{"id":32202,"date":"2026-04-29T02:12:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T00:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itq.de\/?p=32202"},"modified":"2026-04-29T11:27:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T09:27:56","slug":"our-vision-of-the-circular-society-at-interpack-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.itq.de\/en\/2026\/04\/29\/our-vision-of-the-circular-society-at-interpack-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Vision of the Circular Society at interpack 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
<\/div>

A sustainable Circular Economy requires both technological expertise and a skilled next generation. To demonstrate how these two elements can be systematically combined, ITQ GmbH<\/a> and the Gerda Stetter Stiftung \u201eTechnik macht Spa\u00df!\u201c<\/a> will present their approach at interpack in D\u00fcsseldorf<\/a> from May 07 to 13, 2026, at the VDMA Technology Lounge in Hall 4A, Booth C54.<\/strong> At the center of the presentation is the CirQmind Project<\/strong> \u2013 Circular Economy through Circular Society<\/strong> \u2013 which inspires young people to engage with sustainability through hands-on circular practices and future technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.<\/p>\n

Experiencing Circular Economy Firsthand: CirQmind Live<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

CirQmind<\/a> goes far beyond traditional recycling. The initiative combines four core pillars \u2013 Recycle, Rebuild, Reuse, and Reskill \u2013\u00a0into a holistic educational approach. At the exhibition booth, ITQ and the foundation bring this concept to life. Visitors can experience the entire cycle in real time, from waste sorting and shredding to the production of new items through injection molding. Collected plastic caps are transformed into customized giveaways such as carabiners and flashlights right in front of the audience.<\/p>\n

Visitors can also experience Artificial Intelligence in action by testing an AI Candy Machine.<\/strong> Using a Chatbot, they select a desired snack, while a trained image recognition system identifies and classifies the objects in real time. A robotic arm then precisely picks and delivers the selected item. Developed by an interdisciplinary student team, the demonstrator illustrates how AI competencies can be embedded in Education in a highly practical way. The underlying technologies range from custom-trained datasets and neural networks to automated sorting processes. These principles can be transferred directly to industrial applications, including intelligent quality control and sustainable recycling solutions in the Packaging Industry.<\/p>\n

Divers STEM Program at the Booth<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

In addition, ITQ GmbH offers a comprehensive program of workshops and interactive activities throughout the entire Trade Fair week. Visitors gain hands-on insights into automation, electronics, and sustainable production.<\/p>\n

Participants build and program autonomous robots in LEGO Mindstorms Workshops<\/a> while learning the fundamentals of sensors and programming. Within the EU-funded EduDemoS<\/a> project, they develop sustainable demonstrators for solar and wind energy using recycled materials with IoT connectivity. In Minecraft Education workshops, children and teenagers create digital cities of the future and apply programming concepts such as variables, conditions, and loops. Arduino and Microcontroller workshops further provide a practical introduction to electronics and embedded systems.<\/p>\n

The program is structured around thematic focus days, including a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Day<\/strong>. Additional highlights include a large-scale swap event in cooperation with the RecycleBar<\/a> initiative by Startupscheune<\/a> on Saturday, as well as the Young Talents Day<\/strong>, which invites schools and vocational institutions from the region to explore future technologies firsthand.<\/p>\n

Background: From PlastiX to CirQmind<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

The CirQmind Project<\/strong> builds on the success of the student initiative PlastiX<\/a> and expands it with a broader societal dimension: a functioning circular economy requires an engaged circular society. Through workshops, MAKEATHONS, and educational programs, pupils, students, and young engineers are encouraged to develop their own solutions for intelligent waste collection, material processing, and reuse.<\/p>\n

The EU-funded EduDemoS Project<\/a> integrates circular thinking directly into school education. Recycled plastic filaments are used in 3D printing to create learning objects and demonstrators, making sustainability both tangible and actionable.<\/p>\n

CirQmind\u2019s roadmap includes international presentations at leading Industry Trade Fairs. Following drinktec 2025, the project will be presented at interpack 2026 and subsequently at automatica 2027.<\/p>\n<\/div>