ESEIA International Summer School 2025 | Circular Economy in Industry

22–26 September 2025 | :metabolon, Lindlar, Germany 

The European Sustainable Energy Innovation Alliance – ESEIA, in cooperation with TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences and the Bergischer Abfallwirtschaftsverband (BAV), is pleased to announce the upcoming ESEIA International Summer School 2025, dedicated to the theme “Circular Economy in Industry.” The programme will take place from 22 to 26 September 2025 at :metabolon, an award-winning research and education center in Lindlar, Germany, recognized for its role in driving circular innovation.

Set against the backdrop of one of Germany’s most advanced living labs for waste-to-resource transformation, this year’s edition will explore how industrial waste can be converted into valuable materials, and what systemic, technological, and societal shifts are needed to support this transition. The programme brings together students, researchers, and professionals from across Europe to examine and co-create sustainable solutions for circularity in industrial contexts.

Programme Overview

The Summer School will offer a balanced mix of lectures, hands-on workshops, group work, and site visits, all designed to deepen understanding and stimulate cross-sector dialogue on the circular economy. Topics will include:

• Industrial waste valorisation
• Biogas technologies and leachate treatment
• Business models and legal frameworks for circularity
• Spatial and aesthetic considerations, including the integration of Bauhaus design principles
• User acceptance and socio-economic implications of circular practices

Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with experts in the field and explore pilot-scale facilities at :metabolon, including those for fermentation, hydrothermal carbonisation, and gasification.

Structure and Teaching Methods

The programme is delivered entirely on site and includes:

• Expert lectures and team-teaching by interdisciplinary faculty
• Supervised group work and project development
• Technical site inspections and guided exploration of :metabolon
• Final group presentations and feedback sessions

This immersive structure is designed to foster collaboration, critical thinking, and practical application of concepts.

Registration is open until 15 July 2025.

Contact:

ESEIA Team: office@eseia.eu

Michael Bongards, Faculty for Computer Science and Engineering Science, TH Koeln, DE | :metabolon institute | Email: michael.bongards@th-koeln.de

The ESEIA International Summer School 2025 promises to be a dynamic and enriching experience, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to lead the transition toward more circular and sustainable industrial practices.

We warmly invite you to join this collaborative effort to rethink and redesign how industry interacts with materials, waste, and value.

To learn more about ESEIA ISS 25 download the brochure: https://eseia.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/INVITATION--ESEIA-ISS25-final.pdf