bergisch.kompetenz: Competence center for circular economy

The objective of the “bergisch.kompetenz” project is to support manufacturing companies in the Bergisch city triangle in their transformation from linear to circular value creation. The focus is on establishing a decentralized competence center that will serve as a permanent hub for the development of competencies and organizational structures in the field of the circular economy (CE).

There is a particular emphasis on the practical teaching of CE expertise across all company levels – from the shop floor to management. This addresses both efficiency and innovation (ambidexterity) as well as key skills such as systems thinking, leadership, and collaboration.

Innovative formats such as gamification, simulations, co-creation approaches, and living labs are being developed for training purposes. In addition, new job profiles and (micro) training opportunities are being created, which will also be integrated into existing university curricula.

The project will initially be implemented in three pilot companies. Subsequently, scaling up via workshops and showcases is planned, involving existing laboratories and machine parks. The aim is to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience, and resource and energy efficiency of the companies, reduce emissions and dependencies, and develop circular business models and logistics processes.

In the long term, the aim is to establish a sustainable business model that ensures the continuity and transferability of the project results.

The Bergisch city triangle between Remscheid, Solingen, and Wuppertal is home to numerous processing SME that are currently facing a major challenge: the necessary transformation from linear to circular value creation, coupled with a shortage of specialists and skills gaps. The following problem areas need to be addressed:

• Low circularity: Currently, for example, only around 12 percent of recycled materials are used in the manufacture of new products.
• Insufficient use of R strategies: Measures such as reuse, repair, or remanufacturing, which promise great ecological and economic potential, have hardly been used to date.
• Lack of CE expertise: Strategic and operational expertise in the field of circular economy is often lacking, which makes it difficult to transfer it into operational practice.

The “bergisch.kompetenz” project is developing innovative education and knowledge transfer offerings to address these problems. The aim is to enable companies to implement the transition to a circular economy. This will enable them to operate within planetary boundaries, reduce material and energy dependencies, and at the same time secure their competitiveness today and in the future.

Solid foundation papers on the necessary CE expertise at all company levels are already available for the successful transformation to a circular economy. In addition, various formats for knowledge and expertise transfer are currently being tested in close cooperation with the companies. Motivational and psychological expertise are being further developed in a participatory manner, adapted to the concept of the circular economy, and implemented in a practical manner. At the same time, researchers from Fraunhofer UMSICHT are already working with partners and the three industrial companies in various task forces on concrete solution concepts at the product and business model level.

• Neue Effizienz gGmbH / Wuppertal
• Wuppertal Institut gGmbH / Wuppertal
• Bergische Universität Wuppertal
• FGW Forschungsgemeinschaft Werkzeuge und Werkstoffe e.V. / Remscheid
• Collaborating Centre on sustainable consumption and production gGmbH (CSCP) / Wuppertal
• Fraunhofer Institut für Umwelt-, Sicherheit-, Energietechnik UMSICHT / Oberhausen
• Technische Akademie Wuppertal e.V. (TAW)/ Wuppertal
• BECK UND CONSORTEN GmbH/ Wuppertal
• Bauer Böcker GmbH Co. KG / Remscheid
• P.F. FREUND CIE. GmbH/ Wuppertal
• MUCKENHAUPT & NUSSELT GmbH & Co. KG/ Wuppertal