Knorr-Bremse and Heinz Herrmann Thiele Familienstiftung, together with CIRCULAR REPUBLIC, are looking forward to revealing the four award winners, who are leading the way in Green Tech – from recycling critical raw materials to automated disassembly of industrial products. See you at IFAT 2026 in Munich, when we celebrate the winners of the Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award.
The Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award addresses one of the most important growth areas for our economy. Currently, only a fraction of industrial and electronic products in Europe are recycled. Rare earths and other critical materials come almost entirely from mines in Asia and the Global South. Automated dismantling and recycling technology are not only the key to a resilient economy. They are also the source of technological leadership in the coming decades. Just as automation technology for manufacturing unlocked vast amounts of prosperity 100 years ago and became an export hit for Germany, dismantling technology also has this potential today.
We are thrilled to see technological leadership in urban mining rising. Innovative startups and courageous industry players who understand the potential of dismantling automation and recycling critical raw materials are willing to invest in it. Knorr-Bremse is taking a visionary lead in that area with its Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award. As a global player, Knorr-Bremse stands for innovative developments and solutions for tomorrow’s mobility and transportation technologies.
The prize money of four times 25,000 € and a budget of up to 150,000 € twice for a proof-of-concept project, is powered by Knorr-Bremse and Heinz Hermann Thiele Familienstiftung. The Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award brings together Europe's best start-ups in this field and aims to inspire further attention and investment in this key topic for the future. The jury already includes prominent figures such as Prof. Dr. Christina Reuter, Technical University of Munich, Roland Gauss, Director of EIT Raw Materials, and Günther Schuh, Director of FIR e. V. at RWTH Aachen.
Hiro Robotics and R3 Robotics are the winners in the category Automated Disassembly. Their solutions demonstrate how innovation in robotics and automation can help translate circularity into practical industrial processes.
HyProMag and DEScycle convinced the jury to win the category Critical Raw Materials Recovery. With their innovative approaches to recover critical raw materials, they demonstrate how the metal industry can be transformed.
Automated dismantling of complete electric vehicle systems, including e-drives, power electronics, and other high-value components at industrial scale.
Hiro Robotics develops advanced systems for the automated disassembly of electronic waste, offering recycling plants a new way to treat WEEE.
Desoltik develops AI-powered inspection technology that dramatically reduces the time required to diagnose electronic products returning from the field.
36ZERO Vision is a Munich‑based technology company specializing in AI‑powered visual quality inspection for industrial manufacturing.
WeSort.AI provides an AI‑powered, sensor‑based sorting system that precisely separates shredded streams from vehicles and e‑waste.
DEScycle is building the next generation of metals processing infrastructure for a circular economy. They replace centralised, carbon-intensive smelting with a distributed, modular metals recovery platform powered by proprietary ionometallurgy.
Recupere Metals upcycles copper scrap into high-quality electrical copper products. The mechanical process converts sorted copper granulates into winding wire, with the same technical properties as primary copper (conductivity and tensile strength).
Elmery develops and deploys patented pulse-based electrochemical technology that selectively recovers metals from dilute or complex recycling and refining streams using only electricity.
HyProMag GmbH is operating a short-loop recycling and manufacturing plant for the recovery of rare earth permanent magnet materials(NdFeB) from end-of-life products and production scrap and convert them into high-quality powders, alloys and sintered magnets.
Ionic Technologies take end of life magnets, containing Rare Earth Elements and complete a patented long-loop recycling process that outputs high purity (99.5% plus), separated Rare Earth Oxides.
For the category "Automated Disassembly" we are looking for startups or SMEs, which employ robotics and automation to disassemble complex products into recoverable components safely. We are particularly seeking solutions targeting industrial products and components (e.g., electronics, energy components).
Robotics and automation to disassemble complex products into recoverable components
Applies AI-powered vision systems and robotic arms to pick and place specific materials from mixed waste or industrial scrap
Automated material separation and preparation for recycling
Repair, refurbishment, and remanufacturing
Take-back and reverse logistics for industrial components
In this category we are looking for startups or SMEs focusing on the recovering process of critical materials from products and infrastructure, or the sorting and pre-treatment of secondary material streams.
Mechanical Recycling: Physical reprocessing of collected waste (e.g., plastics, metals, glass) through washing, shredding, pelletizing, and remelting into secondary raw materials
Metallurgical Recycling: Recovers ferrous (e.g., steel) / non-
ferrous (e.g., copper) metals and critical raw materials (e.g., REE, lithium) using hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical methods
Chemical Recycling: Uses processes like pyrolysis, depolymerization, and solvolysis to break down plastics and other materials into monomers, fuels, or oils
Knorr-Bremse is the global market and technology leader for braking systems and a leading supplier of other innovative solutions for the rail and commercial vehicle industries. Knorr-Bremse’s products make a decisive contribution to greater safety and energy efficiency on rail tracks and roads around the world. In 2024, Knorr-Bremse’s two divisions together generated revenues of approximately € 7.9 billion. For over 120 years, the company has been at the cutting edge of its industries, driving innovation in mobility and transportation technologies with a leading edge in connected system solutions.
The 4 selected winners of the Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award will receive a comprehensive support package, including:
As the culmination of this program, winners will have the opportunity to present and showcase their startup or SME and their business solution to a broad audience and the jury at the pitch session during the Award Ceremony at IFAT Munich on May 6, 2026, in Munich.
Already established startups or SMEs (entry in the commercial register)
Addressing one of the defined categories Automated Disassembly or Critical Raw Materials Recovery
The startup or SME offers circular solutions for industrial goods or is willing to develop them
The 10 finalists will be invited to the IFAT in Munich.
The startups or SMEs are evaluated based on the following criterias:
Impact Pioneer: The product and/or business model must promote positive social and ecological changes
Innovation & Market Potential: Startups or SMEs should have the ability to develop genuinely new ideas and make them marketable
Market Resonance & Maturity: There should already be positive reactions and acceptance from customers for the start-up’s product or service
Strong Team: The founding team should demonstrate high competence, collaboration, and goal orientation
Industry Fit: Ability to conduct Proof of Concept for an industry product
In the first step, startups and SMEs are evaluated within their category by a highly skilled team of experts from UnternehmerTUM and Knorr-Bremse based on the defined criteria, which can be found on the award website.
10 Finalists will be announced on April 15, 2026.
Finalists are asked to send in a 2-minute pitch video by April 24, 2026.
Till the end of April, the jury will decide on the winners of the Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award.
The award winners will be announced and presented in a live ceremony at the IFAT on May 6, 2026, 05:30 PM, in Munich.
The Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award is powered by Knorr-Bremse and Heinz Hermann Thiele Familienstiftung and co-organized by Knorr-Bremse and UnternehmerTUM with the CIRCULAR REPULIC team. The Award is combining entrepreneurial support with German industry leadership to accelerate circular innovation in industrial recycling and automated disassembly.
Startups and SMEs (Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises) that are legally established (registered in a commercial register) and operating in the field of industrial circular solutions — particularly addressing automated disassembly or critical raw materials recovery — are eligible to apply.
For this award, a startup or SME is an enterprise beyond initial ideation that has a business registration and some market presence, typically up to Series B funding stage — meaning not a pre-idea or student project but an entity with operational progress.
There is no application fee for submitting your candidacy — the award is designed to support and spotlight circular tech innovators without upfront cost. Only travel and accommodation costs for the Award Ceremony at IFAT in Munich won't be covered.
Yes, the application is open to relevant startups and SMEs globally. But the focus of this award is on European startups and SMEs
For the upcoming cycle, the application window runs from January 22 to March 02, 2026. Finalists are announced at April 15, 2026, and winners will be revealed during the award ceremony at IFAT trade fair in Munich on May 6, 2026.
Applications are reviewed based on criteria including:
Evaluations are conducted by a team of experts from UnternehmerTUM and Knorr-Bremse.
Once submitted, your application will be reviewed internally by a team of experts from Knorr-Bremse and UnternehmerTUM. The finalists are expected to be announced on April 15.
Finalists gain significant visibility within the communities of the award partners like CIRCULAR REPUBLIC and Knorr-Bremse. In addition they will benefit from international visibility and networking opportunities with industrial leaders joining IFAT 2026. Winners will receive a prize money as well as a potential proof-of-concept collaboration with Knorr-Bremse.
Yes - if you have multiple solutions or product concepts related to the award categories, applicants are welcome to submit separate entries for each circular solution.
By applying, you consent to application processing and communications for award purposes. The terms and conditions as well as the data policy linked on the application form describe how applicant data is managed.
The award includes four times €25,000 prizes and a potential budget up to 150,000 € twice for a Proof of Concept project with Knorr-Bremse, allocated to help winners scale their solutions.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the Award or the application process.
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