, the Verein für Regionalentwicklung e.V. organised a two-day status meeting of the WIR! Alliance "Gypsum recycling - an opportunity for the southern Harz region". Over 40 experts from all over Germany came together to discuss the five of eight years of funding to date. The focus was on eight specialist projects aimed at minimising natural gypsum mining and closing the future gypsum gap by recycling gypsum waste, among other things. This requires a great deal of co-operation, testing, coordination and understanding between research, industry, politics and society. At the status meeting on 22/23 September 2022, projects and results were therefore presented, further ideas were discussed and the network was expanded with new contacts. The eight specialist projects include, for example, the recycling, sorting, separation and processing of gypsum waste as well as the design of innovative recycled gypsum products for end customers. Alternative building materials are also a field of research for achieving the overall goal. "Eight at a stroke - is an entertaining and refreshing format" - said one of the guests.

The meeting took place on 22 September 2022 in the Klubhaus Bleicherode, where the Association for Regional Development is also based. After a meeting of the advisory board to discuss further innovation projects, the exchange of expertise began at lunchtime with presentations, project presentations and plenty of time for in-depth dialogue. In the evening, health and physical well-being were catered for: a historical walk through the city and a tasting of regional specialities provided a truly sensual perception of the region that will probably remain in fond memory for a long time. The following day, the experts visited the southern Harz gypsum karst landscape as part of a bus excursion. Finally, the new Thuringian Innovation Centre for Recyclable Materials (ThIWert) was presented and visited by Prof. Dr Ariane Ruff, the coordinator of the WIR! alliance. The guests bid farewell with a Thuringian grilled sausage and set off on their journey home - with many insights, new contacts and fond memories of the southern Harz region in their luggage.

The Association for Regional Development has been supporting the WIR! alliance "Gypsum Recycling as an Opportunity for the Southern Harz" since 2021 as the fourth initial partner alongside Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, Bauhaus University Weimar and CASEA GmbH from Ellrich. As an operational service centre, the association supports the now over 25 alliance partners in innovation management by providing advice, coaching, training, funding applications, skills development etc.. Contact persons are Ms Jana Henning-Jacob and Ms Katja Westermann-Credo.

The WIR! alliance "Gypsum recycling as an opportunity for the southern Harz region" is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) via the "WIR! - Change through innovation in the region" programme.

Expert meeting on the topic of gypsum recycling (Photos: Verein für Wirtschaftsentwicklung)