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MedTech Circular Solutions for a Resource-Efficient and Sustainable Future in NWE

  • Focus on process and product design as well as the reuse of raw materials in the MedTech sector
  • Strengthening innovation capacity in North-West Europe
  • Waste reduction and promotion of sustainable practices
  • Development of a strategy and action plan for a sustainable future in the MedTech sector
  • Demonstrating the potential of sustainable approaches through the development of a “toolbox”

 

Objectives

  • Development of a strategy for regional governments and an action plan for BSOs/RDAs to promote circular transitions in the MedTech sector, with implementation in at least 15 NWE regions
  • Development of a toolbox for SMEs to support the transition towards circular business models
  • Validation of the toolbox through 8 pilot projects in MedTech SMEs to ensure applicability and impact
  • Demonstration of the feasibility of circular practices through waste reduction of up to 50%
  • Capacity building: training programme for SMEs with at least 126 participating organisations

 

Project duration and funding

The project runs for 42 months, from January 2026 to June 2029. The total budget amounts to €4,050,425, of which €2,430,255 (60%) is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Of the total budget, €349,850 is allocated to the BioRegion STERN.

 

Role of BioRegio STERN

BioRegio STERN Management GmbH takes on key responsibilities across several work packages.

In Work Package 1, which focuses on strengthening the MedTech ecosystem through strategies, action plans and tools for circular practices, BioRegio STERN contributes to the analysis of existing policies, regulations and current market trends. The aim is to identify regulatory opportunities and challenges for implementing circularity in the MedTech sector. In addition, BioRegio STERN is involved in assessing existing circular practices, identifying gaps and areas for improvement, and contributing to the validation of proposed measures as well as the development of initial strategies and action plans.

In Work Package 2, which addresses pilot projects for circular practices in the MedTech sector in North-West Europe, BioRegio STERN acts as the lead partner. A key component is the joint development of the MEDI4Future Toolbox, which will provide companies with practical tools for circular transformation in the MedTech sector. This also includes clear guidelines and selection criteria for participating SMEs. Furthermore, BioRegio STERN organises an open call, supports the implementation of pilot studies with selected MedTech SMEs, and contributes to the evaluation of the environmental impact of the applied circular practices. In addition, targeted marketing measures are developed to attract suitable companies—particularly manufacturers of single-use products.

In Work Package 3, which aims to ensure the success and long-term sustainability of the developed circular measures, BioRegio STERN contributes to strengthening SMEs in the field of circularity to promote the application of the MEDI4Future Toolbox. The organisation also supports the implementation of a transnational training programme in North-West Europe, aimed at capacity building and the dissemination of circular practices. Additionally, BioRegio STERN is involved in activities ensuring the long-term use and continuous development of the toolbox.

 

Project background

The project was initiated in response to the fact that the healthcare sector in the EU generates around 2.5 million tonnes of waste annually, of which less than 10% is recycled. With increasing societal expectations and regulatory frameworks such as the EU Green Deal and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the pressure to strengthen circular economy approaches in healthcare is growing. However, in the MedTech sector, requirements related to sterility, safety and certification make the implementation of circular solutions particularly challenging.

MEDI4Future was developed to address these barriers and to promote the adoption of circular approaches for single-use products (e.g. medical gloves, instruments, gowns) across ten regions in North-West Europe and Italy—through collaboration between highly specialised MedTech clusters.

 

Activities to date & outlook

  • Preparation and approval of the project proposal
  • Kick-off meeting planned for 23–24 April 2026 in Breda (Netherlands)
  • Development of a strategy for regional governments and an action plan for BSO/RDAs in at least 15 NWE regions
  • Development of a toolbox to enable circular practices
  • Eight pilot projects to evaluate and improve the toolbox
  • Training programme with 126 participants to build knowledge on circularity

 

Application areas

By addressing the fragmented structure of the sector and applying a transnational approach, MEDI4Future introduces a modular and scalable framework that adapts existing circular solutions to the regulatory requirements of the MedTech sector. This enables stakeholders to implement sustainability measures without requiring disruptive regulatory changes or incurring high certification costs.

Consortium

The consortium consists of 11 project partners from six countries: the Netherlands, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Belgium.

Project partners

  • Project lead: Brabant Development Agency (Netherlands)
  • InnovationQuarter (Netherlands)
  • Regional Development Agency East Netherlands (Netherlands)
  • Medicen Paris Region (France)
  • ATLANPOLE (France)
  • BioRegio STERN Management GmbH (Germany)
  • BioLAGO (Germany)
  • AxisBIC (Ireland)
  • Bioindustry Park Silvano Fumero S.p.A Società Benefit (Italy)
  • University of Liege (Belgien)
  • Atlantic Technological University (Ireland)


Assoziierte Partner

  • Health Care Without Harm Europe (Belgien)
  • POLYMERIS (France)
  • Technische Universiteit Delft (Netherlands)
  • ADEME – Agence de la transition écologique (France)
  • BG Klinik Tübingen (Germany)
  • Council of European Biotech Regions (Belgien)
  • Circonnect (Netherlands)
  • Medical Delta (Netherlands)
  • Universität Stuttgart, Institut für Medizingerätetechnik (Germany)

Contact

Dr. Margot Jehle

Project Leader
+49-173 180 892 4
Project Leader
Dr. Margot Jehle

"I studied classical chemistry, completed additional internships at the Institute of Biochemistry in Würzburg and was thus able to complete my diploma and PhD thesis in this field of chemistry. Based on my experiences that I could gather as a researcher at immatics biotechnologies GmbH in Germany and abroad, I can easily identify suitable partners from companies or institutions in an international context in order to initiate potential collaborations. Since 2011, I have been involved in various EU projects at BioRegio STERN Management GmbH and am now responsible as a project manager for the Interreg NWE project Boost4Health, launched in April 2016, to support and promote the economic development of regional and transnational SMEs. Through my numerous contacts with other European networks, I am also the initiator and contact for further diverse cooperation in neighboring European countries."

Lennart Biermann, M. Sc.

Project Management
+49-173 857 576 4
Project Management
Lennart Biermann, M. Sc.

After completing my Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Biotechnology and my international Master’s degree in Food Biotechnology, I pursued a Ph.D. in Bioprocess Engineering at the University of Hohenheim. During my doctoral research, I focused intensively on the production of animal-like proteins, such as casein, using various microorganisms. This work provided me with extensive experience in molecular biology, microbiology, and biotechnology. Through my involvement in various national and international projects, I gained valuable insights into the biotech and life sciences industry.
During my internships at Bitburger Braugruppe in Bitburg and the former LSG Sky Chefs GmbH in Munich, I demonstrated my organizational skills in a dynamic environment and further developed my passion for creative solutions and new challenges.
Since 2025, I have been working as an International Project Manager at BioRegio STERN Management GmbH, contributing to various EU projects.

Dr. Felix Stöppelmann

Projektmanagement
+49-173 285 601 2
Projektmanagement
Dr. Felix Stöppelmann

I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Food Technology at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. For both theses, I worked in the field of food microbiology. After completing my Master’s degree, I joined the Food Microbiology research group, where I gained extensive experience in interdisciplinary collaboration and frequently took on an interface role between different scientific disciplines. I subsequently moved to the University of Hohenheim, where I earned my PhD in the field of aroma chemistry. My doctoral research focused on the production of meat-like aromas for alternative protein products. In this role, I led my own research project and developed strong project management skills. Since January 2026, I have been working at BioRegio STERN Management GmbH, where I contribute my experience in research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and project management to the work of BioRegio STERN.