Periodic Reporting for period 3 - HOOP (HUB OF CIRCULAR CITIES BOOSTING PLATFORM TO FOSTER INVESTMENTS FOR THE VALORISATION OF URBAN BIOWASTE AND WASTEWATER)
Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2025-03-31
Each European generates around 200 kg of urban biowaste per year, with biowaste representing one of the most important environmental issues. Urban circular bioeconomy (UCBE) approaches offer innovative solutions using biowaste/wastewater as resources for the production of high added-value bioproducts. However, their implementation on industrial scale faces significant technical, economical, legal and administrative barriers (among others). The HOOP project, comprised of 22 partners from 9 EU countries, offered project development assistance (PDA) and tools to overcome these barriers in 8 cities and regions (C&R) of Europe, known as the HOOP Lighthouses (LH): Albano Laziale (IT), Almere (NL), Bergen Region (NO), Greater Porto Region (PT), Kuopio (FI), Münster (DE), Murcia (ES), and Western Macedonia (GR). This PDA was provided by a multidisciplinary team of 14 technical partners aiming to unlock bio-based investment and deploy the UCBE. HOOP continued the legacy work of the Horizon 2020 projects VALUEWASTE, SCALIBUR and WaysTUP!
The PDA consisted of technical and environmental studies, business models, financial engineering, assistance to launch innovative public procurement and stakeholder engagement. The experiences and best practices from the LHs followed a replicability strategy through the UCBE HUB (hoop-hub.eu) a web-based platform comprising: the Virtual Academy, which compiles resources about UCBE (existing and original); the HOOP Network of cities and regions (C&R), offering a framework for discussion, exchange of experiences and knowledge about UCBE across Europe; and other sections of the platform providing self-assessment tools to evaluate the circularity of a territory or a project.
The PDA consisted of technical and environmental studies, business models, financial engineering, assistance to launch innovative public procurement and stakeholder engagement. The experiences and best practices from the LHs followed a replicability strategy through the UCBE HUB (hoop-hub.eu) a web-based platform comprising: the Virtual Academy, which compiles resources about UCBE (existing and original); the HOOP Network of cities and regions (C&R), offering a framework for discussion, exchange of experiences and knowledge about UCBE across Europe; and other sections of the platform providing self-assessment tools to evaluate the circularity of a territory or a project.
Project resources can be found in the HOOP Zenodo Community and HUB with the main ones described as follows:
-Preliminary diagnosis of our C&R: baseline, indicators and circularity label. The circular UCBE for the 8 LHs is the basis for understanding how they function and setting HOOP UCBE Indicators to evaluate the impact.
-Technology mapping and assessment: state-of-the-art (SOA) technologies for the valorization of urban biowaste and urban wastewater sludge were evaluated.
-Development and validation of assessment tools: Circular Valuation Method, Project Maturity Level.
-PDA covers technical, regulatory, and economic aspects, carried out by technical partners. This multidisciplinary approach identified key challenges, bridging the gap between strategies and investment. In addition, Biowaste Clubs engaged quadruple helix stakeholders.
-Getting the necessary funds for the UCBE projects through financial opportunities, innovation public procurement… Since its creation, the Circular Investors Board (CIB) has attracted high interest among the LHs, especially during the 3 Circular Investor Days. Key financial stakeholders, including the European Investment Bank, are among the 20 members of the CIB.
-Replicability/mutual learning is crucial for HOOP and was enabled through the development of a pioneering online platform (the HOOP HUB) hosting the Virtual Academy, the tools and the HOOP Network of C&R.
An overview of the results can be found as follows:
-18 UCEB projects identified, 25 technologies evaluated, 47 technical and 11 environmental studies elaborated.
-More than 50 UCBE reports/manuals, 30 webinars and 7 tools produced.
-60 Biowaste Club meetings held, mobilising 1500+ non-unique stakeholders.
-1460 participants involved in citizen science activities.
-3 open market consultations launched.
-2 policy conferences and 10 National Replication Workshops organized, with the latter involving a total of 117 C&R.
-129 members comprising the HOOP Network of C&R, and 9 study tours organized.
-51 presentations in key sectoral fairs and conferences and 4 peer-reviewed publications.
In terms of exploitation, attention has been focused on 3 key results: HOOP HUB, Network of C&R and PDA methodology. Work among the interested partners is ongoing to continue supporting the HUB, maintain and expand the Network, and offer the services developed.
-Preliminary diagnosis of our C&R: baseline, indicators and circularity label. The circular UCBE for the 8 LHs is the basis for understanding how they function and setting HOOP UCBE Indicators to evaluate the impact.
-Technology mapping and assessment: state-of-the-art (SOA) technologies for the valorization of urban biowaste and urban wastewater sludge were evaluated.
-Development and validation of assessment tools: Circular Valuation Method, Project Maturity Level.
-PDA covers technical, regulatory, and economic aspects, carried out by technical partners. This multidisciplinary approach identified key challenges, bridging the gap between strategies and investment. In addition, Biowaste Clubs engaged quadruple helix stakeholders.
-Getting the necessary funds for the UCBE projects through financial opportunities, innovation public procurement… Since its creation, the Circular Investors Board (CIB) has attracted high interest among the LHs, especially during the 3 Circular Investor Days. Key financial stakeholders, including the European Investment Bank, are among the 20 members of the CIB.
-Replicability/mutual learning is crucial for HOOP and was enabled through the development of a pioneering online platform (the HOOP HUB) hosting the Virtual Academy, the tools and the HOOP Network of C&R.
An overview of the results can be found as follows:
-18 UCEB projects identified, 25 technologies evaluated, 47 technical and 11 environmental studies elaborated.
-More than 50 UCBE reports/manuals, 30 webinars and 7 tools produced.
-60 Biowaste Club meetings held, mobilising 1500+ non-unique stakeholders.
-1460 participants involved in citizen science activities.
-3 open market consultations launched.
-2 policy conferences and 10 National Replication Workshops organized, with the latter involving a total of 117 C&R.
-129 members comprising the HOOP Network of C&R, and 9 study tours organized.
-51 presentations in key sectoral fairs and conferences and 4 peer-reviewed publications.
In terms of exploitation, attention has been focused on 3 key results: HOOP HUB, Network of C&R and PDA methodology. Work among the interested partners is ongoing to continue supporting the HUB, maintain and expand the Network, and offer the services developed.
Through the results described as follows, HOOP represents a step forward in the state-of-the-art which makes this project unique:
-First in its class PDA PROPOSED SCHEME, being customer-oriented, multidisciplinary and flexible.
-EXPERIENCED PARTNERS which will continue working together with the exploitation of the HUB as a service.
-KNOWLEDGE on C&R’s challenges and real needs and technologies.
-Provision of SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOLS.
-Legacy stakeholder engagement and citizen science tools for the development of CIRCULAR ATMOSPHERES.
In terms of impacts, the most important come as follows:
-HOOP mobilised 120+M€ of investments in UCBE in the LHs, with a leverage of x31.
-Non-financial leverage paving the way for future investments (see Booklet/HOOP Tales) in our C&R.
-Consolidation and future continuation of the HOOP Network of C&R.
-Creation of jobs in local economies: 76 direct jobs + 49 forecasted in the short-term.
-Provision of key feedback, orientation and resources for larger initiatives, such as the CCRI: half of the reported economic impact of the CCRI projects is due to HOOP.
-Valuable legacy in the form of know-how, methodologies and tools through the HOOP HUB and Zenodo HOOP Community.
-Proposal of new circular business models: Symbiotic systemic models, Creation of new value-chains, Re-purposing of existing value-chains, B2B.
-Policy: both at local (e.g. implementation of selective collection of biowaste) and EU level through feedback on policy updates and recommendations (e.g. ROOTS paper in Open Research Europe).
-Creation of new markets for bioproducts on different sectors: mainly agriculture, cosmetics and nutrition.
-Contribution to change the mindset of European territories, citizens and promoters towards innovation on UCBE.
The experience accumulated in HOOP has allowed to identify a number of recommendations for the true deployment of UCBE in Europe: i) count with experienced promoters, ii) support projects which are mature enough, iii) each place is different so there is the need to adapt to each particular place, regulation, iv) the financial perspective and stakeholder engagement are key and must be considered from the beginning, and v) the projects need to be technically and regulatory feasible to succeed.
As shown, what is clear is that our C&R, and those replicating our resources, are in a much better position for the deployment of UCBE projects and for the effective implementation of circular economy. They have now access to resources and evaluation methodologies and better knowledge of their urban and social metabolism with the latter being engaged and committed, are better connected with other frontrunner C&R and replicators which see them as a reference, sourced funds for the development of UCBE projects, improved their circular indicators, are now familiarised with public procurement of innovation as a tool to push innovation from the demand side and share technological risks.
Therefore, HOOP contributes to the society/environment/economy by paving the way for the efficient transition to circular bioeconomy in several LHs across Europe, thus contributing to the EU circular economy roadmap. Project continuation is ensured through the exploitation of the HUB and further initiatives and projects involving HOOP partners.
-First in its class PDA PROPOSED SCHEME, being customer-oriented, multidisciplinary and flexible.
-EXPERIENCED PARTNERS which will continue working together with the exploitation of the HUB as a service.
-KNOWLEDGE on C&R’s challenges and real needs and technologies.
-Provision of SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOLS.
-Legacy stakeholder engagement and citizen science tools for the development of CIRCULAR ATMOSPHERES.
In terms of impacts, the most important come as follows:
-HOOP mobilised 120+M€ of investments in UCBE in the LHs, with a leverage of x31.
-Non-financial leverage paving the way for future investments (see Booklet/HOOP Tales) in our C&R.
-Consolidation and future continuation of the HOOP Network of C&R.
-Creation of jobs in local economies: 76 direct jobs + 49 forecasted in the short-term.
-Provision of key feedback, orientation and resources for larger initiatives, such as the CCRI: half of the reported economic impact of the CCRI projects is due to HOOP.
-Valuable legacy in the form of know-how, methodologies and tools through the HOOP HUB and Zenodo HOOP Community.
-Proposal of new circular business models: Symbiotic systemic models, Creation of new value-chains, Re-purposing of existing value-chains, B2B.
-Policy: both at local (e.g. implementation of selective collection of biowaste) and EU level through feedback on policy updates and recommendations (e.g. ROOTS paper in Open Research Europe).
-Creation of new markets for bioproducts on different sectors: mainly agriculture, cosmetics and nutrition.
-Contribution to change the mindset of European territories, citizens and promoters towards innovation on UCBE.
The experience accumulated in HOOP has allowed to identify a number of recommendations for the true deployment of UCBE in Europe: i) count with experienced promoters, ii) support projects which are mature enough, iii) each place is different so there is the need to adapt to each particular place, regulation, iv) the financial perspective and stakeholder engagement are key and must be considered from the beginning, and v) the projects need to be technically and regulatory feasible to succeed.
As shown, what is clear is that our C&R, and those replicating our resources, are in a much better position for the deployment of UCBE projects and for the effective implementation of circular economy. They have now access to resources and evaluation methodologies and better knowledge of their urban and social metabolism with the latter being engaged and committed, are better connected with other frontrunner C&R and replicators which see them as a reference, sourced funds for the development of UCBE projects, improved their circular indicators, are now familiarised with public procurement of innovation as a tool to push innovation from the demand side and share technological risks.
Therefore, HOOP contributes to the society/environment/economy by paving the way for the efficient transition to circular bioeconomy in several LHs across Europe, thus contributing to the EU circular economy roadmap. Project continuation is ensured through the exploitation of the HUB and further initiatives and projects involving HOOP partners.