Expertise from local research partners Institute of Materials Resource Management (MRM)
University of Augsburg Interdisciplinary research and development in the field of strategic and renewable materials, products and processes
The tricky thing about resource efficiency is that there are so many angles from which to approach it: Is a product resource-efficient if its raw materials can be extracted or processed in a way that is particularly gentle on resources? Or is it more resource-efficient if, for example, the product consumes few resources during its use phase due to specific material properties? Or is a product most resource-efficient if it is as easily recyclable as possible? It is not easy for companies to weigh up all these questions, choose the right material and technology, and accurately assess the long-term business costs and risks resulting from that decision.
As no single research discipline can answer these complex questions on its own, the Institute of Materials Resource Management (MRM) at the University of Augsburg has brought together materials scientists, economists and resource strategists in a unique collaboration. Together, they are working to predict the potential of new products and technologies for resource efficiency at the earliest possible stage. The aim is to develop and implement, in an environmentally efficient manner, strategic, renewable functional materials, processes, products and technologies. Using the insights gained, the experts at the MRM can support companies in the manufacturing sector in developing functional materials and introducing innovative technologies, whilst taking into account resource strategy concepts and business management frameworks.