The official presentation of the grant award notification for the KERAM-WERT research project took place at the European Center for Dispersion Technologies (EZD) in Selb. The grant certificate was presented on October 16, 2026, by State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt, a member of the State Parliament (MdL). Also present was Rainer Ludwig, Member of the State Parliament (MdL), whose initiative played a key role in supporting and guiding the project’s implementation.

State Representative Rainer Ludwig, Dr. Benjamin Baudrit, SKZ Executive Director, Dr. Felipe Wolff-Fabris, EZD Site Manager, and State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt, State Representative, (from left) at the presentation of the grant certificate at the EZD in Selb. (Photo: SKZ)

State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt Visits the EZD in Selb

In addition to political representatives, numerous project partners from the fields of ceramics, waste management, raw materials trading, mechanical engineering, and additive manufacturing attended the event. The high turnout underscores the project’s importance for the region and the significant interest among participating companies in the sustainable use of ceramic resources.

“Bavaria is the Land of the Future for Ceramics. The KERAM-WERT project impressively demonstrates how genuine pioneering work in the field of ceramic recycling is being achieved through the collaboration of politics, science, and industry. The EZD in Selb is once again proving its role as a driver of innovation for the entire region. By developing a regional recycling strategy for technical ceramics, we are making our companies less dependent on global supply chains and demonstrating how modern additive manufacturing and sustainable business practices go hand in hand. The Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs wholeheartedly supports this strong network,” said State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt, Member of the Bavarian State Parliament.

Regional Materials Strategy in the Fichtelgebirge
The KERAM-WERT project is funded through the parliamentary caucus initiative by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy. As part of the project, a regional materials strategy for technical ceramics and porcelain is being developed in the Fichtelgebirge. The goal is to systematically record production waste and end-of-life products, evaluate them from a materials perspective, and make them usable for high-value applications—particularly in additive manufacturing.

“The strong commitment of the participating companies and the excellent cooperation among the partners confirm the relevance of the project and reinforce our resolve,” emphasized Dr. Felipe Wolff-Fabris, EZD Site Manager.

The project runs from July 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027. Right at the start of the project, ceramic material flows in the region were systematically mapped through a survey. In addition, a kickoff event with about 20 participants was held at the EZD, where the groundwork for further collaboration was laid.

New Approaches to the Circular Economy
The results so far show that companies in the ceramics industry are already operating in a resource-efficient and sustainable manner. Many companies have established internal recycling and reprocessing processes and have developed existing recovery pathways for byproducts. Nevertheless, the systematic survey of material flows has revealed that all companies that generate waste materials have an interest in reducing them and diverting them to further use wherever possible.

In the Fichtelgebirge region alone, more than 1,000 metric tons of ceramic waste from porcelain and ceramics must be disposed of annually. These large quantities were identified through the survey based on the sampling and highlight the existing potential for new approaches to the circular economy.

As part of the KERAM-WERT project, the EZD is investigating how these waste materials can be transformed into high-quality secondary raw materials and innovative products through energy-efficient processing methods. The goal is not to dispose of suitable ceramic waste materials or merely recycle them into low-value products, but rather to reintegrate them into new industrial value chains.

The project thus creates a data-driven foundation for a more circular economy, reduced resource consumption, and additional regional value creation. Based on the findings, concrete areas of action and recommendations will be derived for companies and other stakeholders in the ceramic value chain.

Numerous Ceramic Raw Materials Already Identified
Numerous relevant ceramic waste materials have already been identified. The first material samples have already been received by the EZD, where they are being comprehensively characterized and analyzed. The results are intended to help open up new recycling opportunities and sustainably strengthen the circular flow of ceramic materials in the region.

State Representative Rainer Ludwig once again emphasized his delight that, following his motion, nearly €75,000 from the parliamentary caucus initiatives could be made available for the KERAM-Wert project. “This is a valuable contribution to strengthening innovation and the circular economy and ensuring regional value creation; it also opens up new economic opportunities and future prospects for the ceramics and porcelain industry” .

He described the EZD as a significant driver of innovation with far-reaching influence. It facilitates the transfer of technology into operational practice and is thus an indispensable interface between specialized research, academia, and partners from small and medium-sized businesses and industrial enterprises.

Further information on the EZD