Greater Region project on circular economy of materials and metals (UniGR-CIRKLA)

The University of the Greater Region (UniGR), through its UniGR-CIRKLA initiative – which aims to develop a comprehensive portfolio of training, research and innovation projects in the circular economy sector – has just been awarded significant funding from the Interreg VI Greater Region programme for the establishment of a second centre of expertise dedicated to the transition to a circular economy of materials and metals. Coordinated by the University of Liège, the UniGR-CIRKLA project aims to continue to position the Greater Region as a European model for the efficient management of critical raw material to recover from technological resources and waste. The transition to a circular economy in the Greater Region is an ambitious project aimed at bringing together various stakeholders to promote a more sustainable economic model. This strategic initiative revolves around three main axes: society, territory and innovation, all interconnected to promote increased circularity of materials and metals. By building on cross-border synergies and strengthening smart specialisation strategies, the Greater Region aims to become a leading example in the heart of Europe in terms of resource and waste management. 1. Society – Raising awareness and involving · Organization of a “circular road show” · Executive-Education program dedicated to the circular economy · Summer School on Entrepreneurship in the circular economy As part of this transition, several actions have been planned to raise awareness and actively involve society in this process. The organization of a travelling exhibition that aims to educate young people on the entire life cycle of manufactured products, from their extraction to their disposal. The establishment of an Executive Education programme dedicated to the circular economy will provide companies and students with high-level training, complemented by seminars and visits. Finally, a summer school on entrepreneurship in the circular economy will stimulate innovation by encouraging PhD students to take on multidisciplinary challenges in collaboration with industrial partners. 2. Territory – Fostering circularity · Buildings as a material bank · Material Flow Mapping · Repair, Reuse & Recycling Centers To promote circularity at the territorial level, concrete actions are proposed. The transformation of buildings into material banks will make it possible to plan the reuse and recycling of the materials used from the design stage. Similarly, mapping steel flows in the region will facilitate the development of cross-border collection and sorting strategies, thus minimizing environmental impact. In addition, the establishment of repair, reuse and recycling centres will encourage the collection and repair of electrical and electronic devices before they are recycled, while promoting citizen repair initiatives. 3. Innovation – Promoting innovation · Creation of a knowledge center · Cross-border incubation community Finally, to promote innovation and intelligence in the transition to a circular economy, specific actions are proposed. The creation of a knowledge hub will provide a centralized access point to expertise and resources in the field of the circular economy of technological materials. In addition, the cross-border incubation will offer opportunities for project leaders and investors to meet, thus promoting the development of innovative solutions in the Greater Region. The transition to a circular economy in the Greater Region is based on a holistic approach involving society, territory and innovation. By joining forces, the region’s stakeholders aspire to transform their territory into an exemplary model of sustainability and efficient resource management, thus contributing to the construction of a more environmentally friendly future. The UniGR-CIRKLA project covers the historical regions of the mining and steel basin of central Europe: Lorraine, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Luxembourg and Wallonia. It brings together centuries-old know-how in metals and minerals processing and management with 7 universities and 1 industrial research centre. They are surrounded with more than twenty 20 major players from industry, society and politics.