FiW at the CleanTech Conference 2026 in Berlin
Experiences from ecReUse in dialogue on international GreenTech markets
How can German environmental technologies be successfully established in international markets – and which framework conditions are needed to achieve this? These questions were at the centre of the CleanTech Conference 2026, held in Berlin on 3 and 4 September. Dr.-Ing. Manuel Krauß and Matthias Hirt represented FiW and the ecReUse demonstration project at the event marking the 10th anniversary of the Export Initiative Environmental Protection (EXI). Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider opened the conference day with a keynote address on the importance of CleanTech for Germany’s economic competitiveness and international markets.
The conference, organised by Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH together with DIHK Service GmbH, brought together around 220 representatives from business, academia and politics. Key topics included the international competitiveness of German environmental technologies, access to global markets and the question of how reliable political and economic framework conditions can support the long-term growth of the CleanTech sector.
Perspectives from research and international project practice
Dr.-Ing. Manuel Krauß contributed the perspective of a research institute to a panel discussion on the changing geopolitical framework conditions for CleanTech exports. Together with Julia Stadler, Dr. Reinhard Hübner, Maximilian Butek and Martin Walter, he discussed opportunities and challenges for German environmental technologies in international markets.
Manuel Krauß also shared experiences from the FiW-coordinated ecReUse project in South Africa. The project demonstrates how German environmental technologies can be tested under real operating conditions together with local partners, adapted to regional requirements and combined with capacity development and long-term partnerships.
One key conclusion from the discussions was that successful internationalisation requires more than funding alone. Long-term and reliable framework conditions, suitable local partners and a strong understanding of the respective target markets are equally important. Demonstration projects such as ecReUse also play a key role in showcasing technologies under real conditions, building references and developing viable applications together with local partners.
Ten years of the Export Initiative Environmental Protection
The CleanTech Conference marked the 10th anniversary of the Export Initiative Environmental Protection. Since 2016, EXI has supported the international dissemination of German environmental technologies and the development of partnerships in international target markets.
The FiW-coordinated ecReUse project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) within the framework of the Export Initiative Environmental Protection. At the East Bank Wastewater Treatment Plant in East London, German and South African partners are jointly demonstrating technologies for water reuse, energy optimisation and biogas production under real operating conditions.
We would like to thank ZUG gGmbH, DIHK Service GmbH and all other participating partners for organising the event, as well as all participants for the open and practice-oriented exchange.