Knorr-Bremse, a German manufacturer of braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles, has announced plans to enter a new green technology business field, focusing initially on automated disassembly and the recovery of critical raw materials.
Speaking at the Handelsblatt Circular Economy 2026 Conference, the company launched the Knorr-Bremse Circular Technology Award, inviting start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises across Europe to submit solutions that use artificial intelligence and robotics to automate disassembly and enable more efficient materials recovery.
Four winners will each receive €25,000 in prize money. In addition, Knorr-Bremse will provide up to €150,000 in funding for a proof-of-concept project for companies that choose to pilot their solutions with the group.
Marc Llistosella, CEO of Knorr-Bremse AG, said: “Automated disassembly and recycling technologies are crucial for a robust economy. The recovery of raw materials has enormous growth potential and opens up new business areas for us.”
The initiative is being delivered in cooperation with the Heinz Hermann Thiele Family Foundation and UnternehmerTUM’s circular economy hub, CIRCULAR REPUBLIC. UnternehmerTUM works closely with the Technical University of Munich to support start-ups from early-stage ideas through to market readiness.
Dr Matthias Ballweg, co-founder of CIRCULAR REPUBLIC, described the award as “one of the most attractive start-up prizes aimed at promoting the circular economy over the long term”.
The jury includes representatives from industry, academia and policy, including Knorr-Bremse, the Heinz Hermann Thiele Family Foundation, Vakuumschmelze, EIT Raw Materials, RWTH Aachen University and former German Vice-Chancellor Philipp Rösler.
Applications close on 2 March 2026. The winners will be announced on 6 May 2026 at IFAT, the global trade fair for water, waste and raw materials management.
