Project "Social Franchising:
carrying 20 years of experience in Circular Economy to other regions"
Role R.U.S.Z: Project Management Agency; Project duration: August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2019
The project is funded by the BMNT (former Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy - BMWFW) within the framework of the program "Projects on the topic 'Integration and Securing of Jobs and Company Locations'".
The R.U.S.Z GmbH intends to carry its successful business model in the form of social franchising into other regions. The aim of the project is to create the conditions for the use of the successful R.U.S.Z business concept for repair services and ReUse by third parties in newly founded branches. By spreading the concept of the common good economy through social franchising, new sustainable businesses and jobs are created. So far, only conventional franchise models are known for the repair services sector, e.g. in the field of car repair. Therefore an eco-social franchise concept is to be developed in a parallel process with the development of a new location in a conurbation (Graz). The distribution of the R.U.S.Z. business model at new locations creates added value in Austria and also, from the very beginning, jobs for the permanent employment of formerly long-term unemployed mechatronics engineers, as well as their training as technical experts. The employment and integration of refugees is also intended. For the R.U.S.Z., the use of the brand and know-how in a sustainable business relationship in return for fair compensation by third parties generates additional sales.
A first pilot operation for this concept was opened with the branch of the R.U.S.Z in Graz on December 1, 2017.
Tuning washing machines
Role R.U.S.Z: Project executing organization; Project duration: January 2010 - May 2011
Together with our scientific partner KERP Research Elektronik & Umwelt GmbH, we have developed a technology that "tunes" a used washing machine into an energy-efficient machine that meets today's standards. The technical innovation "washing machine tuning", which in our prototype, a 13-year-old brand-name washing machine, resulted in a water saving of 30% and an energy saving of 20% (with the same cleaning performance), can also be adapted for dishwashers.
Label for durable and repair-friendly designed new electrical equipment
Role R.U.S.Z: Project collaboration; Project duration: 2014
Together with the Austrian Standards Institute and other partners, the R.U.S.Z. has developed the Eco-Design Label for durable and repair-friendly designed new electrical equipment (ON Rule ONR 192102) and updated it in 2014 (ONR 192102:2014).
OREG (Optimal resource management of electrical appliances)
Process optimization for the collection and treatment of WEEE with the aim of achieving the highest possible added value
Role R.U.S.Z: Project partner; Project duration: 2013-2015
The aim of the project was to increase the use of resources by optimizing the collection and treatment processes for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) with regard to ReUse, the use of entire equipments or components and the utilization of the valuable fractions. The project focused on the most important WEEE of the collection categories in terms of quantity and value: Large and small appliances. An essential aspect was the networking of all parties involved in this process.
Erasmus - QualiProSH Electro
Role R.U.S.Z: Project partner; Project duration: 2014-2016
The QualiProSH Electro project includes partners from five European countries. The aim of the project was the development of three business area-specific modules and two modules for the teaching of necessary social competence, as well as the combination of these five new modules and five already completed modules from the predecessor project QualiProSH II to form an overall qualification as "Specialist for old electrical appliances".
Learn more: Erasmus QualiProSH - Project summary
Erasmus+ Project QualiProAIR Escort:
'Qualification and professionalization of the accompaniment of asylum seekers, immigrants and war refugees
Role R.U.S.Z: Project partner; Project duration: 2016-2018
The project, in which 6 institutions from 5 European countries (Finland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Bulgaria) participated, is based on the need for a qualification profile for professional and voluntary companions and advisors of immigrants. During the project period from 2016 to 2018, different educational products were developed on the basis of vocational-scientific studies in the participating countries in order to offer professional qualification to those working in the field and to make their acquired competences and know-how comparable across countries, as well as to promote their labour market mobility.
Learn more: Erasmus+ QualiProAIR Escort - Project summary
Erasmus+ Project "BvB Migration+"
Strategic partnership project BvB Migration plus: Vocational preparation and integration into the training market of refugees and young people with a migration background
Role R.U.S.Z: Project partner; Project duration: September 1, 2018 to August 31, 2020
Under the direction of 'Diakonisches Werk des Kirchenkreises Rendsburg-Eckernförde' (Germany) and together with six European project partners from Austria, the United Kingdom, Spain, Slovenia, Italy and Bulgaria, the project "BvB Migration plus" aims to develop a uniform EU-wide concept of measures for vocational preparation that is tailored to the needs of the target group.
Learn more: Erasmus+ Project summary