Material Development and Resource Conservation Mat-Day 2026: Focus on 3D Printing and the Circular Economy

Mat-Day 2026 at the New Design University (NDU) in St. Pölten focused on material innovations, the circular economy, and resource-efficient production processes.

How can materials and products be developed in a more resource-efficient manner and managed within closed-loop systems? Mat-Day 2026 at the New Design University in St. Pölten addressed this question. The event took place on September 22, 2026, and was organized by the Ecoplus Plastics Cluster of Lower Austria in collaboration with the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce.

The focus was on the five “R”s of resource conservation: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Rethink, and Recycle. Expert presentations and practical examples highlighted approaches along the entire value chain. A key focus was on additive manufacturing, which opens up opportunities for more efficient use of materials and the production of functional components.

According to the organizers, the applications presented demonstrated how material-efficient manufacturing processes can conserve resources and reduce waste. Other areas of application include prototyping and the design of more sustainable production processes in the plastics industry.

The press release does not specify which specific processes, materials, or applications were used in the individual case studies, nor does it indicate what savings were achieved as a result.

Connecting Businesses and Research Along the Value Chain

Mat-Day brought together companies, research institutions, startups, and innovation leaders. The goal was to discuss current developments and future trends in materials and the circular economy and to foster dialogue among the participating stakeholders.

Thomas Gröger, cluster manager of the Ecoplus Plastics Cluster and Mechatronics Cluster, emphasized the importance of collaboration between industry and research. The Plastics Cluster connects companies and research institutions across the entire plastics value chain and supports them in the development of products and processes.

“We are committed to bringing together businesses, research institutions, and innovative startups,” Gröger explained.

The event thus focused on knowledge transfer among various stakeholders in the plastics industry. How the approaches presented can be translated into concrete industrial applications remains a matter for the respective technologies and projects.

Start-up Lounge Expands Its Event Format

For the first time, a Start-up Lounge was added to the Mat-Day program. In cooperation with Accent, start-ups, spin-offs, and founders were given the opportunity to present their innovations to an expert audience from industry, business, and research.

The platform was designed to foster exchange between startups and established companies. In addition to the expert presentations, participants were able to visit an exhibition featuring best-practice projects and take advantage of networking opportunities.

The press release does not specify which startups presented their developments in the lounge or which specific technologies or business models were the focus of their presentations.