Best Startups in Critical Raw Materials & Automated Disassembly

Best Startups in Critical Raw Materials & Automated Disassembly

IFAT Munich 2026 Which startups are solving Europe’s two key circular economy challenges: automated disassembly and critical raw materials recovery? This episode covers the Circular Technology Award, launched by Circular Republic and Knorr-Bremse, to back startups working in both fields. Matthias Ballweg, co-founder of Circular Republic, and Oliver Klug, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Knorr-Bremse, explain why they created the award, what they learned from the applicants, and why they paired prize money with proof-of-concept partnerships instead of funding alone. What you’ll hear in this episode: • Why automated disassembly is finally viable, and what the robots can now do that they couldn’t five years ago. • How two very different approaches recover critical raw materials in Europe: hydrogen to reclaim rare earth magnets, and low-temperature salts to pull metals from electronic scrap. • What corporates like Knorr-Bremse look for before adopting a startup’s technology. The four winning startups then present what they’ve built: Xavier Kohll from R3 Robotics and Tomaso Manca from Hiro Robotics winners in automated disassembly, Carlo Burkhardt from HyProMag and Fred White from DEScycle winners in critical raw materials recovery. This is the final episode of the IFAT Munich 2026 series, recorded live at the fair. People Matthias Ballweg, Co-Founder, Circular Republic https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthias-ballweg/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthias-ballweg/] Oliver Klug, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, Knorr-Bremse https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-klug-932650148/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-klug-932650148/] Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/] Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:22 The Circular Technology Award 02:03 Why automated disassembly and critical raw materials 03:56 What the applicant pool showed 05:52 Who is Knorr-Bremse 06:39 Why Knorr-Bremse joined the award 08:07 A proof-of-concept, not just prize money 10:51 R3 Robotics: robotic disassembly 14:09 Hiro Robotics: rethinking electronics disassembly 18:16 Descycle: recovering metals from e-waste 21:53 HyProMag: recycling rare-earth magnets 25:51 Closing and what is next About IFAT is the world’s leading trade fair network for environmental technologies. It focuses on water, wastewater, waste, recycling and circularity, bringing together companies, innovators and industry professionals to present solutions for resource efficiency and sustainable infrastructure. IFAT Munich is the flagship event of that network and the most important meeting place for the sector. It takes place every two years in Munich and showcases technologies and services for water, wastewater, waste and raw materials management, with the 2026 edition featuring around 3,400 exhibitors from about 60 countries. Further Links Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award: https://www.circular-republic.org/award/ [https://www.circular-republic.org/award/] IFAT: https://ifat.de/en/ [https://ifat.de/en/] Circular Republic: https://www.circular-republic.org [https://www.circular-republic.org] UnternehmerTUM: https://www.unternehmertum.de [https://www.unternehmertum.de] Knorr-Bremse: https://www.knorr-bremse.com/en/ [https://www.knorr-bremse.com/en/] One-page Summary Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/episode/best-startups-in-critical-raw-materials-automated-disassembly/ [https://circularity.fm/episode/best-startups-in-critical-raw-materials-automated-disassembly/]

Circular Economy Startup Landscape 2026

IFAT Munich 2026 Which areas of circular economy are attracting the most startup activity in Europe, and which ones are being left behind? Leonhard Teichert, Program Lead at Circular Republic, presents the findings of the Circular Economy Startup Landscape 2026. Bruno Rudnick, Managing Partner at SEF Ventures and host of the startup area at IFAT, adds the investor's view on financing and scaling hardware startups in this space. What you'll hear in this episode: • Where European circular startup activity is concentrated and where the map is almost empty: the sectors that are overcrowded and the ones nobody is building in yet. • What drives corporate adoption of new technology. • What founders building hardware-based circular solutions should know: when to talk to an investor, capital structure, customer sequencing, and how corporates actually make adoption decisions. This is the third episode in the IFAT Special series, recorded live at the IFAT Munich 2026 People Bruno Rudnik, Managing Partner, SEF Ventures https://www.linkedin.com/in/brunorudnik/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brunorudnik/] Leonhard Teichert, Programme Lead, Circular Republic https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonhard-teichert-436a2b16a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonhard-teichert-436a2b16a/] Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/] About IFAT is the world’s leading trade fair network for environmental technologies. It focuses on water, wastewater, waste, recycling and circularity, bringing together companies, innovators and industry professionals to present solutions for resource efficiency and sustainable infrastructure. IFAT Munich is the flagship event of that network and the most important meeting place for the sector. It takes place every two years in Munich and showcases technologies and services for water, wastewater, waste and raw materials management, with the 2026 edition featuring around 3,400 exhibitors from about 60 countries. Further Links Find the study here: https://bdi.eu/de/specials/industry-spotlight-circular-economy-studie [https://bdi.eu/de/specials/industry-spotlight-circular-economy-studie] IFAT: https://ifat.de/en/ [https://ifat.de/en/] Circular Republic: https://www.circular-republic.org [https://www.circular-republic.org] UnternehmerTUM: https://www.unternehmertum.de [https://www.unternehmertum.de] SEF Ventures: https://sef.ventures/ [https://sef.ventures/] One-page Summary Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/episode/circular-economy-startup-landscape-2026/ [https://circularity.fm/episode/circular-economy-startup-landscape-2026/]

BDI & BCG Study: Where Circularity Pays Off

IFAT Munich 2026 What is the economic potential of circularity? The Federal Association of the German Industries (BDI) asked Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to answer that for German industry. The report's authors, Claas Oehlmann of the BDI's Circular Economy Initiative and Alexander Meyer zum Felde of BCG, walk through the findings, with Nadine Braun of E.ON bringing the view from a company perspective. What you'll hear in this episode: • What the report found: in five sectors covering most of German industry, circular business models could double annual value creation, from 60 to 125 billion euros, by 2045. • Whether that number survives cannibalisation. If a car gets refurbished, that's one new car not sold, so does the potential still hold once you subtract the lost sales? • What companies can do today, without waiting for new regulation, and what still holds them back. Besides exploring the macroeconomic impact of the circular economy, the episode also looks at where circularity pays off for a company. This is the second episode of the IFAT Munich 2026 series, recorded live at the fair. People Claas Oehlmann, Managing Director of the Circular Economy Initiative, Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-claas-oehlmann-83355853/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-claas-oehlmann-83355853/] Nadine Braun, Head of Circularity and Environment, E.ON https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-braun-eon/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-braun-eon/] Alexander Meyer zum Felde, Global Director of Circular Economy, Boston Consulting Group https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-meyer-zum-felde-b10703164/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-meyer-zum-felde-b10703164/] Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/] Chapters 0:00 Intro: the BDI and BCG study 1:57 Claas Oehlmann (BDI): doubling value to 125 billion 3:40 The policy gap: EU vs national 9:43 Alexander Meyer zum Felde (BCG): the economic case 13:54 The five sectors, and who leads 15:54 Levers companies can use now 24:55 What is holding companies back 27:50 Nadine Braun (E.ON): the energy sector 33:26 Wait for regulation, or start now? 36:12 Outro About IFAT is the world’s leading trade fair network for environmental technologies. It focuses on water, wastewater, waste, recycling and circularity, bringing together companies, innovators and industry professionals to present solutions for resource efficiency and sustainable infrastructure. IFAT Munich is the flagship event of that network and the most important meeting place for the sector. It takes place every two years in Munich and showcases technologies and services for water, wastewater, waste and raw materials management, with the 2026 edition featuring around 3,400 exhibitors from about 60 countries. Further Links Link to the study “Wachstum, Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und Resilienz” from BDI and BCG: https://bdi.eu/de/specials/industry-spotlight-circular-economy-studie [https://bdi.eu/de/specials/industry-spotlight-circular-economy-studie] IFAT: https://ifat.de/en/ [https://ifat.de/en/] One-page Summary Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/episode/bdi-bcg-study-where-circularity-pays-off/ [https://circularity.fm/episode/bdi-bcg-study-where-circularity-pays-off/]

Circular Sovereignty Forum

IFAT Munich 2026 Can Europe secure the critical raw materials it needs without stepping back from global trade? Recorded at the Circular Sovereignty Forum at IFAT Munich, with Susanne Kadner of Circular Republic, João Merico of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and Roland Gauß of EIT Raw Materials, on the link between circularity, geopolitics, and supply security. What you'll hear in this episode: • What companies actually want from EU regulation: predictability above all. First movers need to know the rules they invested in will not be reversed by the next reform. • Why recycling alone will not close the gap. Reuse, leasing, and product as a service have to scale alongside it, even when fast innovation cycles make reusing yesterday's components harder. • Why venture money is shifting toward Europe as US green subsidies are rolled back, and where Europe still loses ground on a level playing field. The episode also covers Europe's urban mines and the secondary raw materials in them, and the case for diversifying supply rather than concentrating it on single suppliers. This is the first episode in the Circularity.fm IFAT special, recorded at IFAT. People Susanne Kadner, Co-Founder, Circular Republic (UnternehmerTUM) https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-kadner/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-kadner/] João Merico, Senior Strategy Associate, Critical Minerals & Energy Transition, Ellen MacArthur Foundation https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo%C3%A3o-murilo-silva-merico-a88633202/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo%C3%A3o-murilo-silva-merico-a88633202/] Roland Gauß, Innovation and Product Development Director, EIT RawMaterials https://www.linkedin.com/in/roland-gau%C3%9F-52108b126/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/roland-gau%C3%9F-52108b126/] Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/] Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:22 Why a Sovereignty Forum at IFAT 03:11 What companies want from Brussels: clarity and predictability 04:37 How US finance pulls startups out of Europe 05:46 Front runners vs companies waiting on Brussels 07:52 Why sovereignty needs collaboration 08:37 João Merico: why critical minerals matter 09:15 Beyond recycling: other circular business models 09:57 Reuse and fast innovation cycles 11:12 Global vs regional circular economy 12:27 Circularity and climate goals 13:45 Roland Gauß: Europe's raw materials and urban mines 14:50 The level playing field and US incentives 16:55 Winning the hesitant majority to diversify 18:42 Outro About IFAT is the world’s leading trade fair network for environmental technologies. It focuses on water, wastewater, waste, recycling and circularity, bringing together companies, innovators and industry professionals to present solutions for resource efficiency and sustainable infrastructure. IFAT Munich is the flagship event of that network and the most important meeting place for the sector. It takes place every two years in Munich and showcases technologies and services for water, wastewater, waste and raw materials management, with the 2026 edition featuring around 3,400 exhibitors from about 60 countries. Further Links IFAT: https://ifat.de/en/ [https://ifat.de/en/] Circular Republic: https://www.circular-republic.org [https://www.circular-republic.org] UnternehmerTUM: https://www.unternehmertum.de [https://www.unternehmertum.de] Ellen MacArthur Foundation: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org [https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org] EIT RawMaterials: https://eitrawmaterials.eu [https://eitrawmaterials.eu] One-page Summary Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/episode/circular-sovereignty-forum/ [https://circularity.fm/episode/circular-sovereignty-forum/]

Startup Collaboration: How to Build Win-Win Partnerships

Incineration in the Circular Economy Why do startups and corporates need each other, and what makes the partnership work? Florian Fehr, Managing Director of NEEW Ventures, joins Patrick at IFAT and interviews three founders: Rajiv Singhal from Grensol, Stefan Delinde from Minimise, and Gary Lewis from Resourcify about their businesses and what makes a startup-corporate partnership work. What you'll hear in this episode: • Why startups and corporates operate at different speeds, and why that difference is the point of the collaboration • Three founders, three completely different business models built around partnering with corporates • What Florian calls the "secret sauce" of a partnership that works The episode also covers how NEEW Ventures operates as both venture builder and bridge maker for EEW. This is the final episode of the series Incineration in the Circular Economy, produced in sponsoring partnership with NEEW Ventures. People Florian Fehr, Managing Director at NEEW Ventures https://www.linkedin.com/in/florianfehr/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/florianfehr/] Startup Founders: Rajiv Singhal, Grensol Group https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajiv-singhal-008b1b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajiv-singhal-008b1b/] Gary Lewis, Resourcify https://www.linkedin.com/in/circular-gary/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/circular-gary/] Stefan De Linde, Minimise https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-de-linde/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-de-linde/] Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/] Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:25 Series recap and episode plan 1:39 Meet Florian and NEEW Ventures 3:28 Why corporates need startups 5:17 Founder spotlight Grensol 12:06 Founder spotlight Minimize 17:15 Founder spotlight Resourcify 20:31 What makes collaborations succeed 23:55 Outro About NEEW Ventures is a venture builder and subsidiary of EEW Energy from Waste, one of the market leaders for thermal waste treatment in Germany.  Founded in 2021 in Berlin, NEEW Ventures builds startups that use data, AI, and digital tools to create value from waste. Its portfolio includes Wasteer, which uses AI-based waste composition analysis to cut emissions and operating costs at incineration plants, and Minimise, a digital traceability platform for e-waste recycling. NEEW Ventures also runs the Circularity Hub for startups, researchers, and industry professionals, and the Waste & AI Hub (WAIH), connecting AI experts with waste industry operators. Find out more at: neew-ventures.com Further Links https://www.neew-ventures.com/ [https://www.neew-ventures.com/] https://www.eew-energyfromwaste.com/ [https://www.eew-energyfromwaste.com/] Startups: Grensol: grensolgroup.com [https://grensolgroup.com/] Minimise: registry.minimise.today [https://registry.minimise.today/en] Resourcify: resourcify.com [https://www.resourcify.com/] One-page Summary Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/episode/startup-collaboration-how-to-build-win-win-partnerships/ [https://circularity.fm/episode/startup-collaboration-how-to-build-win-win-partnerships/]