New ZHAW institute adopts circular economy focus

The new Institute of Product Development and Production Technologies (IPP) at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) is being positioned as a center of excellence for the circular economy, digitalization and additive manufacturing. According to a press release, the University Council approved the founding of the IPP in December out of the previous Center for Product and Process Development (ZPP) of the School of Engineering.

According to information from ZHAW, the IPP team shares its expertise as part of study courses in areas such as mechanical engineering, industrial engineering and transport systems, as well as in master’s programs and various other further education offers. In addition, the institute played a part in setting up a new master’s degree in Circular Economy Management at ZHAW, which is set to be offered to students for the first time in fall 2023.

With its strategic focus on the circular economy, digitization and additive manufacturing, the institute is seeking to contribute to the transition from a linear to a circular society and economy. With regard to thematic areas, the university explains in the press release that product concepts must in future be designed in such a way that a closed material cycle is possible in order to generate commercial success on the market. The institute, which has been the leading house of the Innovation Booster Applied Circular Sustainability platform funded by Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency, since 2020, contributes its expertise to these interdisciplinary issues.

Additional focal points include the concept of digitalization as a whole and additive manufacturing expertise. Here, the focus is on metal printing in addition to research projects on printing ceramics, sustainable materials and multi-material printing. gba