Bielefeld, Germany – March 17–20, 2025 — As part of the EU-funded CirculEC project, the University of Applied Sciences for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (FHM) in Bielefeld welcomed academic representatives from Central Asia for a four-day study visit focused on sustainable business practices and circular economy integration.

The program opened with workshops on Environmental Management, led by Melanie Eikenbusch, and an introduction to the innovative Packless project by Professor Rulf Treidel. Participants explored sustainable packaging solutions and environmental strategies applicable in educational contexts.

On March 18, Professor Bas Roelofs guided an interactive session on the Circo Methodology, helping attendees apply circular economy principles to product design and business models using the Mural digital collaboration platform.

The study tour continued on March 19 with a visit to the Innovation Campus Lemgo, where guests engaged with state-of-the-art facilities including the SmartFactoryOWL and the Future City Solutions showroom. These visits showcased Germany’s leading practices in smart, sustainable technologies.

The program concluded on March 20 with a visit to ZF Friedrichshafen AG, where participants learned about industrial practices rooted in circular economy principles, including resource efficiency and climate-friendly production methods.

This visit marks a significant step in strengthening academic cooperation and advancing sustainability-focused curricula in Central Asian higher education institutions.