The study DigiTech4CE1 analysed key digital technologies for the circular economy in the context of discrete industrial production. The investigation was organised around the questions: Who are the stakeholders involved in the circular economy? What is the added value for producers and what are the competitive disadvantages of circular production? What regulatory framework is needed? What role does digitalisation play in this transformation and what are the key technologies? Digitalisation is an important tool for the circular economy because, ideally, not only the material flows but also the information flows are managed in a cycle.
Digital technologies enable data exchange, promote transparency and collaboration between different stakeholders and support the development of new business models as well as product and process innovations, among other things. Digital applications are needed for tasks such as monitoring and location tracking services, tracking usage cycles and performance data, predictive maintenance, failure prediction and optimised spare parts management. The study presents a technology catalogue that describes and classifies 15 key digital technologies by means of technology profiles. These include Industrial IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Distributed Ledger Technology and Cyber Security. The various technologies are assigned to different information categories, stakeholders and circular strategies. Adapted to the needs of Austrian industry, the study identifies fields of activity and derives recommendations for action to promote circular production in Austria
www.nachhaltigwirtschaften.at/en/projects/circular-economy/digitech4ce.php
1 Project partners: BRIMATECH Services GmbH (ptoject management), Linz Center of Mechatronics GmbH
The study was carried out as an R&D service as part of the RTI initiative Circular Economy and Production Technologies.