Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs (BMWi)
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs (BMWi), as a supreme authority of the Federal Government, performs legislative, administrative and coordinating functions for the Federal Republic of Germany, for example in energy, industrial and innovation policy as well as in competition, SME and European policy. Its central task is to secure lasting prospects for employment, investment and growth in Germany with a forward-looking economic policy. The guiding principle for this is a policy based on the principles of the social market economy. Essential fields of action for the Ministry are the support and promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups, stimulating and accompanying investments and innovations, maintaining and expanding the international competitiveness of Germany as an industrial location, and creating the necessary framework conditions. In doing so, it is also responsible for ensuring that important challenges of our time such as digitalisation, the effects of demographic change, the energy transition and other economic transformation processes for climate protection and a secured prosperity and growth also in the future are adequately addressed and taken into account. The increased attention and commitment paid to this growing range of tasks is reflected by the Ministry's most recent name change into Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Hof University, Engineering Department
Practical orientation, internationalisation and intelligent use of resources are the focus of teaching and research at Hof University of Applied Sciences. The wide-ranging and interdisciplinary portfolio of university courses range from economics to computer science and engineering. The Münchberg campus offers an education that is unique in Germany through textile and design courses that are closely interlinked with business. Since 2019, a continuous further education concept has also been offered under the program "Beruf-plus-Studium", which meets the current requirements in the digital transformation. With regard to the topic of intelligent use of resources, the focus is on water and energy efficiency, and in terms of internationalisation, the university is placing an emphasis on India. The focus of the four research institutes is on information systems, material sciences, water and energy management and biopolymers. In addition, the Fraunhofer Application Centre Textile Fibre Ceramics TFK is located at the Münchberg campus and develops, among others, new applications for the aerospace and automotive industries.
Arbeitsgemeinschaft PVC und Umwelt e.V. (AGPU)
AGPU currently links around 60 companies along the entire PVC value chain and represents the interests of the German PVC industry. The industry association is also committed to the promotion of PVC recycling and a higher acceptance of products with recycled material. Therefore AGPU focuses the intensive dialog with decision-makers from politics and offers workshops, seminars and working groups. AGPU has also been an associate member of VinylPlus®, the sustainability programme of the European PVC industry.
European Bioplastics e.V.
Founded in Germany in 1993 as IBAW, European Bioplastics today represents the interests of over 75 member companies throughout the European Union. With members from the agricultural feedstock, chemical and plastics industries, as well as industrial users and recycling companies, European Bioplastics serves as both a contact platform and catalyst for advancing the aims of the growing bioplastics industry.
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP)
The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam-Golm develops materials and methods that cover the entire range of polymer applications and also work under production conditions. The research division "Biopolymers" focuses on one hand on industrially available biopolymers on the other hand on biopolymers, which are obtained from products of agriculture and forestry. Biotechnological processes for the efficient use of renewable resources were developed in the “Application Center for Innovative Polymer Technologies”. Membrane technology and bioplastics processing complement the research profile of the division “Synthesis and polymer technology”. Materials and technologies for power generation and -conversion (organic photovoltaics) are one of the research topics of the division "Functional Polymer Systems".
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM)
The Shaping and Functional Materials Division of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM has premises in Bremen and Dresden. IFAM works in contract research in the following areas: Biomaterials Technology, Electrical Systems, Electromobility, Functional structures, Casting Technology, Light Weight Materials, Materialography and Analytics, Powder Technology, High Performance Sintered Materials, Cellular Metallic Materials. The main objectives for IFAM's work are minimisation of material and energy consumption as well as cost-benefit optimisation.
The R & D activities of the Department of Adhesive Bonding Technology and Surfaces at the Fraunhofer IFAM focus on adhesive bonding technology, as well as plasma technology and paint/lacquer technology. The objective is to provide industry with application-oriented system solutions.
Fraunhofer Research Institution for Polymeric Materials and Composites (PYCO)
Chemists, physicists, engineers and technicians of Fraunhofer sites in Teltow and Wildau as well as of the Chair of Polymer Materials of Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus (BTU) are developing highly crosslinked polymers (thermosets) for all applications with particular reference to aviation, IT-technology and instrumentation.Today, their work is particularly focused on lightweight composites and on micro- as well as optoelectronics.
Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF)
The Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF) conducts application-oriented, fundamental research in the four areas "Functional nanostructured interfaces and polymer systems", "Biology-inspired interface and material design", "Polymer networks: Structure, theory, and application" and "Process-controlled structure formation in polymer materials". The IPF deals not only with the synthesis of polymeric materials, but also covers modification, characterization, processing and testing. The Leibniz Institute receives the basic financing from the federal government and the federal states of Germany.
Plastic recycling initiative Saxony (IG Kuris)
IG Kuris is a network founded by Saxon entrepreneurs with the core objective of recycling the plastic waste produced in Saxony. Waste disposal companies, plastics recyclers, electronic scrap recyclers, scientific institutes, engineers, designers and the consulting branch have joined forces and seek to foster a circular economy concept for this complex material stream. Organised in the form of a Community of Interest with non-profit status, all activities for the appropriate and sensible use of plastics are supported in order to bring out their technical, economic and ecological advantages and to promote an environmentally considerate use of this resource. Entrepreneurial initiatives are for example supported by initiating innovative projects for plastics recycling, and by acquiring the necessary funds. In addition, regular professional events are organised, thus making a targeted contribution to further education and knowledge transfer also for non-members.
R-Cycle
R-Cycle is a cross-manufacturer initiative that pursues the goal of linking all plastic packaging produced with a digital twin and thus making the ingredients transparent for recycling at the end of its service life. In addition to leading manufacturers of plastic extrusion technologies, well-known injection moulding machine and extrusion blow moulding machine manufacturers and other mechanical engineering companies are participating in R-Cycle. Other participants include the Institute for Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University and the GS1 Germany network, which is little known in the plastics industry but important for this particular initiative, as a know-how carrier. First pilot projects, which are mainly about gaining experience, are meanwhile underway. At the same time, further contact is being established with sorters and recyclers in order to expand exchange and networking with these important companies as well.
Federation of the German wood and plastics processing industry and related branches of industry (HDH)
The HDH (Hauptverband der Holz und Kunststoffe verarbeitenden Industrie) is the head association of the German woodworking and plastic industries with special associations, regional associations and confederacy associations as members. The largest special association in the HDH is the VDM (Verband der Deutschen Möbelindustrie), the association of the German furniture industries. Further pillars of the German woodworking industries are, apart from the furniture industry, the build near range and wood-based industry. Also represented by the HDH or its regional associations are the numerous member companies of the plastics processing industry, for example in the manufacture of construction elements or other plastic components. The primary task of HDH and VDM is to look after the economical, political and technical interests of the German woodworking- and furniture industry against the politics, the trade unions and the public. HDH and VDM is the contact organisation for the companies in their sectors.
