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The European research project RecAL (Recycling technologies for circular ALuminium), led by the LKR Leichtmetallkompetenzzentrum Ranshofen of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, was awarded the ÖGUT Environmental Award 2025 in the category “Research & Innovation for the Circular Economy” at a gala ceremony on November 18, 2025.
With this award, the Austrian Society for Environment and Technology (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Umwelt und Technik, ÖGUT) recognizes a project that is making a key contribution to the sustainable transformation of the European aluminium industry with groundbreaking technological approaches and digital networking.
A milestone for sustainable metal processing
RecAL represents a paradigm shift in industrial aluminium production: instead of relying on primary materials, the project is developing new ways to recycle aluminium efficiently and network it across Europe via a digital platform.
The project, funded under HORIZON EUROPE, brings together 19 partner organizations from nine European countries – from research institutions and technology providers to industrial users. The aim is to connect stakeholders across Europe in order to significantly increase the proportion of secondary aluminium, conserve resources, and sustainably improve the industry's carbon footprint.
“With RecAL, we want to show that high-tech and the circular economy are not a contradiction”, emphasizes Gerald Prantl, project manager at the LKR Leichtmetallkompetenzzentrum Ranshofen. “Through new recycling-tolerant alloys, digitally controlled sorting processes, and a Europe-wide aluminium recycling system, we are creating the basis for an industrial future that combines ecology and competitiveness and also contributes to Europe's resilience with regard to this valuable raw material. The award from ÖGUT is a great recognition of the commitment of our entire team and our partners throughout Europe.”
Circular economy as the key to decarbonization
The project addresses one of the biggest challenges facing the aluminium industry: the separation and recycling of complex alloys. RecAL develops solutions that enable a higher tolerance for recycled material in alloy design while preserving material properties. This approach is complemented by the establishment of a digital “RecAL Hub,” a platform that intelligently links recycled material streams, innovative recycling technologies, and producers and consumers – a crucial step in developing the linear material flow into a closed loop.
“RecAL impressively demonstrates how research, digitalization, and industrial practice intertwine to strengthen Europe's competitiveness while reducing the burden on the environment”, explains Alexander Svejkovsky, Managing Director of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. “This award is not only a success for the LKR team, but also a strong signal for Austria as a location for innovation and for Europe's path to a sustainable circular economy.”
European cooperation for a circular future
Under the leadership of the LKR Leichtmetallkompetenzzentrum Ranshofen, a wholly owned subsidiary of AIT, 14 technological solutions are being developed and tested up to technology readiness level 6 (TRL6) as part of RecAL. In addition to materials research, the focus is on robotics, sensor technology, and digital twins in order to manage aluminium flows transparently and efficiently throughout their entire life cycle.
Close cooperation between partners from research and industry – including Cancom Austria, Gebauer & Griller, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, ALUMIL, SWERIM, Benteler Automobiltechnik, Stena Aluminium, and KU Leuven – is creating a Europe-wide innovation ecosystem that connects energy, resource, and data cycles.
A sign for the future
By winning the ÖGUT Environmental Award 2025, RecAL is sending a strong signal about how technological innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. The award underscores the central role of Austrian research in implementing the European Green Deal and the transformation to a climate-neutral industry.
Further award for AIT: Sustainable urban development in Lienz honored
In addition to the success of RecAL, the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology received another significant award at this year's ÖGUT awards ceremony. Together with the city of Lienz, AIT received the environmental award in the “Sustainable Municipality” category. The award recognized the joint commitment to holistic, scientifically sound, and future-oriented urban development, which is consistently geared towards climate neutrality in Lienz by 2040.
The award-winning project focuses on an integrated inner city development concept, a current energy and GHG balance, and the creation of a comprehensive climate neutrality roadmap. This is based on a cross-sector approach and a participatory co-creation process with local stakeholders. Lienz is thus considered an Austrian pioneer in data-driven, sustainable urban development that combines ecological responsibility with social and economic resilience.
The double award – both for RecAL and for the collaboration with Lienz – demonstrates the broad scope of AIT's expertise: it ranges from technological innovations for industrial cycles to scientific support for municipal transformation processes on the path to a climate-neutral Europe.
About the ÖGUT Environmental Award
The ÖGUT Environmental Award has been presented annually since 1988 by the Austrian Society for Environment and Technology (ÖGUT) and is one of Austria's most prestigious sustainability awards.
It honors outstanding projects, organizations, and individuals who contribute to a climate-neutral, fair, and sustainable society through their innovative spirit and commitment.
In 2025, a total of 27 projects were nominated from 252 submissions in six main categories – ranging from research and business to municipalities and civil society initiatives. The prize money of €40,000 is donated by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK), the FFG, the Austrian Association of Cities and Towns, as well as partner companies and foundations.
About ÖGUT
About the RecAL project
RecAL (Recycling technologies for circular ALuminium) is funded under the European Union's HORIZON EUROPE research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101138747. The project will run from 2024 to 2028 and aims to transform Europe's aluminium industry towards a circular economy through innovative recycling technologies, digital networking, and new alloying strategies.
Consortium leader: LKR Leichtmetallkompetenzzentrum Ranshofen / AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
Consortium: 19 institutions from nine European countries