Advancing the circular economy through the targeted integration of suitable technologies

We are pleased to announce that Peter Gruber fromAEE INTEC will deliver a virtual presentation on our joint project CircularityOptimizer at the International Conference on Digital Technologies in Logistics and Circular Economy (ICDTLCE–26) on March 10, 2026 in Beijing, China.

Under the title “Smart Digital Integration and Multi-Criteria Impact Assessment for Circular Economy Scenarios in Urban Development”, he will provide insights into how digital tools can support cities and regions in planning and evaluating circular development strategies based on robust data and evidence.

What is the CircularityOptimizer about?

Implementing a circular economy requires the coordinated interaction of multiple technologies, infrastructures, and stakeholders. This is precisely where the CircularityOptimizer comes in: The project combines digital scenario development, structured technology integration, and comprehensive impact assessment.

The impact assessment is carried out using our ESG-Cockpit, which has been further developed within this project to include additional interfaces and to handle joint setups from circular economy applications.

Core components of the CircularityOptimizer

The CircularityOptimizer makes the ecological, technical, economic, and social impacts of potential technology combinations for circular systems visible by integrating

• 3D-based planning and visualization tools for participatory scenario development (URBAN MENUS),
• a structured technology catalog with standardized data sheets,
• and ESG-oriented multi-criteria evaluation using our ESG-Cockpit.

A key feature of the system is that the KPIs used for impact assessment are partly based on international reporting standards and partly tailored to the specific application. This ensures flexibility, interoperability, and practical applicability.

Practical Case Study from Gleisdorf: Identifying Circular Potential around a Wastewater Treatment Plant

As part of the project, a case study was conducted around a wastewater treatment plant in Gleisdorf, Austria. Various scenarios – ranging from photovoltaics and heat pumps to biogas CHP, membrane distillation, and phosphorus recovery – were modeled and comparatively assessed. This approach enabled the identification of circular potential and the transparent visualization of trade-offs between different objectives.

International Visibility for Austrian Innovation

The virtual presentation offers an excellent opportunity to showcase the approaches developed within the FFG-funded project to an international expert audience and to further strengthen scientific exchange in the fields of circular economy and digital decision-support systems.

We are delighted about the international recognition of the CircularityOptimizer and look forward to the discussions following the presentation.

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