SCI4climate.NRW 2022-2028

In SCI4climate.NRW 2022-2028 a multi-disciplinary team of researchers works on industry transformation.The focus is on analyzing pathways for the climate-neutral restructuring of industry in Germany. What technologies are available to produce, for example, steel, basic chemicals, cement, glass, or paper without greenhouse gas emissions? What prerequisites and new infrastructure does the transition require? How much can a more circular economy contribute? And how can policymakers support the transition? North Rhine-Westphalia serves as a model region for addressing and refining research questions in an application-oriented manner. The project builds on its four-year predecessor, SCI4climate.NRW 2018-2022.

Industrial transformation is now at the center of the debate on climate protection and competitiveness at national, European, and international level. Companies and industries are developing climate neutrality strategies and beginning to invest in transformative technologies. The policy framework is being adapted for implementation, stakeholders are networking and collaborating, and planning of infrastructures is becoming increasingly integrated. At the same time, geopolitical and economic crises are increasing the complexity of the challenge. Against this backdrop, SCI4climate.NRW 2022-2028 contributes to the development and refinement of solutions for the sustainable transformation of industry.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MWIKE) has awarded research contracts to the Wuppertal Institute, the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT, the German Economic Institute (IW), VDZ Technology gGmbH, and VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH (BFI). These institutes are addressing current issues in industrial transformation across four thematic areas:

● Technologies and infrastructure,

● Circular economy,

● Pathways to industrial transformation,

● Policy implementation.

SCI4climate.NRW researchers collaborate closely with IN4climate.NRW and exchange ideas with industry, policy-makers, civil society actors and other scientists nationally and internationally.

The Wuppertal Institute coordinates this collaboration and is involved in all thematic areas and research priorities.