The CircularTech

CircularTech Forum is more than an platform; it’s an international stage where Circular Economy maestros and Digital pioneers converge!

Thank you for your passion and contributions.

The CTF Team extend gratitude for your personal presence and great contributions, driving groundbreaking conversations.

The CTF23 discussions delved into key considerations, including digital passports critical product groups, specific data inclusion, the process of implementing digital documentation systems and proactive approach to upcoming regulations. 

These and many others discussions are vital steps in propelling these groundbreaking conversations forward.

The focus on the Digital Product Passport as a central pillar of the EU Green Deal is heartening. Improving traceability, ensuring product compliance, and providing vital information are crucial steps toward a sustainable future. 

 

Our Appreciation to you for bringing CircularTech Forum23 to Life!

Agenda

Many thanks to our CTF2023 speakers

moderated by

Dr. Susanne Guth-Orlowski

Founder
@
4TheRecord

Featured speakers

We add our speakers on a rolling basis. There will be more within the next weeks.

Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner

Institute Director
@
Fraunhofer IPK

Christoph Wendker

V.P. Corporate Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs
@
Miele

Michael Kuhndt

Executive Director
@
CSCP

Tim Schumacher

Founding Partner
@
World Fund

Dr. Claas Heise

Executive Director
@
NRW Bank

Florian Kriependorf

Founder and Managing Director
@
Scrapbees GmbH

Emma Wehrwein

Project Manager Digital Business Model
@
eco Verband, Gaia-x

Dr. Holger Berg

Vice-Director and Co-Head of Research Unit Digital Transformation
@
Circular Economy Wuppertal Institut

Tim Wilms

Managing Director
@
Remondis Electrorecycling

Dr. Johannes Velling

Director General "Digitalization and Startups”
@
Ministry of Economy, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy NRW

Dr. Thomas Ebert

Policy Analyst – Seconded National Expert
@
DG CONNECT, European Commission

Cornelius Laaser

Head of the Circular Economy Unit
@
Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, Nature, and Consumer Protection NRW

Dr. Holger Berg

Vice-Director and Co-Head of Research Unit Digital Transformation
@
Circular Economy Wuppertal Institut

Tim Wilms

Managing Director
@
Remondis Electrorecycling

Dr. Johannes Velling

Director General "Digitalization and Startups”
@
Ministry of Economy, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy NRW

Our Partners

Funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia

 Our Media Partners

Type to search
Dr. Susanne Guth-Orlowski

Founder – 4TheRecord

Linkedin

Susanne is founder of the consulting company 4TheRecord, SSI expert, author, podcaster and speaker. Her background is in security technology, and she has 20 years hands-on, technical experience in cryptography.

Today, Susanne is consulting companies and non-profit organisations on how to define IT-Security services and standards and bring them to market. She is a strong believer that technology based on open standards can help reach the climate goals and is currently engaged in defining the technical concepts for a digital, decentralized product passport to enable better repair, reuse, and recycling of products.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Knothe

Head of Department Process Management and Factory Planning – Fraunhofer IPK

Linkedin
Thomas has been with Fraunhofer IPK for over 26 years, currently serving as the Head of the Department for Process Management and Factory Planning since September 2010. Previously, he was a Project Manager at Fraunhofer IPK from January 1998 to September 2010. Since April 2017, he has been an Honorary Professor at Technische Hochschule Wildau. Additionally, he chairs the JTC 24 Digital Product Passport System and Architecture at CEN and CENELEC as of March 2024. His expertise includes IT service engineering, business process management, and factory planning.
Ricky Thiermann

Product Owner – Spherity

Linkedin

Ricky is a dedicated Product Owner at Spherity, with a profound interest in green innovation and decentralized identity solutions. His expertise lies in the emerging standards of decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) concepts, particularly within the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Ricky is at the forefront of Spherity’s pioneering work on the Digital Product Passport, a revolutionary initiative aimed at enhancing transparency and sustainability in product life cycles. His passion for integrating cutting-edge technology with environmental responsibility makes him a valuable voice in the ongoing dialogue about the future of digital identities and sustainable innovation.

Dr. Niklas Niemann

Partner – Systemiq & Battery Pass Consortia

Linkedin

Niklas is a partner by Systemiq´s Materials Platform, with a focus on mobility and with strong links to the Energy Platform as enabler for the mobility transition.

He is a sustainability professional with 15 years of experience in industry and consulting with a deep understanding of renewable energy, grid infrastructure, and the transition to electric vehicles. His experience spans the European energy, utility and automotive sector, having worked for HSE/ Entega, RWE, McKinsey and, most recently, Volkswagen Consulting, where he spearheaded the sustainability efforts and led the CEO Alliance for Europe.

Marion Van Deurzen

EU Regulatory Affairs Lead Home Care – Unilever

Linkedin

Marion is the EU Regulatory Affairs Lead for Home Care at Unilever, where she excels at the interface of technology and marketing. With a PhD in Chemical Engineering/Biocatalysis, Marion has extensive experience in FMCG (laundry, autodish, personal care) and B2B enzyme products. She is passionate about people, results, and innovation.

In her role, Marion ensures regulatory compliance for European personal care products, collaborates with global teams, and advocates for Unilever’s positions to EU governmental bodies and trade associations. She supports innovation projects and European-specific claims development, always prioritizing brand and consumer protection through comprehensive regulatory guidance.

Carolynn Bernier

CIRPASS Consortium Coordinator – CIRPASS2

Linkedin

Carolynn is the CIRPASS-2 (EU Digital Product Passport Project) – Project Coordinator and an accomplished Senior Research Engineer at the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). With a robust background in integrated circuit and protocol design for IoT wireless communications, Carolynn has been at the forefront of innovative technological advancements in her field.

Her current research focuses on smart embedded perception systems, where she leads projects that integrate sophisticated sensors and computing capabilities into compact, efficient designs. These systems are pivotal in advancing technologies for the circular economy and circular electronics, promoting sustainability and efficiency in technology development and usage.

Carolynn’s expertise and dedication to her work make her a valuable contributor to discussions on emerging technologies and their applications. Her insights into smart systems and sustainable technologies are informed by years of experience and a deep commitment to innovation in energy and environmental solutions.