Competence Center CHASE GmbH

💼 MASTER'S THESIS OPEN POSITION IN LINZ: We are seeking a motivated student to join our team with immediate entry to write their master's thesis on "Experimental and Model-Based Analysis of Kinetics for rPET Upgrading"!

👉 Check out the details and apply here:
https://www.chasecenter.at/career

👥 Not for you?
Pass it on to a friend or colleague who might be interested!

💡 We currently have several other open positions as well - check them out!

🔷 AI MEETS PLASTICS: 🔷 Karin Kloiber and Christian Marschik, our Area 1 Managers for Process Digitalization, are featured in the latest issue of KC aktuell as the research duo behind the cover story on AI in plastics manufacturing!

🔍 They distinguish between traditional AI (namely Machine Learning/Deep Learning for anomaly detection and process control) and the hype surrounding generative AI. Their finding: "An AI can only be as smart as the tools it is given." Above all, they note, the value of unspectacular applications, such as inline quality control, is being underestimated.

👥 Together with experts Louisa Desel (OSPHIM) and Hermann Stern (Know-Center), they share the view that data quality and data governance are the real challenges, not the technology itself. Furthermore, the process knowledge of experienced specialists must be secured before it is lost to the wave of retirements. The advice to companies: do not wait for perfect data, but start with a concrete use case and involve the workforce right from the beginning.

👉 Get the full picture here, pages 4 to 6:https://www.biz-up.at/fileadmin/user_upload/Biz-up/Kunststoff-Cluster/Downloads/KC-aktuell_2026-03_WEB.pdf

Thanks for the pictures to Felix Leibetseder and KC Aktuell!

🇮🇪 IONTACH: 🇮🇪 Our research scientist Dominik Wielend headed to Dublin for The International Symposium on Biopolymers, ISBP 2026, where he showcased his poster on “Simulation-assisted chemical kinetics & product analysis of chemical biopolymer recycling”, a research work carried out within the EFRE project BioCycle-UA II.

♻️ The conference united more than 170 participants from 25 countries for a deep dive into biobased polymers. This year, the spotlight was on circular approaches of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), highlighting chemical recycling strategies and industrial projects transforming waste streams into PHA production, alongside fresh perspectives from major European PHA economy consortia.

🍀 Thank you to University College Dublin and the BiOrbic, Ireland's National Bioeconomy Research Centre, for the fantastic organization, inspiring research, warm hospitality, and, obviously, the Irish dancing performance that quickly turned into a group dancing session! 🕺💃

Note: BioCycle-UA II is supported by the federal government of Upper Austria (Land Oberösterreich) and the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE Österreich) in the framework of the EU-program IBW/EFRE & JTF (Just Transition Fund) 2021-2027. (https://www.efre.gv.at)

📸 Group picture: University College Dublin

PROGRESS IN PROGRESS: Our research scientist Stefan Kohl put his research on the map at the 6th International Polymer Process Innovation Conference (PPI 2026) at Montanuniversität Leoben, diving deep into "Mechanical Spreading of Heavy-Tow Carbon Fibers via Forced Conveying"!

This year’s conference focused on three strategic pillars linking research excellence with industrial impact:

🌱 Sustainable Polymers
💡 Smart Polymers
💻 Digital Polymer Science

So it was all about circular economy solutions, function‑integrated materials, and data‑driven development.

A huge thank you to Stefan for showcasing his work, and a heartfelt thanks to our hosts, partners, and friends: Montanuniversität Leoben, Department Polymer Engineering and Science, and Polymer Competence Center Leoben (PCCL)!

🚀 TAKING OFF: We are stepping up as the new digitalization partner of the EU Horizon Europe project SUPREME PILOTS, joining forces with 14 partners from 7 European countries with 1 goal - to shape a new generation of bio-based plastics that are safer, more sustainable, and circular, serving as a real alternative to fossil-based plastics for real industrial applications!

✈️ Launching: The project zeros in on polylactic acid (PLA)-based copolymers, driving the transition away from fossil-based plastics towards high-performance, circular alternatives.

✈️ Flying high: We will supercharge process development at lab scale and guide the upscaling process through physics- and data-driven modelling of reactive extrusion.

✈️ Green horizon: The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) and its members, and co-funded by the European Union European Commission, showing how cross-sector collaboration powers Europe's green transition.

We look forward to this journey with Aitiip Centro Tecnológico, Novamont, TCKT Transfercenter für Kunststofftechnik GmbH, GAIKER Technology Centre, GCR Sustainable Plastic Solutions, Artigo S.p.a BIC Bio-based Industries Consortium, CONVERZAR - COMERCIAL EDIZAR, S.A., Moses Productos, AM3D Metalica SL, LC Innoway, ASRO - Organismul Național de Standardizare din România, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology and others!

Read more:

👉 https://www.supremepilots.com/

🇫🇷 POUR LES GOURMETS: If Lyon is known as the capital of French cuisine, this time a sophisticated dessert was served at the International Mass Spectrometry Conference (IMSC) - courtesy of our collaboration with TU Wien, TCKT, Plasmion, and TU München!

Our colleague Marco Annerl presented his poster "Development and implementation of an online MS process sensor for emission monitoring along the polymer recycling chain", sharing the results freshly baked from our joint research kitchen.

🍰 The 26th international conference offered a crème de la crème platform for flavorful exchange and delicious discussions.

C'était un plaisir pour nous! 😋

🏆 CONGRATULATIONS: Giancarlo Cravotto, Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Turin Università degli Studi di Torino and member of our Scientific Advisory Board at Competence Center CHASE, has received two highly prestigious awards:

🏅 The Green and Sustainable Chemistry Award 2026 by the Italian Chemical Society (Società Chimica Italiana) for his outstanding scientific contributions to green chemistry, sustainable organic synthesis, and process intensification.

🏅 The International Alfred Lee Loomis Award 2026 by the European Society of Sonochemistry (ESS) for his advancements in using ultrasound and acoustic cavitation for cleaner industrial applications and his contributions to the sonochemistry community.

Giancarlo’s remarkable research activity at the Department of Drug Science and Technology spans more than 630 publications, 24 patents, 57 book chapters, 7 edited books, and over 600 presentations at scientific meetings.

We are thrilled and delighted about these amazing milestones! 👏👏👏

Photo credits:

https://www.otto.unito.it/it/news/chimica-verde-al-professor-giancarlo-cravotto-il-premio-alla-ricerca-senior-2026-della-societa

https://europeansocietyofsonochemistry.eu/alfred-l-loomis-award-giancarlo-cravotto/

📺 PRIME TIME: Upper Austrian Landesrat for Economy and Research, Markus Achleitner (photo Land OÖ), unveiled new recycling technologies and innovation alliances for the circular economy – and Competence Center CHASE captured the spotlight twice! 🌟

👉 “A long-term innovation partnership with NEVEON has emerged from the project HTC-PUR-Extrusion, which focuses on the recycling of polyurethane foams. Together, the COMET center (Competence Center for Excellent Technologies) and the world's leading integrated foam manufacturer are continuing to drive research work forward. The focus is on improved material properties and design-for-recycling concepts in order to return foams to the material cycle even more efficiently in the future.”

👉 The project DeSimplify develops intelligent digital models for complex processes in the chemical and recycling industries and includes partners such as Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen (NGR), BASF, JKU - Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, TU Wien, the Karlsruhe Institute Of Technology (KIT), and the Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - DTU (DTU). It is headlined as the “Next Stage of Innovation” and described as a “particularly impressive example of the projects' follow-on impact”: “By combining machine learning with advanced simulation technologies, these processes are to be precisely predicted and optimized in the future. This will make it possible to improve recycling methods, reduce material losses, and develop high-quality recyclates for demanding applications.”

💬 Patrick Pammer, CHASE CEO: "With DeSimplify, we combine cutting-edge simulation methods with industrial application, establishing the scientific foundation for more efficient processes and, consequently, high-quality recyclates and a more powerful circular economy."

🙌 A massive shoutout to the Upper Austrian Research GmbH UAR Innovation Network and everyone driving this vision forward!

https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTM_20260819_OTM0012/lr-achleitner-neue-recyclingtechnologien-innovationsallianzen-kreislaufwirtschafts-call-zeigt-nachhaltige-wirkung

🕵️‍♂️ CHASING NEW COLLEAGUES IN LINZ: Write your Master Thesis in Mechatronics, Physics and Chemistry with us and chase your career - apply by November 30, 2026!

🧪 Title: "Chain Extension Under Scrutiny: Experimental and Model-Based Analysis of Kinetics for rPET Upgrading" (reference number 035).

Head over to our website and drop an email to the address listed there to apply:
🔗 https://www.chasecenter.at/career

Currently there are other open positions as well in Linz and Vienna - take a look at our website and get in touch! 🤝🙌

🎉 HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO: Our Research Scientist Stefan Kohl, now called a Doctor! 🚀

🎓 Stefan successfully defended his dissertation, "Spreading of Carbon Fiber Rovings for UD Tape Manufacturing: From Systematic Analysis of Mechanical Deflection to the Novel Method of Forced Conveying", which was supervised by Gerald Berger-Weber and Zoltan Major from the Institute of Polymer Product Engineering (IPPE | JKU) at the JKU - Johannes Kepler Universität Linz.

💡 His presentation was warmly received by the examination board featuring Martin Schagerl, Gerald Berger-Weber, Jörg Fischer from the Institute of Polymeric Materials and Testing (IPMT | JKU), and Umut Doğan Çakmak, proving his academic expertise.

🥂 Cheers to Stefan, who is an incredible colleague! Here’s to tackling the next wave of exciting projects together! 👏💪👏