The partners of the SMART CIRCUIT project concluded their collaboration by seeking answers to the question of how to put the circular economy into practice in Eastern Europe. The international conference “Transferring Circularity to Eastern Europe: From Strategy to Actual Impact,” hosted in Ljubljana by TECOS Slovenian Tool and Die Development Center, as a project partner, brought together policymakers, industry representatives, innovation stakeholders, and project partners with the aim of finding concrete solutions for a more effective transfer of circular economy principles into regional and industrial practice. The video of the conference in available below.
The conference highlighted, above all, the key results of the three-year collaboration within the SMART CIRCUIT project. Particular attention was paid to the applicability of the project results and the support mechanisms of innovation ecosystems, including European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), in supporting businesses.
TECOS presented the results of the work package dedicated to the development and piloting of tools and approaches necessary for manufacturers’ circular transition. TECOS’s activities focused on the design, testing, and implementation of industrial solutions, as well as the scaling up of sustainable systems to upgrade value chains.
The presentation on the work of the Strategy Dissemination Lab and the international panel discussion addressed the challenges of aligning the strategic goals of the circular economy with industrial practice. The discussion confirmed that enhanced collaboration between industry, policymakers, digital innovation hubs, and regional support ecosystems is crucial for a successful circular transition.
Participants also discussed the role of digital solutions for circularity, supporting policies, and opportunities for further collaboration. Although the SMART CIRCUIT project is coming to a close, the developed solutions, partnerships, and mechanisms for further collaboration will remain active even after its conclusion.
At TECOS, we are extremely proud of the project’s results, and the concrete and practical outcomes are the result of the excellent collaboration within the SMART CIRCUIT partner consortium. We would like to thank all speakers, partners, and participants for their successful contributions and for enriching the event’s program.
