Circular Minds

Presentation

The Circular Minds project seeks to improve the implementation of regional development policies in the field of governance of organisations and authorities for Circular Economy, in particular by scaling up positive impact of public circular economy practices by (public) organisations, with a focus on procurement. The project promotes new Circular Economy projects, improves governance by inserting practical capacity building tools and implements a mindset shift in organizations through the review of Policy instruments and dissemination of practical insights.

The Circular Minds project seeks to bring about lasting policy changes by embedding circular practices into local governance systems. Through capacity building, it will equip partner organisations, public authorities, and stakeholders with the tools needed to effectively implement circular economy strategies. The project will also promote the sharing of Good Practices, allowing regions to adapt the best solutions to their specific needs. By fostering a mindset shift within organizations, Circular Minds will encourage a deeper understanding of the circular economy’s broader impact, enabling more ambitious circular procurement practices.

Project funded under the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union, 2021- 2027.

Activities

The Circular Minds Project operates on both interregional and regional levels, with a variety of interconnected activities to ensure comprehensive learning and application:

Interregional Level

  • 8 Interregional Events and Thematic Workshops: These in-person workshops bring together experts and stakeholders to tackle core issues like organizational governance, regulatory changes, and cultural perspectives. Each session will address unique regional challenges and opportunities.
  • 7 Site Visits: Hosted in partner regions, these study visits provide hands-on learning experiences to see successful circular economy practices in action.
  • Online Technical Meetings: Regular online meetings (1-2 per semester) help partners align on approaches, validate processes, and review progress between in-person events.

Regional Level

  • Stakeholder Group Meetings: Once per semester, each region will hold meetings with local stakeholders to share the knowledge gained at interregional events. Stakeholders will offer feedback and collaborate on improving circular practices, providing real-life examples and solutions.

Partners

The project leader is the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management - Rijkswaterstaat (NL) and its project partners are:

  • ACR+, Association of Cities and Regions for Sustainable Resource Management (BE)

  • City of Lund (SE)

  • Cleantech Bulgaria Foundation (BG)

  • Commission for Regional Development and Coordination of the Alentejo (PT)

  • Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul de la Junta de Andalucía (ES)

  • Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority HSY (FI)

  • Province of Antwerp (BE)

  • South Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency (HU)

Organisers / Managers