RePlastify the Future: Summer School 2026

From 6 to 10 July 2026, the multi-site summer school “RePlastify the Future – Reinventing Plastics for Tomorrow” took place at Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) and Montanuniversität Leoben (MUL). The five-day event focused on polymer innovation, circular design and sustainability, and brought together Master’s and PhD students from both universities with experts from the fields of research and industry. The Summer School was organised by Priv.-Doz. Florian Arbeiter and Prof. Jörg Fischer.

Days 1–2: Kick-off at JKU Linz

The event began with a kick-off in the Kepler Salon and a keynote address by Prof. Reinhold Lang. This was followed by specialist presentations at the LIT-Factory on polymers and sustainability by: Prof. Gerald Berger-Weber, Prof. Christian Paulik, Prof. Jörg Fischer, Dr Klaus Straka, Prof. Zoltan Major and Priv.-Doz. Umut Cakmak.

In addition, workshops provided in-depth exploration of key competencies: Transformative Change (Mag. (FH) Patricia Wiendl-Stark, MBA) and Integrated Quality Design (Dr Julia C. Schmitt, MSc)

Days 3–5: Programme in Leoben

Following the group’s journey to Leoben, the programme included a networking dinner; this was followed by concise insights into resource efficiency, the new carbon economy, printed sensors, biogenic composites, damage characterisation, lithography-based additive manufacturing, and the work of the PCCL with: Dipl.-Ing. David Zidar, Prof. Katharina Resch-Fauster, Dr Alice Lassnig, Dr Elisabeth Ladstätter, Prof. Clara Schuecker, Vasco Castro Pires, Mestre, Dipl.-Ing. Maria Gfrerrer, Prof. Thomas Grießer

The event concluded with a networking session on the roof terrace, featuring cocktails and views over the city.

Conclusion

The Summer School combined academic excellence with practical insights and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students received concise introductions to current topics across the polymer value chain, as well as to methods of circular and quality-oriented design.

Department of Chemistry and Polymer Engineering, Johannes Kepler University Linz
Department of Polymer Engineering and Science, Montanuniversität Leoben