HOOP project celebrates legacy and final milestones in advancing the urban circular bioeconomy

After four and a half years of collaboration and innovation, the Horizon 2020-funded HOOP project has officially concluded with a final conference and study tour in Spain. The event, held on 25–26 March in Cartagena and Murcia, brought together the HOOP consortium and members of the HOOP Network of Cities and Regions (animated by ACR+) to reflect on the project’s achievements in advancing the urban circular bioeconomy. Over 120 million EUR in investments were mobilised through Project Development Assistance (PDA), supporting territories with technical, legal, and financial guidance. The conference underlined HOOP’s role as the first project to deliver integrated PDA under the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), with speakers calling for continued support to bioeconomy solutions and regulatory frameworks. ACR+ presented the main achievements of the HOOP Network that now includes 129 local and regional authorities, and the invited HOOP Members expressed their interest in networking opportunities, direct exchanges with experts and among peers, and the need to continue these exchanges to achieve their transition toward a more biocircular economy. 

Key messages from the event stressed the importance of tailor-made PDA, early integration of financial perspectives, stakeholder engagement, and innovative procurement approaches. On the second day, participants visited the Murcia East wastewater treatment plant to explore biowaste valorisation technologies, and HOOP Network members who completed the Circularity Label were recognised. While the project ends, the HOOP legacy continues through the ongoing activity of the HOOP Hub and Network, which will remain accessible via a dedicated legacy platform.  

The project’s final report and other publications are now available online, and efforts are underway to secure the HOOP trademark for long-term impact and recognition.