On 23 September 2026, Linnaeus Kompetenzzentrum Hanf participated in the INNOspace Annual Conference in Bonn. As a member of the INNOspace network, Linnaeus contributed a Circular Economy perspective to the exchange with stakeholders from the space sector.
In a short pitch entitled “Circular Space Economy: Circular Economy as a Future Factor for the Space Industry”, Martin Wittau presented key approaches for strengthening circularity within the sector.
The presentation focused on circular design, extending the lifetime of products and components, repair and reuse, and suitable end-of-life strategies. Material efficiency, sustainable value chains and new forms of cooperation along industrial supply chains were also addressed.
The space sector offers a particularly interesting field of application for Circular Economy approaches. High technical requirements for materials and components, long development cycles and complex supply chains meet a strong need for innovation. This creates an environment in which circular solutions can become relevant from an ecological, technological and economic perspective.
For Linnaeus, the potential for transfer between sectors is particularly important. Technologies, materials and processes developed for space applications can provide impulses for other industries. At the same time, experience from Circular Economy, bio-based materials and sustainable production can be transferred into the space sector.
Another focus of the pitch was the question of which competencies companies need for this transformation. Circular Economy affects product development, procurement, business models and internal decision-making processes. This creates direct links to the PIQUALI project, in which Linnaeus is involved as a project partner.
Participation in the INNOspace Annual Conference gave Linnaeus the opportunity to discuss these topics within the space network and to identify new points of connection for cooperation and technology transfer.