ExpectedOutcome:
Successful proposal will support the delivery of solutions to implement the European Green Deal, the EU circular economy action plan (CEAP) and the EU bioeconomy strategy. The topic will support the transition towards a sustainable, regenerative, inclusive and just circular economy at local and regional scale across the EU and Associated Countries.
Proposals results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
As part of the EU circular economy action plan, the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI)[1] supports the implementation of circular systemic solutions at the local and regional levels by providing financial and technical assistance to cities and regions in the EU and Associated Countries. The CCRI Coordination and Support Office (CCRI-CSO) is responsible for facilitating the implementation of the CCRI and supporting the cooperation, synergies and complementarities between the CCRI Pilot Group and Fellows, CCRI Projects and Associated Partners. In particular, the CCRI-CSO is responsible for providing practical and tailor-made support to the Pilot Group. The CCRI-CSO also helps to identify and analyse the main R&I gaps as well as the (technical, regulatory and financial) barriers and drivers to a local circular economy.
There is a wide range of organisations in Europe that focus on circular economy at the local and regional scale and have the potential to contribute to CCRI, by implementing activities ranging from political engagement, networking, dissemination, research, support to the development and implementation of circular economy action plans and other circular innovative solutions on the ground.
The objective of this topic is to strengthen the collaboration between various relevant initiatives and organisations that support circular economy at the local and regional scale, enhance their capacity to contribute to CCRI, while avoiding overlaps and duplications in their activities. Proposals should build on the activities of the CCRI-CSO, and ensure the proposed activities are complementary. Proposals should set out a clear plan on how they plan to collaborate with the CCRI-CSO, CCRI Pilots and Fellows, CCRI Projects and Associated Partners, for example by undertaking joint activities, workshops or common communication and dissemination activities and/or providing additional technical expertise through dedicated support activities. Selected proposal will thus need to work together with the above-mentioned CCRI counterparts and, if needed, refine their work plan together with the Commission. All the proposals’ activities must be coordinated and implemented in close cooperation and coordination with the CCRI-CSO, as well as explore the possibilities to further build on and make use of outputs produced, in order to ensure complementarities.
Proposals should:
The target group of this topic includes organisations that support circular economy at the local and regional scale. These may include: research and technology organisations, associations of cities and regions, other organisations providing technical assistance to local and regional circular economy initiatives and projects. Proposals should ensure that all evidence, information and project outcomes will be accessible through the CCRI website.
Among other entities, organisations that have already received funding from Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe under CCRI demonstration and project development assistance topics (LC-GD-3-2-2020; HORIZON-CL6-2021-CIRCBIO-01-01; HORIZON-CL6-2021-CIRCBIO-01-02) and/or are currently officially one of the CCRI Associated Partners can be eligible for this topic.
In this topic, the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.
[1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/research-area/environment/circular-economy/circular-cities-and-regions-initiative_en.