Paderborn University (UBP), located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is a modern research and educational institution known for its commitment to freedom, democracy, and social values. The university fosters interdisciplinary cooperation, regional and international collaborations, and a culture of open communication.

In Dig4Circular UPB takes part with three chairs:

1. Data Management in Mechanical Engineering
2. Material Science
3. Product Creation

bringing know-how in the field of novel modelling systems, material design and development as well as knowledge extraction.

UPB is the project coordinator and leads the development of the node for circular component design in WP5. The Chair of Product Creation of UPB will lead WP4, focused on knowledge extraction from technical documents and expert knowledge. The Chair of Materials Science will participate in developing the circular material design node in WP2. UPB is responsible for compliance with ethical guidelines (WP9) in the use of human resources or information. For this purpose, the University has an Ethics Committee specifically appointed for research and its correct execution.

EDAG is one of the leading independent engineering companys of the world. Drawing on more than 50 years of engineering experience, EDAG’s proprietary 360-degree development approach has become a hallmark of quality in the holistic development of vehicles and smart factories.

Expanding this expertise in the course of automation in product development, securing expert knowledge and enhancing life cycle assessment are the focus areas of EDAG within the Digi4Circular project.

Leichtmetallkompetenzzentrum Ranshofen (LKR) is part of the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) with focus on the overall approach of implementing lightweight constructions from material development over optimised process technologies to new structural component design.

LKR contributes to Digi4Circular by alloy development and their respective casting, aiming to design alloys that enable enhanced recycling rates while remaining industrially producible.

Our research group, part of the Department of Industrial Engineering (DIEF) at the University of Florence, integrates mechanical and management engineering to develop sustainable technological and management solutions. We focus on mechanical design, modeling and simulation, experimental research, and innovative industrial technologies across various sectors, including road and railway vehicles, robotics, aerospace, and energy.

We specialize in sustainability and circularity, design for reliability and safety, and materials science. Our goal is to enhance industrial competitiveness and socio-economic growth. Our expertise includes sustainable design, environmental impact modeling, and developing tools for innovative, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solutions. We also support the use of AI in LCA-based design processes and apply digital twin approaches to reduce carbon footprints.

As part of the Digi4Circular project, the University of Florence (UNIFI) plays several key roles. UNIFI leads WP3, focusing on circular product life cycle and environmental impact scenarios. They also lead T3.1, which involves developing life cycle scenarios, and T3.3, where they create environmental impact analysis models.

In addition to these roles, UNIFI contributes to other areas such as WP1, which involves developing the information space and data acquisition, and WP5, which focuses on designing circular components. They are also involved in WP6, integrating and validating within the Synera platform, WP7, handling communication, dissemination, and exploitation, and WP8, managing coordination and innovation.

Data CoLAB, recognized as a collaborative laboratory, is a Portuguese non-profit private association, aiming to bring emerging knowledge and technologies closer to the market needs through the development and implementation of data-oriented solutions. Data CoLAB operates across the entire data value chain, actively contributing to the digital transformation of companies and the public sector in different sectors

1. Health and Pharma;
2. Industry and Maintenance;
3. Agriculture, Forestry and Biodiversity;
4. Energy, Oceans and Communities.

Our mission is to develop an intersectoral ecosystem with multidisciplinary stakeholders that will use data to reshape the way we produce, consume and live.

As partner, Data CoLAB is leader of the Work Package (WP) 1 and responsible for the tasks of data acquisition in the same WP. Additionally, in WP3 and WP6, it is responsible for the development and validation of a Digital Product Passport, which is expected to include information on the product life cycle.

Services: Data acquisition; Data analytics and intelligence; Data visualization; Data traceability; Digital Product Passport; Digital Twin; Decision support systems; Standardization and interoperability; Cybersecurity threat analysis; Capacitation and training.

SusDAT specializes in developing decision support systems using AI methods and data processing. We create intelligent cloud-based systems that help companies and public organizations monitor, report, and respond to data.

SusDAT is developing a decision support system that utilizes AI methods to process collected data and integrate it into the Information Space and Digital Product Passport.

EIT Manufacturing is a public-private partnership, co-funded by the European Union and established in 2019. EIT Manufacturing is one of the nine Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC) supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). One of the EIT Manufacturing mission is to connect manufacturing players by promoting talent and entrepreneurship to accelerate sustainable innovation in Europe. It brings together a growing network of top-tier industrial partners, leading academic and research institutions from across the region and innovative startups, scaleups and SMEs.

In the Digi4Circular project, EIT Manufacturing South leads the exploitation and training activities, encompassing areas from market analysis and skills enhancement of the workforces towards digitalization of manufacturing industries.”

As one of the most longstanding institutions within the Fraunhofer Association, the Laboratory for Structural Durability (LBF) was established in 1938 and became a part of the Fraunhofer Association in 1962. With a team of over 350 employees, including experts and specialists from diverse disciplines, Fraunhofer LBF actively contributes to various research divisions, including Structural Durability, Smart Structures (since 2001), Plastics (since 2012), and System Reliability. Recognizing that harsh environments can significantly affect the longevity of materials, environmental simulations are also integral to our daily operations.

As a project participant and a leading research organisation, with wide expertise in fatigue and corrosion fatigue Fraunhofer LBF contributes their expertise in cyclic testing and cyclic material characterisation for the development of an accelerated fatigue characterisation method to evaluate aluminium materials used for the material design node.

CELSA is the matrix company of Celsa Group, the largest Spanish-owned steel company and the second largest European long products manufacturer, being the most diversified and vertically integrated.

CELSA and FERI will provide data, scrap samples and enduser feedback regarding EoL scenarios and recycling.

FERI is a leading recovery company dedicated to the recovery and treatment of ferrous and non-ferrous materials.

AMI is a consulting company renowned for its European expertise in applying open innovation concepts to help innovative solutions reach the market. By leveraging novel business models, AMI ensures that groundbreaking ideas are not only developed but also successfully implemented.

In the Digi4Circular project, AMI will spearhead dissemination and communication activities, ensuring that project outcomes are effectively shared with stakeholders and the broader community. Additionally, AMI will support the coordinator and WP leaders in their roles as Project Manager, providing strategic guidance and ensuring smooth project execution.

With a commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration, AMI plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between research and market implementation, driving forward sustainable and impactful solutions.