SKZ has named bbw and f-bb “Premium Education Partners” for 2025
The SKZ Plastics Center has named the Bavarian Business Education Association (bbw gGmbH) and th Research Institute for Corporate Training (f-bb) as “Premium Education Partners” for 2025. Since 2022, these partners have been actively involved in numerous regional, national, and international initiatives aimed at securing a skilled workforce, building competencies, and actively shaping sustainable value creation.
Presentation of the Premium Partner Award in Würzburg. (Photo: Luca Hoffmannbeck, SKZ)
Partnership Strengthens Training in Battery and Plastics Technology
May 2023 marked the official launch of the B³ Battery Education Network Bavaria (B3). As the so-called “Battery Competence Trio,” B3 makes a substantial contribution to the training of industry, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and their employees throughout Bavaria. The goal is to actively support the transformation of the battery industry with tailored educational programs.
In the B³ project, selected educational institutions with complementary strengths are collaborating to implement innovative training concepts in a practical manner. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), co-financed by bayme vbm and vbw, and coordinated by Bayern Innovativ.
KARE: Collaboration with a Long-Term Vision
Close cooperation for project initiation began as early as spring 2022, culminating in the official launch of KARE in October 2023. The project, carried out jointly with ten partners from the plastics industry and four additional research partners, underscores how sustainable training can be achieved through long-term partnerships. The KARE project focuses on the transformation toward a holistic circular economy for plastics.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) as part of the “Future of Value Creation – Research on Production, Services, and Work” program and is managed by the Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA).
International Perspectives: RECAP and Test4Circle
In the summer of 2025, the next initiative emerged: The RECAP project is currently building targeted expertise to improve plastics recycling in Senegal and Tunisia. The goal is to empower local stakeholders through training and knowledge transfer to sustainably strengthen the circular economy. The project, implemented by the bbw, is funded by the Bavarian State Chancellery; the SKZ supports the initiative with its technical expertise in plastics recycling.
Building on this, a follow-up project was proposed: Test4Circle. The core of the initiative is the establishment of a testing laboratory for recycled materials to improve the quality, comparability, and market access of recycled plastics.
WBMplusK: Continuing Education to Combat the Skilled Labor Shortage
Launched in December 2025, the WBMplusK project addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing the plastics industry: the shortage of skilled workers. Around 88% of companies in the plastics industry report a shortage of skilled workers. Causes include the negative image of plastics as a material, demographic change, and the general shortage in STEM fields. SMEs in particular are feeling the impact of this trend.
The demand for career changers, international skilled workers, and low-skilled employees is rising. This is exactly where WBMplusK comes in: continuing education mentors (WBMs) are intended to break down barriers, provide guidance, and offer administrative support for continuing education issues.
Over the course of the project, SKZ employees will be trained as WBMs, mentoring processes will be tested, and a sustainable training program for the future training of continuing education mentors will be established.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth (BMBFSFJ) as part of the National Continuing Education Strategy.
Clear Roles, Shared Vision
“Each individual project on its own would be a strong argument. Taken together, however, they provide compelling evidence of the collaboration, commitment, and high quality of this partnership,” says Matthias Ruff, Sales Manager for Education & Research.
Dr. Hermann Achenbach, Head of the “Sustainability and Circular Economy” Research and Education Division at SKZ, adds: “Whether it’s battery technology, the circular economy in the German plastics industry, recycling in Africa, or addressing the growing shortage of skilled workers—all our joint activities are dedicated to building the expertise needed to shape the future. We are pleased to have in the bbw and fbb an extremely reliable partner with high methodological and implementation expertise to make progress on these issues.”
“For us, the award also recognizes the close collaboration with our industry partners. In both projects, we work with companies on their specific challenges: KARE implements practical training for the circular economy of plastics, while WBMplusK integrates continuing education and mentoring directly into everyday business operations,” says Dr. Iris Pfeiffer, Managing Director of f-bb.
About the “Premium Partner” Award
Since 2020, the SKZ has awarded the “Premium Partner” distinction to companies that, in cooperation with the institute, particularly promote the further development of the plastics industry. Originally, the focus was on the field of education; since 2024, partners from the field of research have also been honored.
