HOCHSCHULE PFORZHEIM

Their core work

Hochschule Pforzheim is a German university of applied sciences that runs industrially-oriented research in materials engineering and sustainable mobility. Their flagship work focuses on recovering and reprocessing rare-earth magnets (neodymium-iron-boron) at pilot scale, turning end-of-life magnets from motors, hard drives, and wind turbines into new net-shape components. They also contribute to autonomous vehicle and shared-mobility research, bridging hands-on engineering with circular-economy business models. Their sweet spot is applied pilot-scale demonstration rather than basic science.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2018 their visible H2020 activity started on the mobility side with AVENUE, working as a partner on autonomous shuttles and new urban transport services. From 2019 the center of gravity shifted sharply toward materials and circular economy, when they stepped up to coordinate SUSMAGPRO on rare-earth magnet recycling. The trajectory is clear: from contributing partner in transport to consortium leader in critical raw materials.

They are positioning themselves as a European pilot-line leader for recycled NdFeB magnets — a strategic fit for any consortium touching electric motors, wind energy, or EU critical raw materials policy.

How they like to work

Across just two H2020 projects they have already moved from partner to coordinator, and their SUSMAGPRO consortium is large — pulling in 44 unique partners across 14 countries. That suggests they are comfortable orchestrating industrial pilot chains with mixed academic, SME, and large-industry members rather than working in tight bilateral research pairs. Expect them to run hands-on, demonstration-heavy work packages rather than pure theory.

44 unique partners in 14 countries across two projects, with a pan-European footprint anchored in Germany. The breadth suggests a hub-style network built mostly around the SUSMAGPRO circular-economy consortium.

What sets them apart

Most German HES institutions that touch rare earths stay in lab-scale chemistry; Hochschule Pforzheim instead coordinates a full pilot-scale value chain from magnet collection to net-shape remanufacture. Combined with their mobility-side experience, they are one of the few partners who can connect materials recovery directly to downstream EV and wind-turbine applications. For a business, that means a partner who thinks in production lines, not just publications.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SUSMAGPRO
  Their flagship — they coordinate a EUR 2.18M Innovation Action building Europe's pilot supply chain for recycled NdFeB rare-earth magnets.
• AVENUE
  Shows their second leg: applied participation in a major autonomous-vehicle pilot rolling out shared mobility services in European cities.