The INCIRCULAR Final Conference marked the conclusion of an important three-year chapter of collaboration. The two-day event brought together project partners as well as experts and representatives from industry, research and public institutions. Held under the title “Looping Circular Plastics Innovation Across Allied European Regions”, the final conference in Ljubljana on 24 September explored strategic directions for the future of plastics circularity in Europe, complemented by presentations of technology-driven circular business models and opportunities for their transfer into industrial practice.
The conference opened a broader discussion on the future of plastics circularity across different sectors, with a particular focus on construction, automotive and home appliances. Discussions also addressed the opportunities and challenges of the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) instrument, as well as the role of digital solutions and cohesion policy in supporting the transition towards a circular economy. An important part of the programme focused on technology-driven circular business models and their potential for replication and transfer into industrial practice. Presentations of innovation projects funded through INCIRCULAR project provided participants with practical insights into how circular solutions can move from development and demonstration towards real-world industrial application.
The day before the final conference, on 23 September, project partners visited Slovenian examples of good practice at OMAPLAST Reciklaža Plastike and Gorenje I.P.C., two industrial environments that have played an important role in the project. Particular attention was given to the key results achieved through INCIRCULAR project, including the established recycling line for the internal recycling of post-industrial waste, comprising a mill and extrusion line, as well as a new mould equipped with temperature and pressure sensors and a smart fault detection system. The partners also reviewed the project’s key performance indicators and opportunities for further use and development of the solutions achieved.
Although the INCIRCULAR project is now coming to an end, the conference concluded with a shared commitment to continue building new connections, explore opportunities for further cooperation and find pathways to implement the project results, contributing to a more circular future for plastics across European industry.
About INCIRCULAR project
INCIRCULAR (INtegrating Cybernated Innovation to Raise the Scale of Circular Units Looping Allied Regions) is a three-year project (2023–2026) co-funded by the European Union through the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) instrument. It brings together innovation ecosystems from Slovenia, France and Spain to accelerate the adoption of circular solutions in the plastics industry.
