HTCYCLE AG

Their core work

HTCycle AG is a German SME specializing in Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) technology for sewage sludge treatment, with a core focus on phosphate recovery and heavy metal removal. They develop industrial processes that convert sewage sludge into usable resources, addressing both waste management and nutrient recycling challenges. Their work also extends to biomass torrefaction and advanced carbon materials derived from biowaste, positioning them at the intersection of waste valorization and circular economy technologies.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

HTCycle's H2020 participation spans 2015–2018, a relatively compact period. They began with parallel tracks: their own HTC sewage sludge technology (SME-1 feasibility) alongside biomass processing participation (SteamBio, GreenCarbon). The clear trajectory is from feasibility testing to commercial scale-up, as evidenced by the progression from the €50K SME-1 phase to the €1.37M SME-2 phase for the same core HTCycle technology.

HTCycle is moving from R&D into commercialization of their sewage sludge HTC technology, suggesting they may be seeking industrial deployment partners and first customers rather than further research collaborations.

How they like to work

HTCycle operates as both a project leader and a contributing partner, with a balanced 50/50 split between coordinator and participant roles. Their 25 unique partners across 5 countries indicate they engage broadly rather than relying on a fixed circle. As a technology-owning SME, they lead projects centered on their own HTC innovation while joining larger consortia where their biomass/carbonization expertise adds value.

HTCycle has built a network of 25 partners across 5 European countries, a substantial reach for an SME with only 4 projects. Their partnerships span both SME-instrument projects (smaller, focused) and larger multi-partner research consortia like GreenCarbon and SteamBio.

What sets them apart

HTCycle owns a specific HTC technology for sewage sludge that simultaneously recovers phosphorus (a critical raw material for Europe) and removes heavy metals — solving two regulatory problems at once. Their progression through both SME Instrument phases demonstrates EU-validated commercial potential. For consortium builders, they bring a concrete, tested technology rather than just research capacity, making them valuable for demonstration and deployment projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HTCycle
  Secured both SME-1 (€50K) and SME-2 (€1.37M) phases for their HTC sewage sludge technology — one of the competitive SME Instrument success stories progressing from feasibility to scale-up.
• GreenCarbon
  MSCA training network (2016–2021) on advanced carbon materials from biowaste, connecting HTCycle to academic research networks across Europe.