Joint press release by TUD Dresden University of Technology, DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE association and 'Forschungsstiftung der Papierindustrie'

Promoting innovative and sustainable solutions for the packaging industry

(Dresden, January 13, 2025) TU Dresden (TUD) and the DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE association with its research foundation are taking a major step towards developing sustainable packaging solutions. Following today's signing of the agreement for the Endowed Chair of Circular Fiber-Based Packaging Systems, TU Dresden is set to become a center for innovative research, development and teaching in the field of circular economy packaging. The paper industry will provide a total of EUR 250,000 per year for five years from the date the Chair is filled.

Aim of the Endowed Chair
The establishment of the Chair will continue to enhance TUD's expertise in the field of material cycles for packaging. The Endowed Chair will be part of the Institute of Natural Materials Technology at the Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering. This will allow the best possible use of existing expertise. The aim of the Endowed Chair is to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the packaging industry. The research and teaching will focus on materials, processes and technologies that enable reliable, efficient and resource-saving packaging as part of a circular economy. Special consideration is placed on understanding the complex interactions between the product to be protected, the packaging, processes and machine systems throughout the life-cycle between production and recycling. This forms the basis for system solutions that intelligently, safely and efficiently utilize a growing range of alternative packaging materials for a circular packaging economy.

Hans-Christoph Gallenkamp, President of the DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE association and patron of the Endowed Chair, pointed out in his speech:
“The challenges of our time are as complex as they are urgent: The growing demand for sustainable solutions in the packaging sector requires new approaches that are both practical and pioneering in terms of environmental protection. Today's announcement is therefore much more than a milestone – it is a promise to take an active role in shaping the future.”

Dr. Thorsten Voß, Chairman of the paper industry's research foundation DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE association emphasized on the occasion of the signing of the contract:
“Together with the University of Excellence TU Dresden, in particular the Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering, we are creating a center for fiber-based recycling that is unique in Germany. In particular, we will make use of the existing industry network of the PTS - Institut für Fasern & Papier to provide our partners with solutions as quickly as possible.”

Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger, Rector of TUD Dresden University of Technology, emphasizes the importance of the new Chair for Dresden's standing as a research location:
“With the establishment of this Endowed Chair, we at TUD and in Dresden are working with the paper industry to send a strong signal about the importance of science in overcoming the challenges of the climate crisis. The Endowed Chair is a milestone on the road to a circular and sustainable economy.”

In addition to the Chair, there are plans to establish a joint Competence Center at TU Dresden, which will be implemented in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV) and PTS – Institut für Fasern & Papier gGmbH. This one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary structure will serve as a centralized hub for research, transfer and education in sustainable packaging systems. As such, it will strengthen Dresden's visibility as a location for innovative packaging solutions.

Contact
TUD Dresden University of Technology
Press Office
Tel.: +49 351 463 32398
Email:

DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE association
Marilena Hantke
Head of Public Relations
Tel: +49 171 3505182
Email:

Forschungsstiftung der Papierindustrie
Public Relations
Tel.: +49 3529 551-729
Email:

TU Dresden
TUD Dresden University of Technology, as a University of Excellence, is one of the leading and most dynamic research institutions in Germany. With around 8,300 members of staff and 29,000 students in 17 Faculties, it is one of Europe’s largest technically-oriented universities. Founded in 1828, today it is a globally oriented, regionally anchored top university, developing innovative solutions for the world's most pressing issues. In research and education, the university unites the natural and engineering sciences with the humanities, social sciences and medicine. This wide range of disciplines is an outstanding feature that facilitates interdisciplinarity and transfer of science to society.

DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE association
From newspapers and toilet paper to fiber-based packaging solutions for sustainable and future-oriented innovations, paper plays a vital role in our daily lives. The DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE association represents 90 paper and pulp companies at 142 locations in Germany, which produced 18.6 million tons of paper, cardboard and paperboard in 2023 and generated a turnover of EUR 15.5 billion. The German paper industry is ranked no. 1 in Europe and no. 4 worldwide and provides jobs for around 46,000 people.

Forschungsstiftung der Papierindustrie
The Forschungsstiftung der Papierindustrie is the central research association of the paper industry. In this capacity, it promotes research and development as well as continuing education and training in areas relevant to the paper industry. The foundation is the sole shareholder of PTS – Institut für Fasern & Papier gGmbH in Heidenau, which, as a transfer-oriented research center, supports transformation in the paper industry.