Organised by DG Research & Innovation (RTD) of the EU Commission, it has been held on 15th December the event to present the funding opportunities for Circular Economy project impacting on Cities and Regions
The Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) is an initiative of the European Commission, launched by the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation as part of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan 2020.
It contributes to the policy objectives of the EU Green Deal, including the 2050 climate neutrality target, and the EU Bioeconomy Strategy. The CCRI is funded by Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation framework programmes.
Combining knowledge sharing, technical and financial support, the initiative assists stakeholders across Europe’s cities and regions, including regional and local authorities, industry representatives, research and technology organisations and civil society. It comprehensive support over the whole life cycle of local and regional circular economy initiatives.
CCRI Projects are research and innovation projects, funded by Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, which are generating innovative knowledge, creating specific skills and demonstrating systemic solutions.
The CCRI Projects boost knowledge sharing, link the CCRI to relevant initiatives and stakeholders, and contribute to supporting cities and regions to implement their Circular Systemic Solutions by testing circular business and governance models.
More specifically, CCRI Projects include demonstration projects, which support the demonstration and deployment of innovative Circular Systemic Solutions at local and regional level, and project development assistance services, which provide project promoters with the technical, economic and legal expertise needed for developing circular economy investments. They also include cross-cutting projects that focus on broader themes, such as governance models.
CCRI Projects can contribute to Pilots and Fellows’ Circular Systemic Solutions in different ways, for instance by sharing analyses of their research results and demonstrated solutions, as well as through project development assistance and dissemination of relevant knowledge in this policy area.