CircUpscale

Work Carried Out and Objectives Reached

The CircUpscale project effectively addressed several common challenges in the NPA area, focusing on upscaling circular economy initiatives. Key activities included:

1. Consortium Building and Networking: the project solidified a robust partnership and 8 networks across the NPA area that are complementary to the partnership and identified as crucial for the success of the CircUpscale project. This setup will support a transnational approach to circular economy solutions.

2. Stakeholder Engagement: Extensive stakeholder mapping and feasibility studies were conducted to identify and engage relevant partners, ensuring their alignment with the project's goals. The partners identified 72 organisations from 5 countries, assessed their impact on the project and based on this it developed an engagement strategy.

3. Project Preparation: Detailed work on the project proposal, including the development of a comprehensive project plan, budget framework, and pilot evaluations, was carried out collaboratively.

4. Feasibility Studies and Pilot Projects: The project identified 10 potential pilot projects across 3 countries and evaluated their feasibility, setting the groundwork for transnational cooperation in upscaling these initiatives.

Added-Value of the Cooperation

The transnational cooperation was crucial for the project's success, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and innovation across the NPA area. This approach allowed for:

1. Benchmarking and Joint Development: Sharing best practices and developing joint methodologies for circular economy initiatives.
2. Enhanced Networking: Facilitating connections between diverse stakeholders, including SMEs, large enterprises, public authorities, and research institutions.
3. Capacity Building: Strengthening the skills and knowledge base of all partners involved, promoting sustainable practices tailored to the unique challenges of the NPA region.