ECHO 2026: Perspectives on Circular Economy Research
What does our circular future look like?
Saving resources, cutting waste and protecting the environment: the case for a circular economy is compelling. But how can we develop workable solutions and make circular principles a lasting part of our economy and society?
These questions were at the heart of the two-day symposium “Sustainability and the Circular Future with UniGR-CIRKLA”, held on 14 and 15 September at Saarland University as part of the UniGR event series “ECHO”. Around 75 participants from academia, politics and industry, from across the Greater Region and beyond, came together to discuss challenges, share ideas and explore new perspectives on the circular economy.
The conference was opened by the President of Saarland University, Prof. Dr Ludger Santen, the Saarland Minister of Finance and Science Jakob von Weizsäcker, and Cornelia Schmidt, Secretary General of the University of the Greater Region.
The opening sessions showed how the Greater Region’s long-standing connections, together with new formats such as ECHO, can foster exchange, knowledge sharing and collaboration across disciplines, institutions and borders.
“Circularity is not the challenge of any one discipline. It calls for cooperation across fields, institutions and borders. And the Greater Region, with its close academic, economic and cultural ties, offers an excellent environment in which to advance that cooperation.”
Prof. Ludger Santen, President of Saarland University
Dr Nadine Artelt from Saarstahl brought an industry perspective to the discussion, using the transition towards “green steel” to illustrate the far-reaching changes currently shaping this key technological sector.
Photos: ©Marvin Hey, Saarland Ministry of Finance and Science | Angelique Pal Buy, International Relations Office - Saarland University
The topics ranged from chemical processes and the use of by-products to engineering and construction, economic indicators and business models, as well as the recycling of plastics and steel.
A special highlight was the plastics workshop Pop-Up-Cycle, organised by the “Plastik Pop-Up-Cycle” project from Trier University. Participants explored how recycled plastics can be turned into new everyday objects and how technical research and educational approaches can be combined to raise awareness of circular economy issues among young people.
The symposium was organised by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Mücklich, Dr Flavio Soldera and Paulina Urueta Morales from the European School of Materials (EUSMAT), in cooperation with the UniGR-CIRKLA project, together with Eva-Maria Hengsbach and Aylin Suhrborg from the International Relations Office at Saarland University.
True to the ECHO motto “Connecting minds for a resonating future”, the event provided plenty of opportunities for interdisciplinary and international exchange. Participants particularly valued the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives represented at the event:
“What I find particularly inspiring is the diversity of people’s backgrounds and the different perspectives that have come together here on the topic of the circular economy.” - Aquileo Piracoa Hernandez, Universidad Nacional de Colombia