Periodic Reporting for period 2 - 3R - Connect (Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems – Reduce, Reuse and Rethink)
Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2024-08-31
The 3R-Connect project supported the development of interconnected innovation ecosystems across the EU with a starting point in three focus regions; the Greater Copenhagen region, Flanders and Northern Portugal, and the aim of the project was to develop actions contributing to a circular economy within three sectors; plastics, textiles and construction.
The partners mapped and analysed regional capacities and potentials for transformation through the involvement of quadruple helix focus groups to include priorities from different actors in the innovation ecosystems. Based on these mappings, the partners identified cross-regional actions with potential to drive circular transformation across European innovation ecosystems.
To enable concrete collaborations, the partners develop one joint cross-regional action plan for collaborative actions in each of the three focus sectors, particularly focusing on actions for ‘reusing’, ‘reducing' and ‘rethinking’ resources.
Upon the post-project implementation of the action plans, the proposed project is expected to contribute to increased market uptake and adoption of innovative solutions through concrete actions for connecting innovators to public buyers. To prepare the ground for implementation of these actions, the partners submitted a range of applications for funding of the actions. Moreover, the partners conducted capacity building, networking and matchmaking activities for actors from the different ecossytems in order to contribute to a more interconnected innovation ecosystem for circular economy stakeholders in the three regions as well as other EU territories.
The partners mapped and analysed regional capacities and potentials for transformation through the involvement of quadruple helix focus groups to include priorities from different actors in the innovation ecosystems. Based on these mappings, the partners identified cross-regional actions with potential to drive circular transformation across European innovation ecosystems.
To enable concrete collaborations, the partners develop one joint cross-regional action plan for collaborative actions in each of the three focus sectors, particularly focusing on actions for ‘reusing’, ‘reducing' and ‘rethinking’ resources.
Upon the post-project implementation of the action plans, the proposed project is expected to contribute to increased market uptake and adoption of innovative solutions through concrete actions for connecting innovators to public buyers. To prepare the ground for implementation of these actions, the partners submitted a range of applications for funding of the actions. Moreover, the partners conducted capacity building, networking and matchmaking activities for actors from the different ecossytems in order to contribute to a more interconnected innovation ecosystem for circular economy stakeholders in the three regions as well as other EU territories.
The consortium has developed one action plan per sector (plastics, textiles and construction) based on the actions that were developed by the quadruple helix stakeholders in a series of workshops. These action plans will guide joint initiatives, projects and collaborations across the focus regions as well as other regions in the EU to significantly contribute to a shift towards a more circular plastic, textile and construction industry. Since the actions are developed by key stakeholders from the different regions, they reflect priorities and capacities from different types of stakeholders, which also contributes to the commitment from the different actors. The action plans describe the overall challenges and objectives as well as specific steps for implementation, a description of the role for different actors during the implementation and appropriate financing and support mechanisms.
To develop these action plans, the consortium has carried out the following activities:
1. Test and validate the S3-Innovation Model methodology for development of Transformational Actions to Reduce, Reuse and Rethink resources within three sectors; plastics, textile and construction.
2. Map and analyse regional capacities and potentials for reducing, reusing and rethinking resources within plastics, textile and construction.
3. Identify at least 5 transformative activities with potential to drive circular transformation across EU ecosystems
4. Develop joint cross-regional action plans within plastics, textile and construction, particularly focusing on actions for ‘reuse’, ‘reduce’ and ‘rethink’
To develop these action plans, the consortium has carried out the following activities:
1. Test and validate the S3-Innovation Model methodology for development of Transformational Actions to Reduce, Reuse and Rethink resources within three sectors; plastics, textile and construction.
2. Map and analyse regional capacities and potentials for reducing, reusing and rethinking resources within plastics, textile and construction.
3. Identify at least 5 transformative activities with potential to drive circular transformation across EU ecosystems
4. Develop joint cross-regional action plans within plastics, textile and construction, particularly focusing on actions for ‘reuse’, ‘reduce’ and ‘rethink’
Through the project activities, a broad group of quadruple helix actors co-developed the following actions to increase circularity:
Actions for circular plastics:
- Action 1: Support public procurement of innovative solutions for circular economy within plastics
- Action2: Establish decentralized take-back/reuse systems in closed loop settings with large volumes of takeaway packaging )e.g. in airports, festivals and big events where the waste stays on the venue)
- Action 3: Establish centralized reuse systems in open-loop settings such as cities, where the take away packaging from cafes and restaurants is dispersed across larger areas
- Action 4: Implement standardized reusable packaging in collaboration with producers and large flagship companies
- Action 5: Utilize data to ensure transparency, measure impact and inform decision making
Actions for circular textiles:
- Action 1: Establish standardized sorting protocols across the industry
- Action 2: Foster collaboration between municipalities, industries and research institutions to innovate sorting
- Action 3: Increase public awareness and education on the importance of textile recycling
- Action 4: Promote circular design principles to facilitate recyclability
- Action 5: Support public procurement of innovative solutions for circular economy within textiles
Actions for circular construction:
- Action 1: Integration of Digital Inventory Tools
- Action 2: Create Integrated Local Reuse Networks Across the EU
- Action 3: Support Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions for Circular Economy within Construction
The actions are described in detail in three joint action plans for circular transformation in plastics, textiles and construction industries, and they will lay the ground for new projects and initiatives to be implemented in the coming years. On the medium- to long term, this will lead to the following impacts:
Economic and technological impacts:
Several applications for funding have been submitted to national and European funding agencies to fund implementation of the actions that were planned in the 3R Connect project. SMEs and other actors with innovative solutions have been involved in these applications, and the aim is to increase the market uptake and adoption of innovative solutions. Some applications have already been approved within the project period, while others are still pending. A working group in the International Cleantech Network is continuously working to submit further applications for funding to implement the actions.
Scientific impacts:
Throughout the project, more than 600 quadruple helix actors from various EU regions have been involved in co-creation, co-planning, knowledge sharing and capacity building. In particular, SMEs, startups and research actors have been involved in cross regional activities. This has laid the ground for a more interconnected research and innovation infrastructure across regions.
Societal impacts:
To ensure that the developed actions match the needs from different stakeholders in the ecosystem, specific needs and priorities of different groups of society have been mapped and analysed, and used as the foundation for co-development of joint action.
Actions for circular plastics:
- Action 1: Support public procurement of innovative solutions for circular economy within plastics
- Action2: Establish decentralized take-back/reuse systems in closed loop settings with large volumes of takeaway packaging )e.g. in airports, festivals and big events where the waste stays on the venue)
- Action 3: Establish centralized reuse systems in open-loop settings such as cities, where the take away packaging from cafes and restaurants is dispersed across larger areas
- Action 4: Implement standardized reusable packaging in collaboration with producers and large flagship companies
- Action 5: Utilize data to ensure transparency, measure impact and inform decision making
Actions for circular textiles:
- Action 1: Establish standardized sorting protocols across the industry
- Action 2: Foster collaboration between municipalities, industries and research institutions to innovate sorting
- Action 3: Increase public awareness and education on the importance of textile recycling
- Action 4: Promote circular design principles to facilitate recyclability
- Action 5: Support public procurement of innovative solutions for circular economy within textiles
Actions for circular construction:
- Action 1: Integration of Digital Inventory Tools
- Action 2: Create Integrated Local Reuse Networks Across the EU
- Action 3: Support Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions for Circular Economy within Construction
The actions are described in detail in three joint action plans for circular transformation in plastics, textiles and construction industries, and they will lay the ground for new projects and initiatives to be implemented in the coming years. On the medium- to long term, this will lead to the following impacts:
Economic and technological impacts:
Several applications for funding have been submitted to national and European funding agencies to fund implementation of the actions that were planned in the 3R Connect project. SMEs and other actors with innovative solutions have been involved in these applications, and the aim is to increase the market uptake and adoption of innovative solutions. Some applications have already been approved within the project period, while others are still pending. A working group in the International Cleantech Network is continuously working to submit further applications for funding to implement the actions.
Scientific impacts:
Throughout the project, more than 600 quadruple helix actors from various EU regions have been involved in co-creation, co-planning, knowledge sharing and capacity building. In particular, SMEs, startups and research actors have been involved in cross regional activities. This has laid the ground for a more interconnected research and innovation infrastructure across regions.
Societal impacts:
To ensure that the developed actions match the needs from different stakeholders in the ecosystem, specific needs and priorities of different groups of society have been mapped and analysed, and used as the foundation for co-development of joint action.