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RETRACC
FFG Ressourcenwende 2025, Flagship project, 2026–2030, Run by Thinkubator Sustainable Solutions
ReTraCC | Flagship project on carbon loops with 33 partners.
ReTraCC aims to enable the transformation of the Austrian carbon system from fossil, linear structures towards a circular, resilient and climate-neutral carbon economy. At its core is a systemic view of the carbon value network, whose complex material flows, dependencies and actor dynamics are still poorly understood. The project combines data-driven system analysis, technology development, digital innovation and participatory processes to identify effective transformation pathways and pilot them in real use cases.
KEEPING CARBON IN THE SYSTEM INSTEAD OF LOSING IT AS EMISSIONS.
WHAT WE WORK ON IN RETRACC
What it is about
In ReTraCC we investigate how carbon can be kept in the economic system in the long run, instead of losing it as fossil emissions after a single use. The flagship project connects three levels: a systemic analysis of the Austrian carbon value network, the development and piloting of concrete use cases in four focus areas (biogenic CO₂, recycling of hard-to-treat residues, circular business models, digital tools), and their scale-up to national level. A novel hybrid input-output model, AI-based decision support and multi-sector scenarios make ecological, economic and social impacts assessable.
Our role in the consortium
The consortium includes BioBASE (coordination), EY denkstatt, the Circular Economy Forum Austria and industry partners such as ARA and Borouge, working on solutions along the entire carbon value chain. At Thinkubator we lead the participatory process together with the Circular Economy Forum Austria and EY denkstatt: we systematically involve stakeholders from business, public administration and civil society, identify social and economic barriers and derive recommendations for action. As a flagship project with 33 partners, ReTraCC shows how the circular economy for carbon can be implemented end to end, from system analysis to real-world piloting.
Expected results
We develop and pilot circular production processes, new value chains for CO₂, higher recyclate shares, service-based reusable models and digital tools for steering circular carbon systems. Stakeholder involvement, gender and diversity perspectives and a holistic sustainability assessment are integral parts of the work. The result: measurable contributions to defossilisation, security of supply, competitiveness and long-term system transformation in Austria.
FFG RESSOURCENWENDE 2025 - FLAGSHIP PROJECT
ReTraCC is funded as a flagship project of the FFG Ressourcenwende 2025 call. Focus topic: carbon loops, 33 partners. Duration: 2026 to 2030.
This project is funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) and the FFG (www.ffg.at). The FFG is Austria's central national funding organisation and strengthens the country's innovative capacity.
Run by Thinkubator Sustainable Solutions OG.
BioBASE, EY denkstatt Österreich, Circular Economy Forum Austria, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, ANDRITZ, ARA - Altstoff Recycling Austria, BEST - Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies, Biogas Bruck/Leitha, Borouge International Europe, Frutura, GKT, Green Tech Cluster, Greenhouse Power, Herret Gemüse Produktions, Institut für Industrielle Ökologie, MKW Group, Montanuniversität Leoben, Nachgedacht e.U., Next Generation Elements, nova-Institut, ÖBB Holding, PreZero Polymers Austria, Puhm Green Plastics & Recycling, REWE International, SUNPOR Kunststoff, TCKT - Transfercenter für Kunststofftechnik, Universität Graz, BOKU University, wpa Beratende Ingenieure, Zeiler Greenhouse, Thinkubator
QUESTIONS ABOUT RETRACC?
Working on carbon loops, biogenic CO₂ or recyclates? Get in touch.
Bastien Huber
Research and consortium projectsBastien leads our research projects and consortia - from system analysis to the participatory process with stakeholders.