On 17 July 2020, Mc Labor handed over the research laboratories to the team at the Thuringian Innovation Centre for Recyclable Materials (ThIWert). "In the laboratories that are now available, research projects will be carried out in the areas of building material recycling, gypsum recycling, gypsum substitute building materials, waste electrical equipment, battery and plastics recycling as well as bioresource management," reports Prof. Dr Ariane Ruff, Head of ThIWert.

With the commissioning of the laboratories, the "BioSuSep" research project, which has been running since October, can begin its laboratory tests. Together with the Gera-based company UGN Umwelttechnik-GmbH and BTN Biotechnologie Nordhausen GmbH, the scientists led by Dr Anja Schreiber are working on the development of a new type of desulphurisation technology for biogas plants. From 1 August 2020, a laboratory assistant from Nordhausen will support the team. "In addition to the two ongoing research projects, seven other projects in the field of bioresource management are currently being applied for. Eleven scientists are currently working on three research projects in the area of recycling, which are funded by the state of Thuringia, the federal government and the EU. Further projects are currently being applied for." reports Anja Schreiber.

The laboratories set up by MC Labor were subsidised by the Free State of Thuringia and co-financed by the European Union as part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The aim of the investment is to offer regional and supra-regional companies a platform to scientifically examine issues relating to the recycling, processing and utilisation of waste materials and to generate sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions in collaboration with Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and its partners.