The main objective of the CIRCI project is to improve the eco-efficiency of the Slovenian and Norwegian (industrial) ecosystem and to increase the awareness about circular economy through innovation. The project aims to optimize the material and energy flow in the production process using sidestream materials for re-use purposes. The project’s primary goal is to map these sidestream or secondary materials and establish a database that will be a source of information for interested parties. Sidestream materials can be an important material source for different production companies or industries. CIRCI will also consider the administrative implementation of waste legislation in Slovenia as there are some uncertainties about when the status of waste ends or how materials can circulate as sidestream materials, which is the basis of industrial symbiosis. One of the main objectives of the project is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through innovative approaches and the use of ICT to develop new circular business models and to promote industrial symbiosis. CIRCI will directly address the challenges of the transition to circular economy through practical application and raising awareness. The consortium of the CIRCI partnership with Slovenian and Norwegian partners will also ensure knowledge transfer and increase bilateral cooperation. The key activity for achieving the goals of the project will be the establishment of a database of sidestream materials (and energy flows) modelled on the Norwegian database. Based on the results obtained in three selected Slovenian industries (metal processing industry, processing of recyclable plastic resources, electrical industry) we will promote cooperation between companies (either from the same industry or other), research institutions or interested organizations through support instruments (vouchers, business support and educational activities).
Summary of bilateral results
The consortium of the CIRCI partnership with Slovenian and Norwegian partners ensured knowledge transfer and increased bilateral cooperation. The main output of the project – the sidestream database – was the epitome of the knowledge transfer method, as the Slovenian database was modelled after the Norwegian database. Without the collaboration and partnership of the Norwegian partner EYDE Cluster such a project would be much less efficient. Together with the donor project partner we were able to utilize the previously learned lessons and follow the best recommendations for the approach to the project activities. With input of the Norwegian partner the CIRCI project could expand the reach of both databases through more focused promotional activities and a larger reach to target groups in both Slovenia and Norway. Additionally, it gave companies in both countries a chance to work together in the pilot projects of sidestream re-utilization which increased the spread of environmental benefits and bilateral cooperation.
Bilaterally, the partners reaped the positive effects of promoting the Slovenian and Norwegian databases in tandem, as a good practice for introducing the circular economy to the manufacturing industry. Additionally, promoting the voucher scheme in Norway and Slovenia led to collaboration between Norwegian and Slovenian companies, who acted as a consortium in pilot projects, and view this partnership as a possibility in the future.
The partnership led to a wider effect in creating a Handbook for Creating an Industrial Sidestream Database, which compiled the processes and recommendations for countries or organizations to establish a similar sidestream database to map and utilize the potential of sidestreams
Project details
Project info
Period
2014-2021
Project Website
Approval date
Project grant
Grant financing
696960.00€
Final project cost
641758.82€