Interview with DiCES: "Actively shaping and advancing a sustainable economy"

Antoine Gaillard, project lead of DiCES

The economic potential of the German GreenTech industry was the focus of the GreenTech Atlas conference organised by the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUKN), the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and Prognos AG. At the end of June, the atrium of the BMUKN at Potsdamer Platz was not only an exciting place for technical impulses, panel discussions and lectures, among others by Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider and Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner, President of the Federal Environment Agency.

The focus of the afternoon was on the needs of the industry and the potential of GreenTech made in Germany. In keeping with the title of the event, keynotes and idea pitches were also presented – and a new publication was presented to the public for the first time.

"GreenTech Made in Germany" – DiCES will be there
Represented in the regularly published trade show, the DiCES ("Digital Transformation of Circular Economy for Industrial Sustainability") project is also one of the 21 funded research projects from the GreenTech Innovation Competition that has been running since 2023. The project is led by FIR e. V. at RWTH Aachen University as a consortium leader, with many other partners from mechanical and plant engineering and well-known industrial companies such as Miele. Shortly before the publication of the GreenTech Atlas 2025, Antoine Gaillard, Head of the Production Planning Group at the Production Management Research Department of FIR e. V. at RWTH Aachen University, spoke about the attractiveness of the Atlas for participants in research projects and for the industry as a whole.

Mr. Gaillard, what does the presence in the current GreenTech Atlas mean for the DiCES project, and what opportunities does it offer for your project in terms of further development or visibility?

By integrating DiCES into the GreenTech Atlas report, the positioning of the circular economy in Germany is strengthened and its presence in the economy based on sustainable value creation is made possible. In addition, we have the opportunity to network with other innovative projects and experts from the green tech sector and to exchange both knowledge and valuable experience. This exchange of challenges and insights with other projects directly helps us to identify efficiency potentials and implement practical solutions.

In doing so, we also want to arouse the interest of other industries for the implementation and show that the implementation of multidimensional circular economy strategies can work. This not only promotes the further development of DiCES but also supports the common goal of actively shaping and advancing a sustainable economy.

Circular economy is one of the leading markets that is examined more closely in the GreenTech Atlas – how important is the "stage" of such a publication for the entire GreenTech industry?

The implementation of circular economy strategies needs more attention – not only to raise awareness among the population about more sustainable consumption and practices, but also to inform other manufacturing companies about implementation options. The political events of recent months show that sustainability issues and resource independence need to be promoted more strongly. The public perception of GreenTech is essential for the dissemination of innovative sustainability practices.

There has been constant talk of a decline in interest in environmental, climate and sustainability topics in recent years – is the current GreenTech Atlas just in time?

The development of ecological innovations is essential if the circular economy is to be increasingly implemented in various areas and regions. Through the GreenTech Atlas, the promotion of sustainability projects is growing, and their visibility is increasing, so that more companies are becoming aware of the practices that can now be implemented.

The importance can be seen directly from projects such as DiCES. The large company Miele & Cie. KG with its Laundry division (washing machines, editor's note) has already tackled the transformation of value-added systems, order processing, IT systems and production processes for a circular economy! In addition, GreenTech not only improves the reach of existing projects, but also promotes their further development, even in the face of various adversities.

Why is the GreenTech Innovation Competition technology programme so important for innovation and value creation in Germany – especially in economically challenging times?

One of the biggest challenges in the field of the circular economy is the implementation of ecological strategies. This includes both the necessary investments and the lack of experience and infrastructure. Expanding innovation competition is essential, as the circular economy must first be made feasible. It specifically promotes sustainable innovations and new approaches in research. This is crucial for the long-term transformation of the German economy.

Thank you and good luck with your project!