AI Circular Economy 2026: Abstract Deadline Extended

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer simply a technological advancement—it is a driving force behind the global shift from fossil-based materials to renewable carbon sources in the chemical and materials industries. This transition, seen as one of the greatest industrial challenges since the dawn of the industrial revolution, demands the most sophisticated digital solutions. AI is rapidly emerging as a critical enabler of this transformation.

nova-Institute has announced its premier event, the AI Circular Economy Conference 2026, scheduled for 4-5 March 2026 in Cologne and online. This landmark conference will unite leading innovators, researchers, and practitioners to discuss how AI is unlocking the potential of renewable carbon from biomass, carbon capture utilisation (CCU), and recycling to build a sustainable, circular future.

Key focus areas include:

High-tech AI innovations that accelerate research and industrial applications.
AI-powered innovation by chemical and plastics producers for faster, more efficient, and sustainable solutions.
Biomass and agriculture applications where AI identifies new raw material sources and closes material loops.
Advanced applications such as AI-assisted modelling for CCU processes and catalysts, CO₂ capture optimisation, electrochemical pathways, and process control in depolymerisation.
AI in recycling to improve waste stream sorting, feedstock analysis, and quality assurance of recycled materials.

The conference will feature interdisciplinary sessions with top experts from AI development, chemical production, biotechnology, agriculture, recycling, and sustainability. Attendees—whether data scientists, material professionals, business leaders, or investors—will gain actionable insights, real-world case studies, and collaborative opportunities to leverage AI for circular economy solutions.

The call for abstracts is open, inviting contributions across four main tracks: Bio-based Materials, CO₂-based Solutions, Advanced Recycling, and Cross-cutting Interdisciplinary Topics such as supply chain forecasting, lifecycle assessment, and policy modelling. The deadline for submissions is 26 October 2025, with exceptional submissions accepted even after the deadline.