A step into a green future: Circular4.0 finalist for the REGIOSTARS 2023 award
02. 08. 2023
We are proud to announce that the Circular4.0 project (Interreg Alpine Space) has been selected as a finalist among 228 European projects for the REGIOSTARS 2023 award, presented by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional Policy since 2008. Over the years, this award has become a European label of excellence for EU funded projects that demonstrate the impact on regional development in the European community. Circular4.0 has been chosen for the award in the highly competitive category of 'Competitive and Smart Europe' due to its exceptional contribution to the green and digital transition, the significant role it plays in the economic, policy, and societal twin transition as well as its significant contribution to adapting the economy in the Alpine region to global challenges such as climate change and limited resources.
The purpose of the Circular4.0 project was to introduce digital technologies that facilitate the transition of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into the circular economy in the Alpine region. Project partners have developed tools for implementing new technologies and assessing circularity to create innovative circular business models, contributing to a more sustainable future in the Alpine region.
The Technology Park Ljubljana was the lead partner of the Circular4.0 project. From Slovenia Jožef Stefan Institute was also collaborating as a project partner. All together there were 15 project partners from five Alpine countries collaborating on the Circular4.0. The project results have had significant developmental effects in other European macro-regions as well. The project has fostered exceptional collaboration among various organizations and individuals actively involved in the circular economy field. The Alpine Circular4.0 community of stakeholders in the circular economy within the EUSALP macro-region has been formed, continuing in line with the developed Circular4.0 action plan.
Circular4.0 trained nearly 300 SMEs with the necessary skills and knowledge for transitioning into the circular economy through digitalization, innovation, business model transformation, and investment promotion. The project has highlighted the significance of digitalization and the pivotal role the new technologies play in the transition of SMEs to the circular economy such as digital twins, the Internet of Things, blockchain, artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing etc. Circular4.0's toolset and trainings, implemented by project partners, has empowered SMEs, preparing them for their tween transition. Circular4.0's toolset, training programs, and success cases of circular and digital transformation of SMEs are available on the web site Circular40.eu – Circular and DMA tools for Circular 40 project.
From September 14th to November 14th, 2023, you can vote for our Circular4.0 project on the REGIOSTARS awards platform https://regiostarsawards.eu
The announcement of the REGIOSTARS 2023 award winners will take place in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on November 16th, 2023.
Together, we are building a more sustainable and innovative future in the Alpine region.
Project partners Circular4.0:
- Tehnološki park Ljubljana d.o.o., Slovenia (Lead Partner)
- Technische Hochschule Rosenheim, Germany
- Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft GmbH, Austria
- Innovation Salzbourg GmbH, Austria
- Business Upper Austria – OÖ Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH, Austria
- Veneto Innovazione S.p.A., Italy
- Grand E-nov, France
- Auvergne-Rhône-Al pes Entreprises, France
- Institut Jožef Stefan, Slovenia
- Fondazione Piemonte Innova, Italy
- Confindustria Bergamo, Italy
- Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato e Agricoltura di Venezia Rovigo, Italy
- Trägerverein Umwelttechnologie - Cluster Bayern e.V., Germany
- RISINGSUD - Agencede développement économique de larégion Sud Provence-Alpes-Côt e d’Azur, France
- Bwcon GmbH, Germany