Future Cleantech Festival

From 16 to 18 June 2026, the think tank Future Cleantech Architects will host the fourth edition of the Future Cleantech Festival in collaboration with the UN. The focus will be on the challenges and opportunities of decarbonisation for the European industry. The international festival blends rigorous research with direct, on-site experiences in heavy industry, machine rooms, forging ovens and utilities.

People from various countries are taking part in the festival. On 16 June from 7 pm Dr. Peter Schniering, CEO and founder of the Future Cleantech Architects, and Remscheid's mayor Sven Wolf welcome the participants with live music and dinner. On the second day, participants can test ideas against reality through immersive tours, live demonstrations and tech- and policy-driven discussions. For example, the "Ask me Anything" session explores "Steel Industry Transformation from a Holistic Perspective": from scrap availability and circularity, to global hydrogen supply dynamics, direct electrification pathways, and the key factors shaping where new low-carbon or hydrogen-based production will emerge. PD Dr. Peter Viebahn, Co-Head of the Sectors and Technologies Research Unit at the Wuppertal Institute, is the main speaker for this session, which takes place on 17 June at 4 pm. Other researchers from the Wuppertal Institute are also taking part in the discussion: Dr. Julia C. Terrapon-Pfaff, Co-Head of the International Energy Transitions Research Unit, Annika Shiri, Researcher in the Structural Change and Innovation Research Unit, Ole Zelt, Senior Researcher in the Sectors and Technologies Research Unit, and Dr. Larissa Doré, Researcher in the Systems and Infrastructures Research Unit. In addition, Dr. Lukas Hermwille, Co-Head of the Unit Transformative Industrial Policy Research Unit at the Wuppertal Institute, will take part in the roundtable discussion "The role of public procurement in creating lead markets for low-carbon construction products".

The "Solutions Hub" at the Sparkasse brings together start-ups, scale-ups and other institutions working in construction, steel, heating, and energy. The Wuppertal Institute will also have a Booth, among other things providing information on the project hyBit, in which researchers are investigating the local hydrogen transition in Bremen and how it can be replicated in other locations across Germany. On 17 June, the Solutions Hub will be open from 12 pm and on 18 June, from 2 pm.

The festival is free of charge and will be held in English. Members of the press can conduct interviews in the "Podcastbus" and book sessions with participants directly. Due to limited attendee slots in this year's more comprehensive Festival line-up, participation is limited to members of parliaments and their teams, civil servants from ministries, incumbent industry representatives from the sectors discussed, start- and scale-ups, as well as other public sector representatives. Participation in the Future Cleantech Festival is upon invitation only. If you are interested in participating, please send an Email to johanna.ruebcke@fcarchitects.org. Further information are available via the links below.