A global platform showcasing how AI is transforming circular material systems.

The AI Circular Economy Conference 2026 will gather global experts to explore how artificial intelligence accelerates circularity, renewable carbon solutions, and next-generation material innovation.

The nova-Institute has officially published the final program for the AI Circular Economy Conference, scheduled to take place in Cologne, Germany, and online on 4–5 March 2026. The conference will convene leading professionals from AI development, chemical production, recycling, materials science, biotechnology, market analysis, and investment to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping circular and sustainable material systems. This year’s edition includes 26 expert presentations from speakers representing 12 countries. The opening keynote by the nova-Institute will highlight the strategic importance of AI within renewable carbon pathways and the challenges expected on the road toward a sustainable future.

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the circular economy and renewable carbon sectors by making material flows, production processes, and business models more intelligent and scalable—starting from feedstock innovations and extending to reuse. The program spans key themes such as transparency and traceability via digital product passports, AI-enabled molecular design, process control for depolymerisation, supply chain intelligence, and sustainability assessments. As industries accelerate their shift toward circularity, AI provides essential tools to upscale renewable carbon sourced from biomass, recycling, and carbon capture utilization.

Program Overview: Five Thematic Blocks

Participants will hear from global leaders such as Covestro, Volkswagen, Schneider Electric, TOMRA, innovative start-ups including ExoMatter and VCG.AI, and prominent research institutes such as RWTH Aachen University, TNO, and the University of Delaware. The conference is organized into five thematic blocks, highlighting the broad scope and impact of AI applications across digital twins, process optimization, advanced material research, recycling pathways, market modeling, and bioeconomy strategies.

Opening Session

Welcome Address and Keynote by Lars Börger, CEO, nova-Institute
Lars Börger will discuss AI’s central role in accelerating the renewable carbon economy.

Block 1 — Digital Foundations for Circular Transformation

Session 1: Digital Twins, PINNs & Process Intelligence

• Mexis Konstantinos, SYMBIOLABS Circular Intelligence (GR): AI and ML for Bioreactor Digital Twins
• Othen Rosario & Florian Pohlmeyer, RWTH Aachen University (DE): Digital Twins and Data Spaces for Smarter Decision-Making
• Dennis Krause, Covestro (DE): Using AI to Assess Polyurethane Circular Production Readiness

Block 2 — Smart Production & Industrial Efficiency

Session 2: AI-Driven Operational Excellence

• Delphine Largeteau, Schneider Electric (DE): Digital Circularity as a Catalyst for Transformation
• Flemming Heuvel, RWTH Aachen University (DE): AI-Based Process Optimisation in Paper Manufacturing
• FINDIQ GmbH (DE): Enhancing Workforce Skills and Manufacturing Efficiency

Block 3 — Advanced Materials, Chemical Intelligence & Recycling Pathways

Session 3A: AI for Sustainable Materials Discovery

• Samira Lotfi, National Research Council of Canada: Machine Learning for Catalyst Design in Syngas-to-Ethanol Conversion
• Xaiza Aniban, ExoMatter (DE): Accelerating Materials R&D with AI
• Naveen Kumar Vasudevan, Oligomaster (CA): Addressing Bottlenecks in Materials Innovation
• Jan Harm Urbanus, TNO (NL): Exploring AI-Driven Bio-Based Polymer Design

Session 3B: AI for High-Quality Mechanical & Chemical Recycling

• Matthias Hermann, Citrine Informatics (USA): Leveraging AI to Boost Recycling Productivity
• Daniel Römhild, WIS Kunststoffe (DE): Key Challenges in Achieving High-Quality PCR
• Maryam Ghiri Nasiri, University of Lancashire (UK): Atmospheric CO₂ Capture Using MOFs

Block 4 — Intelligent Resource Flows, Market Insights & Investment

Session 4A: AI for Sorting & Feedstock Analysis

• Thomas Große, Volkswagen AG (DE): AI Classification of Automotive Black Plastics
• Valerio Sama, TOMRA (DE): AI Innovations for Full Material Circularity
• Johanna Kutschenreuter, Ehrenmüller GmbH (DE): KIKS—AI Platform for the Plastics Industry

Session 4B: AI for Market Strategy & Economic Modelling

• João Zambujal-Oliveira, University of Madeira (PT): Linking ESG to Financial Performance
• Idowu Kunlere, University of Delaware (USA): Agent-Based Modelling for Plastic Circularity
• Peter Jetzer, Recycario (DE): AI as a Decision Compass for Regranulate Use
• Michael Brandkamp, ECBF (DE): Investing in AI-Driven Circular Economy Start-ups

Block 5 — Societal Integration, Bioeconomy & Future Directions

Session 5A: Waste-to-Value & Bioeconomy Innovation

• Liaqat Ali, PCSIR (PK): Community-Based Mobile Drying and Waste Processing
• Alexis Cuquel, Kanadevia Inova (CH): AI for Biomethane Production Optimisation
• Zora Rerop, Dahlia Biotech (DE): Scaling Biotech for Industrial Efficiency

Session 5B: Society, Skills & Responsible Innovation

• Ana Bossler, University of Alicante (ES): Virtual Agent Simulations for Consumer Acceptance
• Dominik Patzelt, VCG.AI (DE): Using Data Intelligence to Scale Circularity
• Christian Hummert, Cybersecurity Innovation Agency (DE): AI and Cybersecurity in the Chemical Industry

Registration for the AI Circular Economy Conference 2026 is now open: ai-circulareconomy.eu/registration
Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities: ai-circulareconomy.eu/sponsoring and ai-circulareconomy.eu/exhibition-booking
Full program available at: ai-circulareconomy.eu/program