Are you engaged or interested in research related to the circular economy? Are you interested in developing science-based solutions to recycle and reuse materials across scales? Berkeley Lab has recently become a member of the REMADE Institute, which enables the early-stage applied research and development of technologies related to the reuse, remanufacture, and recycling of energy-intensive materials. REMADE is supported by the Department of Energy’s Office Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Researchers working on polymers, plastics, sustainable manufacturing, materials science, biomanufacturing, AI/ML, advanced manufacturing, green chemistry, electric vehicle and e-waste recycling, and metals, textiles and fibers, for example, may be interested in participating in REMADE programs and partnerships.
Todd Pray, Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer and head of the Strategic Partnerships Office (SPO), worked with Blake Simmons, Director of the Biosciences Area’s Biological Systems and Engineering (BSE) Division, and Michelle Wong, Deputy Lab Counsel, to enroll Berkeley Lab as a member of REMADE.
“REMADE’s remit is synergistic with many of the Lab’s strategic initiatives,” said Todd. “Many researchers at the Lab may find its offerings useful.”
Member Benefits
As a member of REMADE, Lab staff can now participate in REMADE’s annual members’ meeting (this year, an in-person meeting on October 25-26 in Rochester, NY), training sessions, and the REMADE Circular Economy Tech Summit and Conference next spring (April 10-11, 2024). Members can also submit proposals for REMADE requests for proposals for research projects, as well as connect and network with potential partners.
To access member benefits, Berkeley Lab staff may set up an account on the REMADE website. For additional membership information, contact Todd Pray, tpray@lbl.gov.
REMADE Spring Tech Summit and Conference Call for Papers
REMADE will host its 2024 Circular Economy Conference on April 10-11, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The conference will feature breakthrough innovations for sustainable manufacturing. Read the call for conference papers. The deadline for abstracts is Nov. 17.
REMADE RFPs
REMADE issues an annual request for proposals. Its 2023 Request for Proposals (RFP) represented $20 million in investment to sustain U.S. manufacturing and accelerate the U.S.’s transition to a circular economy. The Institute sought technology proposals for research, development and demonstration (RD&D) projects that would develop and demonstrate tools and technologies consistent with REMADE’s goals to reduce energy and emissions; achieve better than cost and energy parity; and promote the widespread application of new enabling technologies across multiple industries.
RD&D projects were required to align with one or more of the Institute’s focus areas: systems analysis and integration; design for reuse, remanufacturing, recovery and recycling (design for Re-X); manufacturing materials optimization; remanufacturing; and/or recovery and recycling. RD&D projects were also required to address one or more of the energy-intensive material classes that REMADE focuses on: metals, such as steel and aluminum; polymers, including plastics; fibers, including paper and textiles; and electronic waste (e-waste).
All REMADE funding requires 1:1 cost share from project teams. The 2023 RFP can be found on the REMADE website.
REMADE will announce its next RFP this fall.
