PORTFOLIO

UpCircle is transforming the recycling industry with advanced computer vision and AI. Today, material quality is often assessed by manual visual inspection – a subjective, inconsistent, and ine cient process that leads to economic losses and higher CO emissions. UpCircle’s solution automatically analyzes and quantifies the composition and quality of waste, providing recyclers with actionable data to optimize their processes, reduce disputes, and unlock the full value of secondary raw materials.
Our approach is innovative because it combines cutting-edge AI with exclusive datasets and patented technology, enabling the first non-invasive, scalable and real-time quality control system.

The project advanced the technology from lab prototype (TRL 4) to industrial validation (TRL 6–7). Monitoring units were deployed at our industry partners, achieving more than 99% uptime in real environments. Operators confirmed the value of the system for benchmarking, feedstock planning, and logistics optimization.
As a result, UpCircle Technology AG was incorporated in 2025. The company secured exclusive licenses from ETH, filed patents, and attracted significant follow-up funding through Innosuisse. Additional traction was created through visibility at IFAT Munich, PRSE Amsterdam, and Zellchemig visits.
With this foundation, UpCircle is now transitioning towards market entry and continuous innovation.