Sustainable, decarbonised, circular. A sustainable economic system is organised in cycles, combines ecological solutions with economic opportunities, it protects natural resources and the environment. But, in the transformation process towards a green and circular economy, opportunities must be identified, incentives created, achievements perpetuated and old habits overcome – all while making sure that everyone is on board. Resource efficiency and circular economy The linear economic model is not sustainable and is destroying the foundation on which it stands. The way out: the transformation to a circular economy, where the value and finiteness of resources are taken into account. This path to a sustainable circular economy challenges every-one – science, product designers, industry and waste management, and last but not least, consumers. Cross-sectional environmental sector The environmental economy is the key element of the green economy. It combines technical solutions and services with environmental benefits. It includes businesses from a wide range of sectors – from waste water and waste disposal to environmentally friendly mobility, raw material efficiency, renewable energies, and innovative forms of agriculture. Innovations for tomorrow Research, developments, and innovations are the lubricant for the green transformation. In addition to optimisation and product improvements, it is about creating completely new business models. Where are Europe’s largest research competencies located? How can the transfer from science to the markets be made successful? How can the immense opportunities and disruptions of digitalisation be used in a targeted manner for a sustainable orientation of the economy? We pursue these and other aspects with a diverse set of methodologies and comprehensive competencies from innovation and digitalisation analyses. Green Economy & Circular Economy: A selection of our services Modelling development dynamics We analyse the socio-economic importance and dynamics of green markets on the basis of the tried-and-tested Envigos model. Analysis of international markets We examine trade flows, sales markets, and the global competition for future green technologies. Web crawling, patent and research data analysis On the basis of patent analyses, research data, and web crawling, we shed light on innovation and research competencies. Insights into the start-up scene With the analysis of company databases and start-up networks, we give our clients an insight into the start-up process. Big data analytics Using big data approaches, we are making digitalisation potentials and challenges measurable for green markets. Intelligent networking We establish network connections between the actors and complex issues of the green economy. Our work on this topic Take a look at our latest projects and activities. European Union: From the fossil fuel economy to the bioeconomy ongoing | Project The EU Commission commissioned Prognos, Idea Consult and the nova-Institute to research and promote the transition to a bioeconomy in the European Union. Read more Design and implementation of the Resilience Expo ongoing | Project Prognos is supporting the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Environment in organising, implementing and establishing the world's first trade exhibition for the climate adaptation industry. Read more German industry’s resilience and sovereignty 2025 | Project German industry is heavily dependent on raw materials and intermediate products from abroad, especially from China. Prognos analysed supply chains and developed recommendations for action. Read more Circular Valley Convention 13. March 2025 | Event Marieke Eckhardt and Tim Bichlmeier will host a stage slot as part of the Green Economy Network.NRW (KNUW) on how innovative recycling solutions from NRW can ensure the sustainable supply of critical raw materials. Read more How far are the regions on the road to a circular economy? 2025 | Project update Prognos has developed a tool for the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) that supports cities and regions in monitoring their circular economy activities. Read more Economic potential of the green tech sector in Bavaria 2024 | Project How powerful is the green tech industry in Bavaria? What is its economic significance? We examined these questions on behalf of the vbw using our envigos model. Read more Internationalisation of the environmental technology industry in Baden-Württemberg 2024 | Project The Baden-Württemberg Agency for Environmental Technology (UTBW) supports companies based in Baden-Württemberg in the internationalisation and export of environmental technology. Prognos provided the market information. Read more North Rhine-Westphalia Green Economy Report 2024 2024 | Project The green economy is a driving force in North Rhine-Westphalia. Both gross value added and the number of people in employment are increasing at a faster rate than in other sectors of the economy. Read more Green Tech Atlas 2025 ongoing | Project On behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Prognos compiled the Green Tech Atlas 2025. The atlas provides a comprehensive overview of the cross-sectional environmental tech-nology and resource efficiency industries. Read more NetworkNature Annual Conference 2024 25. September 2024 | Event Greta Dekker will be attending the NetworkNature annual conference and talking to the specialist audience about nature-based solutions. Read more Industry Conference 2024 26. November 2024 | Event Together with the Alliance for the Future of Industry, the BMWK is organising the Industry Conference 2024, where Michael Astor will present initial interim findings from our study on the resilience and sovereignty of German industry. Read more 2nd Cohesion for Transitions Conference & Meetings 4. - 5. June 2024 | Event Our colleagues are travelling to the conference as part of their work for the Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) platform and are chairing both a meeting of the science network and a working group. Read more Status Report on the German Recycling Economy 2024 2024 | Project The 2024 Status Report gives a comprehensive picture of the whole Recycling Economy sector and its future challenges. Read more Circular economy in the northern Netherlands 2023 | Project Three provinces in the north of the Netherlands want to become leaders in the circular economy in Europe by 2025. Prognos examined the current status of implementation. Read more Green transformation of industrial cities 18. January 2024 | Event The workshop is dedicated to the challenges surrounding the green transformation of regions. Prognos EU head Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer will report on his experiences with circular industrial cities at EU level in a presentation. Read more Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) Conference 8. - 9. November 2023 | Event Hanne Hagedorn and Vera Wechner are participating in the first General Conference of the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI). This conference, organized by the European Commission, serves as a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas on how cities, regions, and their partners across Europe are already harnessing all the energy and ideas to promote the transition to a circular economy and stimulate social innovation. Read more The Circular Week 2023 24. - 25. October 2023 | Event From October 24th to 25th, Hanne Hagedorn will be in Warsaw for the Green Economy Network.NRW as part of the Circular Economy Week 2023. Read more Support for the Cohesion for Transitions platform (C4T) ongoing | Project With the Cohesion for Transitions platform, the EU is promoting sustainable change and the economic development of structurally weak regions. Prognos is part of the team of experts. Read more EU monitoring framework: Economic aspects of the circular economy 2023 | Project Prognos was commissioned to develop a methodological framework for the collection of economic data on the circular economy, climate change and bioeconomy and its regular automated processing. Read more A sustainable approach to raw materials in Eastern and Northern Finland 2023 | Project The services sector in this region is growing and is considered exceptionally innovative within the EU. Our input paper for a “Clusters meet Regions” event. Read more Ressource efficiency in Bavaria ongoing | Project Efforts to reduce the consumption of resources in the Bavarian economy must be increased. A Prognos study provides information on the status quo and the starting points for savings. Read more Green Economy in Munich: Developments and potential 2023 | Project The green economy is an important economic factor for the city of Munich and its surrounding area. On behalf of the Bavarian capital, Prognos analysed the current situation and the development perspectives for the sector. Read more Evaluation of the European Green Deal 2025 | Project How effective are EU cohesion and structural policies in driving green change in Europe? We examined this and other questions together with COWI, Milieu and CSIL on behalf of the European Commission (DG REGIO). Read more Green Economy Report North Rhine-Westphalia 2022 2022 | Project In its fourth edition, Prognos analyses the economic and ecological impact of the green economy in NRW. Read more Green finance's contribution to achieving climate neutrality in Germany 2022 | Project What is the public share of climate protection investment? An investigation for the KfW. Read more Circular economy potential for rural development 2022 | Project Equal living conditions in the city and in the country are a federal government goal. We are looking into how the circular economy can contribute to this for the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Construction (BMWSB). Read more Accompanying the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) ongoing | Project The CCRI focuses on the implementation of a circular economy in European cities and regions. Prognos is supporting the initiative as a project partner in the associated Coordination and Support Office. Read more Status Report on Germany’s Closed-Loop Economy 2020 2020 | Project The "Status Report on Germany’s Closed-Loop Economy 2020" provides an up-to-date overview of the sector's activities, economic relevance and future challenges. Read more Green Finance's contribution on the way to climate neutrality 2021 | Project On the way to climate neutrality, green finance gains importance. For the first time, the total climate protection investments required to achieve the climate targets in Germany have been quantified by Prognos. Read more Ecological transformation and dual education in Bremen 2021 | Project What is the demand for professionally trained specialists in Bremen as a business location in light of climate protection measures? Read more Business Sustainability Initiative 2021 | Project Prognos supports Baden-Württemberg’s Business Sustainability Initiative. This initiative forms a central pillar of the state's sustainability strategy. Read more Green Economy Network.NRW ongoing | Project Prognos has been involved in the Green Economy Network.NRW (KNUW) since 2017. It offers players in the environmental industry a platform for exchange and strengthens the market oppor-tunities of companies from NRW. Read more Green Economy Report North Rhine-Westphalia 2020 2020 | Project North Rhine-Westphalia continues to be the leading federal state in the environmental economy. This is shown in the new Environmental Economy Report NRW 2020. Read more EU’s Global Leadership in Renewables 2020 | Project Prognos, together with COWI, CEPS, and Capgemini invent, examines Europe's position and competitiveness in global renewable energy value chains. Read more Analysis of climate paths in the transport sector 2030 2019 | Project On behalf of BDI and BCG, Prognos has analysed how Germany can achieve its climate protection targets for 2030 in the transport sector. The result: decisive changes are needed. Read more Jobwende – Effects of the Energiewende on Work and Employment 2019 | Project On behalf of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Prognos examined the importance of the energy transition for future employment in Germany. Read more CIRCTER – Circular Economy and Territorial Consequences 2019 | Project An investigation into the economic structure of the regional Circular Economy in Europe. Read more Climate Path for Germany 2018 | Project How can Germany reach its 2050 climate goals - and under what conditions is that possible? Those are the questions addressed by a study for the Association of German Industry (BDI). Read more Green Economy Report North Rhine-Westphalia 2017 2017 | Project North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany's largest provider of environmental products and services. The sector generated around 28 billion euros in 2015 - more than six percent of the state's gross value added. Read more Hazardous Waste Management in EU Member States 2015 | Project Support to Member States in improving hazardous waste management based on assessment of Member States' performance. Read more Do you have questions? Your contact at Prognos Oliver Lühr Partner, Head of Environmental, Circular Economy & Climate Change View profile Jannis Lambert Principal View profile About us Prognos – Providing Orientation. Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound. Learn more