01 January 2026 – 31 December 2026
The project is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy
Cross-cluster project by the leading cluster MAI Carbon, Umweltcluster Bayern and Chemie-Cluster Bayern
ReFiberTech is a Bavaria-wide cross-cluster project aimed at advancing the circular economy of fiber-reinforced composites (FRC). The goal is to bundle, structure and disseminate
current knowledge on recycling, reuse, repair and biobased alternatives, and to translate
this knowledge into new innovation and cooperation projects in Bavaria.
Fiber-reinforced composites such as glass- and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRP/CFRP) are key lightweight materials in sectors including mobility, aerospace, construction, energy and medical technology. At the same time, their complex material structure and limited return volumes currently hinder economically viable circular solutions.
Althoughsignificant technological progress has been made in recent years, information is often not available in a transparent, practice-oriented format and relevant stakeholders areinsufficiently interconnected.
As a result, Bavarian companies face an information and competitive disadvantage—particularly with regard to recycling and recovery technologies, innovative R-strategies, and biobased fibers and matrix systems. To meet climate protection targets, improve resource efficiency and comply with EU circular economy requirements, there is a clear
need to develop new technologies and business models in Bavaria and to reduce dependencies on imports.
ReFiberTech brings together expertise from companies and research institutions along the entire FRC value chain. The project creates transparency on the state of the art, identifies bestpractices and highlights future perspectives for sustainable, circular composite solutions. At the same time, stakeholders are actively connected to initiate cooperation and concrete innovation and development projects.
Systematic research on recycling, reuse, repair and advanced recycling (chemical/enzymatic)
Consideration of biobased fibers and matrix systems
Supplementation through expert interviews and a short survey
Publication of concise fact sheets as a practical knowledge base
Networking of industry and research actors in Bavaria
Increased visibility of trends, technologies and needs
Integration of results into a publicly available short study
In two to three moderated workshops, participants jointly develop ideas and business cases and identify suitable cooperation partners. Possible focus areas include:
Reuse of composite products (e.g. aircraft components, wind turbine blades)
Green matrix systems & alternative materials (biobased, natural fiber or lignin-based)
Innovative recycling processes for closing material loops of fibers and matrix
For each workshop, a call for interest will be launched to bring together actors with concrete application interests. The aim is to develop viable project ideas that can be transferred into concrete technology, development or cooperation projects.
The project addresses members and network partners of all three clusters – particularly Bavarian companies and research institutions along the entire value chain, from fiber and matrixmaterials to recycling technologies and end users from sectors such as mobility, aerospace, construction, energy, sport/outdoor and medical technology.
Added value for participants:
Up-to-date overview of technologies and trends in circular composites
Practice-oriented insights through fact sheets, events and workshops
Access to new cooperation and project partnerships
Impulses for own innovation and development activities
Interest & participation
Would you like to actively contribute, share your expertise or participate in the development of new circular solutions for fiber-reinforced composites?
ReFiberTech addresses companies, research institutions and other stakeholders in Bavaria with an interest in recycling, recovery, biobased materials or new business models in the composites sector.
Chemie-Cluster Bayern: Emilija Kohls – kohls@chemiecluster-bayern.de
Leading Cluster MAI Carbon: Sven Blanck – sven.blanck@mai-carbon.de
Umweltcluster Bayern: Stefan Riegg – stefan.riegg@umweltcluster.net
Feel free to contact us and bring your perspectives, questions or project ideas into ReFiberTech.
