Advanced materials are a key focus area of the Austrian industrial strategy’s Research, Technology, and Innovation (FTI) initiative and encompass innovative materials with special properties that are ideally sustainable, circular, and recyclable. They make a significant contribution to the competitiveness and green transformation of industry. But how can their cross-sector development in Austria be accelerated?

Experts from industry and research addressed this question at the Zukunft.Ressourcen 2026 event, held under the theme “Advanced Materials: Circular and Sustainable” on 5 November 2026, at the voestalpine Stahlwelt. Successful innovation models, partnerships, infrastructure, and framework conditions were discussed to facilitate the transition from the laboratory to production.

Irmela Kofler (K1-MET) gave a presentation on “The Hy4Smelt Demonstration Plant at HI2Valley.”

Hy4Smelt’s industrial-scale demonstration plant is the first of its kind worldwide to process ultrafine iron ores using innovative fluidized-bed direct reduction with 100% green hydrogen (HYFOR). The directly reduced iron is melted in an electric furnace (smelter) powered by renewable energy. The Hy4Smelt process offers maximum flexibility in the use of iron ore grades that have not previously been utilized for direct reduction.

A big thank you goes to Business Upper Austria for the successful organization and for facilitating an in-depth exchange between representatives from business and research.