Turning the page: Invitation to the Paper Conference

How is the paper industry driving transformation forward? How do companies in the industry need to position themselves in order to turn the page? The structural change in the Rhenish mining area is a showcase how entire industries are reshaped – even one as traditional as the paper industry. To see radical change as an opportunity, an innovation-friendly environment is key. “Change must be shaped – with entrepreneurial initiative, new alliances and concrete implementation paths”, says Bodo Middeldorf, Managing Director of the Zukunftsagentur Rheinisches Revier. “We want to stimulate this process and bring together stakeholders from business, science and politics.” One platform for this is the Paper Conference, which the Zukunftsagentur is organising in cooperation with Modellfabrik Papier, who is an anchor project for structural change in the region, on 18 September 2025 in Düren.

Boosting collaboration and knowledge transfer

In order to forge new alliances and bring together partners who would not otherwise easily connect, stakeholders from different sectors need to be matched. ‘Together with the Zukunftsagentur Rheinisches Revier, we want to bring companies from the industry, researchers and political decision-makers to the table to discuss future paths for the paper industry thereby triggering new ideas,’ says Dominic Laaf, Corporate Liaison Manager at Modellfabrik Papier. That will be facilitated by an interactive event format.

Impulses for the group sessions

After industry expert Gerhard Hochstein, Hochstein Management Solutions, has outlined the innovation potential of the paper industry in his keynote speech, six companies and organisations will present their solutions in two thematic areas.

Impulses: Energy and resources

• Innovation transfer at the Modellfabrik Papier using the example of the FOREST project. Philip Kayser from Modellfabrik Papier gGmbH reports.
• Decarbonising process heat with power-to-heat. Christof Dahmen from Otto Junker Solutions GmbH presents the solution.
• Reality check: transformation – steps towards defossilisation in the production of fine paper. Dr Tiemo Arndt from Reflex GmbH conducts a location analysis.

Impulse: Circular economy

• Digitally networked in the paper recycling cycle – innovation through cooperation. Felix Hake from Consultingtalents and Alexander Becher from the University of Siegen present their research work.
• Nothing for the bin – packaging of tomorrow. A recycling approach for disposable tableware. Frank Kolvenbach from PAPSTAR Solutions GmbH presents the business model.
• Sustainable synergies: Chemical textile recycling of polycotton as a raw material source for the paper industry. Amrei Becker from re.solution GmbH explains the solution approach.

Exchange and dialogue in three groups

The presentations provide a wide range of ideas for the subsequent group sessions. “We divide the participants into three groups and let them discuss various theses on the transformation of the paper industry”, explains Stephan Piotrowski from the Zukunftsagentur, who is leading the event. The key questions are: What radically new business models are needed? How can efficiency and sustainability be increased by factor four through innovative thinking and transfer? What role must politics play in accelerating innovation?

Fishbowl: Questions to the Secretary of State

The answers and ideas from the three groups will be incorporated into the subsequent panel discussion in a fishbowl format: State Secretary Silke Krebs from the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Economic Affairs, MFP research partner Prof. Dr. Uli Schur from Forschungszentrum Jülich and Helmuth Kluth, Managing Director of Papierfabrik Niederauer Mühle GmbH and partner at MFP, will pick up on the ideas put forward. The subsequent informal chat with snacks and an exhibition will provide an opportunity for discussion and exchange.

When and where?

Thursday, 18 September 2025, 1:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Gut Nazareth, An Gut Nazareth 66, 52353 Düren

Click here to register…

Einladung zur Fachkonferenz: Wir schlagen neue Seiten auf – Zukunft der Papierindustrie im Rheinischen Revier – Rheinisches Revier