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Coating Technologies Wins Mirka's Innovation Challenge
February 23, 2026
Mirka has announced Zero Waste Chemical Recycling as the winner of its 2026 Innovation Challenge. The Austrian research group Coating Technologies from the Wood K plus institute wins with a bio-based recycling solution, enabling circular composite materials. The winning solution introduces the fabrication of laminates with fully bio-based and non-toxic epoxy thermoset materials.
Participants in Mirka Innovation Challenge 2026 receiving second prize.
The Mirka Innovation Challenge was launched to accelerate Mirka’s green transition and to strengthen innovation within the surface finishing industry. With a focus on solutions that enhance circularity, extend product life cycles and introduce more sustainable material alternatives, this year’s challenge inspired a wide range of applicants, from universities and research institutions to start-ups and Mirka’s own employees.
‘We were encouraged by the high quality and diversity of the ideas submitted to this year’s challenge and we are eager to seek collaboration opportunities with many of them,’ says Mirka’s CEO Stefan Sjöberg.
The challenge complements Mirka’s broader investments in sustainability and innovation. In recent years, Mirka has launched the M.INC incubator program and continues to actively collaborate with external start-ups and research partners in areas related to the green transition. The Innovation Challenge was organized for the second year in a row.
In addition to the main award, the challenge recognized two runner-up concepts. One focused on developing an AI-based life cycle assessment software tailored to process manufacturing data, and the other on predictive maintenance and smart analytics using intelligent sanding discs and backing pads.
The winning concept, Zero Waste Chemical Recycling, aims to replace fossil-based materials in coating processes with bio-based alternatives. By combining more sustainable raw materials with chemical recycling, the solution seeks to enable circular use of composite materials. By winning the Innovation Challenge, the team receives a €10,000 award from Mirka to further develop their innovation and the possibility to apply to Mirka’s business incubator, M.INC.
‘Winning the Innovation Challenge and partnering up with Mirka gives us the opportunity to test our research in real industrial applications. Together, we see strong potential to contribute to a more circular industry,’ says Doris Kapl from Wood K plus, Zero Waste Chemical Recycling.
For more information, please contact:
Mirka’s CEO Stefan Sjöberg, phone +358 20 7602 631