Trier University

Trier University has over 10.000 students and over 2.000 academic and non-academic staff. It is located in Rhineland-Palatinate on the river Moselle. The main campus is surrounded by nature and vineyards above the city center. The Chair of Management and the Chair of Economics, in particular Municipal and Environmental Economics, participate in the UniGR-CIRKLA project.

The Chair of Management is recognized for its research and teaching in Corporate Social Responsibility, social entrepreneurship and innovation, and sustainability management, with a dedicated focus on sustainable business models.

The Chair of Economics, in particular Municipal and Environmental Economics, is highly regarded for work on resource economics and the transformation towards the circular economy, including collaborations with numerous municipalities who are themselves stakeholders or partners of local waste and recycling companies. The chair provides expertise in economic and policy analysis that supports regional innovation towards resource circulation and waste valorisation.

With its expertise in innovation management, business models and economics, Trier University takes an active role in the UniGR-CIRKLA project and contributes business, economic and societal perspectives.

Trier University brought all partners together as host to the initial kickoff event of UniGR-CIRKLA in fall 2024. The Chair of Management supports the CIRKLA Summer School by teaching circular business models. In close coordination with the other universities in the project, it develops a curriculum for future leaders centered around circularity in the CIRKLA Certificate. Further, patent data analytics capabilities contribute to various activities in CIRKLA, for example in identifying circularity innovations and inventors. The Chair of Economics, in particular Municipal and Environmental Economics, evaluates European models in the field of e-waste in order to identify best cases, particularly with regard to financing structures.