Long title: Circular value systems for human-centered, data-driven, and scalable resource loops

Assignment to our (IMW) research priorities:  

  • Data-driven maintenance and asset management for industrial components
  • Digital Product Passport (DPP) as an active decision and steering instrument
  • Decision models for circular end-of-life strategies (repair, refurbish, remanufacture, reuse, recycle)
  • Interoperability and data governance across industrial systems and company boundaries

Sponsor: FFG Ressourcenwende 2025 (transnational EUREKA cooperation project)

Duration: 01/06/2026 – 31/05/2029 (36 months)

Abstract:

CIRCLOOPS advances the Digital Product Passport (DPP) from a mere compliance record into an active decision-support instrument for end-of-life strategies for durable industrial components. The project pilots circular value-creation networks under real-world conditions, with a particular focus on large components used in rail technology and mechanical engineering. Its core is a data-driven decision model that combines condition, usage, cost, and environmental data. This enables companies to make well-founded choices between refurbishment, remanufacturing, reuse, and recycling. TU Wien develops the methodological foundation and contributes it to a transnational EUREKA consortium involving partners from four countries.

Results:

CIRCLOOPS delivers a validated methodology and reference architecture that turn the Digital Product Passport into a usable decision-support tool across the entire product life cycle:

  • A methodologically validated, DPP-based decision model for selecting end-of-life strategies (repair, refurbish, remanufacture, reuse, recycle) for large industrial components
  • An interoperable, minimal DPP data profile aligned with emerging EU/ISO standards (e.g. CIRPASS-2, GS1 EPCIS, AAS/OPC UA)
  • An open, standards-based reference architecture linking the DPP with industrial maintenance systems
  • Pilot validation in real industrial environments (rail technology, mechanical engineering) with measurable impact: -20 to -50% rejection rate, +30% forecasting accuracy for remaining service life, ≥95% data availability across the life cycle
  • Training and transfer formats to support practical adoption by SMEs and industry professionals

Partners:

Research institutions:

Company partner:

Contact:

Project management: Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Fazel Ansari

Project coordination IMW: Jan-Ove Wiesner, MSc

Telephone Number: +43 (676) 888 61 655
Email: jan-ove.wiesner@tuwien.ac.at