ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´

Science meets the business sector at the Hannover Messe: from 20 to 24 April 2026, exhibitors from Lower Saxony universities and research institutes will present their projects and exhibits at the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture’s joint booth in Hall 11 (stand B56). ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ (ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´) will also be in attendance with two projects and will showcase solutions to societal challenges: The scientists from the Institute of Plastics and Circular Economy (IKK) will present their research on recycling plastic-based automotive components (REMOTIVE project). And the team from the PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence will highlight developments involving integrated photonics for health, safety and industry.

REMOTIVE: Recycling concepts for plastic-based automotive components

Handles, car trunk covers and centre consoles – many car parts are made of plastic. It is significantly lighter than metal, which reduces vehicles’ energy consumption. But recycling these plastics is difficult because the various automotive parts are made up of components with different compositions. At the 2026 Hannover Messe, the IKK is presenting effective and sustainable recycling concepts. 

There are three overarching processes for recycling plastic: chemical, solvent-based and mechanical. The REMOTIVE project presented at the Messe is comparing these three recycling options for automotive components for the first time. The aim is to review their efficiency, effectiveness, environmental impact and cost. At IKK, the focus is on mechanical recycling methods, which are based primarily on pre-treatment (dismantling, sorting, cleaning, etc.), multi-step cleaning in what is termed a recycling extruder, and subsequent processing of the resulting granules for injection applications.

The REMOTIVE project: 

PhoenixD: Integrated photonics for health, security and industry

In the PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence (Photonics, Optics, and Engineering – Innovation Across Dimensions), more than 150 scientists from the areas of physics, mechanical engineering, chemistry, electrical engineering, computer science and mathematics are conducting research in the field of optics and photonics, a key technology of the twenty-first century. In several projects, the research findings have been developed into physical exhibits. Together with the Laser Zentrum Hannover e. V. (LZH), PhoenixD is using demonstrators to present two successful developments at the Hannover Messe:

SmartSens is an optical test system that transforms every smartphone into a device for medical analysis. It is suitable for low-threshold, mobile diagnostics and modern healthcare. The second exhibit is a quantum key distribution system. This ready-to-use quantum-optical system paves the way for eavesdrop-proof communication and strengthens digital sovereignty. 

The PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence: 

ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ is also part of the Energy Research Centre of Lower Saxony (efzn), which brings together energy-research expertise and will present its transfer strategies at the joint Lower Saxony stand. 

Note to editors:

For further information, please contact Mechtild Freiin v. Münchhausen, head of Communications and Marketing and spokesperson for ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ (tel. +49 511 762-5342, email: kommunikation@uni-hannover.de).