We are looking for the most innovative Green Tech champions

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 Dr. Erik Eschen, CEO of Vakuumschmelze, Roland Gauss, Director of EIT Raw Materials, and Günther Schuh, Director of FIR e. V. at RWTH Aachen. 

Join us for the award ceremony at IFAT 2026 in Munich, when we celebrate the winners!

When? May 6, 2026, 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Where? IFAT 2026, Messe München, Green Stage (C4)

More details about the award ceremony
Dr Matthias Ballweg

Oliver Klug, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, Knorr-Bremse

Green technologies are a particularly promising business area for Knorr-Bremse. With the Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award, Knorr-Bremse is specifically looking for the most innovative green tech solutions in the areas of automated disassembly and critical raw material recovery in order to automatically dismantle high-tech components and recover the raw materials.

Matthias Ballweg, Co-Founder, CIRCULAR REPUBLIC

Founders who create new circular solutions are crucial for the future of our economy. That is why Knorr-Bremse and CIRCULAR REPUBLIC honor the best among them at the upcoming Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award. As a part of UnternehmerTUM, we offer founders the opportunity to increase their visibility and strategically expand their network. The award ceremony at the IFAT allows startups and SMEs to make new contacts and be present with the decision makers of  Knorr-Bremse -  the global market and technology leader for braking systems and a leading supplier of other rail and commercial vehicle systems. 

Your innovation is an award candidate, if it tackles one of the two impact categories

1. Automated Disassembly

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

2. Critical Raw Materials Recovery

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 stands for innovative developments and solutions for tomorrow’s mobility and transportation technologies.

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.

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Brake Discs 

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Brake Pads

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Schaubild Door Systems

Entrance Systems

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Electronic Braking Systems

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Air Dryer Cartridges

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Why is it worth applying?

The 4 selected winners of the Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award will receive a comprehensive support package, including:

 

  • Visibility & Reach: Generate attention for your startup or SME by receiving media coverage of the award, which will be promoted in the social media channels of UnternehmerTUM and Knorr-Bremse AG. At the same time, the solutions of all winners are presented here on the website in the form of a short profile.
  • Networking: Meet relevant industry contacts and present your startup or SME to the high-caliber jury of UnternehmerTUM and Knorr-Bremse.
  • Award: Get honored and receive a trophy with a prize money of 25,000 € and a certificate as part of the award ceremony at the Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award. The winners may refer to themselves as "Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award 2026 winners" and use the title in their communications.
  • Possible collaboration: As a winner, you may receive the opportunity to work together with Knorr-Bremse on a Proof of Concept (PoC) linked to a budget of up to 150,000 €.

 

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.

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Startups and SMEs that meet the following requirements can apply

  • 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.

Evaluation Criterias 

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

Procedure

  • Applications are submitted via the online form, which you can find here.
  • The following materials are required for a complete application:
    • Completed questionnaire
    • Pitch deck in PDF format
    • Application period:  January 22 - March 02, 2026

Selection of finalists

  • 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.

Our Jury

7 XL4132 a Marc Llistosella2022

Marc Llistosella

CEO, Knorr-Bremse

Linkedin

Julia Thiele-Schürhoff

Member of the Board, Heinz Hermann Thiele Familienstiftung

Stephan Sturm

Chairman of the Board, Heinz Hermann Thiele Familienstiftung
Dr Matthias Ballweg

Matthias Ballweg

Co-Founder, CIRCULAR REPUBLIC

Linkedin
Roland Gauss

Roland Gauß

Director, EIT Raw Materials

Linkedin
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Gisela Lanza

Head of Institution Production Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Linkedin
Dr Niclas Alexander Mauss

Niclas-Alexander Mauss

Co-Founder, CIRCULAR REPUBLIC

Linkedin
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An Nuyttens

CEO, Solvay

Linkedin
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Christina Reuter

Chair of Sustainable Production Systems, Technical University of Munich

Linkedin
Dr Philipp Rosler

Philipp Rösler

Ex-Vice Chancellor

Linkedin
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Günther Schuh

Director of FIR e. V. at RWTH Aachen

Linkedin

Award Partner

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Unternehmer TUM Logo
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Knorr bremse logo screen
Circular Republic Logo Web color pos 300dpi
Unternehmer TUM Logo
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FAQ

  • 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

    • Completed online application form
    • A pitch deck (PDF) outlining your solution and business model
    • Any relevant supporting materials, such as technology descriptions or customer traction insights
    • Optional Description of how a Proof-of-Concept for Knorr-Bremse products could look like

  • 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:

    • Impact potential (environmental, circular, and financial benefit)
    • Innovation & market potential
    • Market traction or maturity
    • Strength of the founding team
    • Industry Fit

    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.

Any more questions?

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the Award or the application process.

 

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