The CIRCULAZE Summit, held on November 8, 2023, offered a vibrant platform to celebrate the circular economy. A unique feature of this year’s summit was the partnership with universities across Germany and Switzerland by offering their students free tickets and active engagement. In this recap, we delve into the pivotal role these students played and the dynamic impact their participation had on the event.
Our mission at CIRCULAZE is to bring together all the different players in the realm of the circular economy and create an ecosystem fostering awareness, connection, and collaboration. Young adults and students are an integral part of this.
Students from top-tier universities including Technische Universität München (TUM), Universität St. Gallen, Universität Bayreuth, Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin (HTW), Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR), and Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart added important perspectives and voices to the event and network.
Active Participation
To ensure that students were active contributors, several engagement initiatives were implemented:
- Universities were invited to submit materials on projects or dissertations related to circular economy topics, creating a vibrant collection. Topics included: ‘The Assessment of Sustainability of Sport Tourism Offers Using the Example of Alpine Winter Sports’, ‘The Influence of the 9-Euro Ticket on the Choice of Transportation in Sports’, and ‘Right to Repair in the Textile and Fashion Industry Using the Example of PUMA’.
- Students also served as ambassadors for their universities, sharing insights through short articles. Find an article on the topic room Leadership & Mindset by Lisa Biersack (Universität Bayreuth) and a recap from Leonhard Meitner (HWR Berlin) here.
- Futhermore, university groups were given the stage during the start-up pitch session to present their work on innovative projects.
Showcasing Student Initiatives
Two university groups demonstrated the caliber of ideas within their own academic circles. At COLLAECT (HWR Berlin), the group presented a bonus program rewarding environmentally conscious purchasing decisions, a venture that earned them first place in the Innovate 2030 competition.
With the group Daniacompack Biopackaging (TUM), Stefan Ziegelmeier showcased a sustainable solution to the problems of limited biodegradability and resource-intensive production in bioplastics.
The inclusion of students not only enriched learning but also included vitality and critical perspectives into the circular economy discourse. As we look back on this event, it is evident that collaboration between all age groups and between academia and industry is essential for a sustainable future, and CIRCULAZE will continue to be a catalyst for this synergy in the years to come.
Photos by TheGroupMovement
Full Recap: The CIRCULAZE Night & Summit 2023
CIRCULAZE is made possible through the friendly support of our amazing co-host dfv Mediengruppe and partners DB Cargo, ODDO BHF, Otto Krahn New Business, Knauf, Capgemini Invent, 4P Capital, Jokey, SBC Hamburg, Payback, Fressnapf, von Beust & Partner, phiyond by adelphi, and 1. FC Nürnberg.