Circular Cities and Regions Initiative tackles investment in circular economy initatives

26 November 2024 Built Environment, Policy and Governance, ACR+ News

The Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) held on 13 October its 3rd Coordination and Support Workshop on "Making Circular Investments Pay Off for Cities and Regions" in Brussels. The event brought together over 100 stakeholders, including funders, investors, and project representatives, to address the financial hurdles faced by circular economy projects. The workshop also highlighted the value of the CCRI framework in providing visibility and support for circular projects through clustering activities.

During the workshop, CCRI held meetings of its Thematic Working Groups, such as the one on Circular Buildings and Construction. Its session showcased innovative projects, including an initiative from the Flemish Region, an ACR+ member, that incorporated circular criteria, such as reused steel frames and flooring, into its tender process. Learn more about this meeting on the page of our Built Environment Thematic Area. Meanwhile, the Thematic Working Group on Circular Bioeconomy featured presentations by organisations like the European Investment Bank and the Circular Bioeconomy Fund, which emphasised the importance of partnerships in securing investment.

In addition, ACR+ led a Thematic Working Group session on exploring strategies for project development and funding. The DECISO project shared insights from PDA projects implemented across four EU countries, highlighting lessons learned and challenges faced. The Central Denmark Region presented its experience in leveraging EU co-funding through a LIFE IP proposal to support the implementation of its Circular Economy Strategy, Beyond Waste. These discussions offered valuable perspectives on navigating funding opportunities to advance circular economy goals.