Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS

Prof. Dr. Anke Weidenkaff, director of Fraunhofer IWKS, has been appointet to the Advisory Council of the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM).

Towards the reduction of critical raw materials in permanent magnets to facilitate and accelerate the European energy transition.

New platform is to set up recycling of medical products.

One week after the official opening of the building in Alzenau, the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS has officially opened its new building in the Aschaffenburger Straße in Hanau-Wolfgang. In times of COVID-19, the opening took place purely digitally. Among the guests who joined the ceremony - live or via video message - were Volker Bouffier, Prime Minister of Hesse, Dipl.-Kfm. Andreas Meuer, Director of Finance and Digitization of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V., Angela Dorn, Hessian Minister of State for Science and Art, and Claus Kaminsky, Mayor of the City of Hanau. The highlight of the event was the opening ceremony with the cutting of the symbolic ribbon by Director Prof. Dr. Anke Weidenkaff.

The aim of the event is to discuss current developments in resource chemistry. In times of increasing pressure on industry and politics with respect to environmental protection and climate change, material sciences and chemistry have to join forces to provide answers to some of the world‘s most challenging technological tasks. Under the aspect to secure and provide indispensable materials in a limited environ-ment, this conference will specifically focus on applied resource chemistry and new recycling technologies. The conference aims to cover a wide range of research areas, from the substitution of critical elements, to the development of sustainable materials, and the establishment of efficient material life cycles. This unique conference will tackle these challenges and bring together scientists and experts from various fields such as resource & green chemistry, biology, environmental science & technology, as well as material sciences. Accomodation: We have reserved a hotel contingent for you in various hotels in Darmstadt (more hotels to follow) - all hotels are within easy reach of the conference venue. Please note: The hotel contingent at the fixed rate is limited - we recommend booking your room as early as possible.

Climate change is becoming increasingly evident and with it the urgency to act. By using resources more efficiently, companies can not only save materials, energy and costs, but also significantly reduce their CO2 emissions, thus making an important contribution to climate protection. In addition to examples from corporate practice, the event will present the latest research findings on resource efficiency. The conference will be opened by Tarek Al-Wazir, Hesse's Minister of Economics. Keynote speakers are Mathis Wackernagel, President and founder of Global Footprint Network, and Dr. Janez Potocnik, Co-Chair UNEP International Resource Panel.

First Online Workshop on Sustainable Thermoelectrics