Main Objective

The initiative aimed to reduce fragmentation in raw materials R&I funding by launching joint transnational calls—one EU cofunded in 2017 and additional ones in 2018 and 2019—covering the full value chain from exploration and mining to processing, recycling, and substitution of critical raw materials. This fostered pan-European and global cooperation while aligning with the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Raw Materials.

Strategic Objectives

• Promote R&I cooperation and synergies between regional, national, and EU-level funding.
• Provide a support network with financial resources to enhance coordination and collaboration.
• Improve efficiency of investments in raw materials R&I, emphasizing sustainable supply, circular approaches, and demand-driven innovation.

Key Deliverables and Outcomes

Deliverables included lists of funded projects from the three calls (e.g., bio-hydrometallurgy for e-waste, mine tailings valorization), a Strategic Research Agenda, and liaison activities with industry and other initiatives to avoid duplication. It supported projects advancing exploration, mining closure, product design for recycling/substitution, and secondary resource recovery.

Main Objective

The project developed and validated a transferable Renaturing Urban Plans (RUP) methodology, integrating NBS into urban planning for climate adaptation, resource efficiency, and biodiversity enhancement. It piloted over 40 NBS interventions, such as green roofs/walls, rain gardens, urban forests, and pocket parks, while monitoring impacts via sensors and citizen engagement tools.

Strategic Objectives

• Create scalable RUP guidelines with diagnosis tools, NBS scenario modeling, zoning, and impact assessment frameworks.
• Implement transformative greening in demo sites, emphasizing blue-green infrastructure, water management, and social innovations like community gardens.
• Build a global network of follower cities (e.g., Mantova, Medellín) for replication, supported by handbooks, business models, and policy toolkits.

Key Deliverables and KPIs

Deliverables included the RUP Handbook, monitoring reports showing reduced urban heat (up to 5°C cooling), improved air/water quality, and 20% biodiversity gains, plus a global NBS platform. KPIs tracked NBS performance (e.g., CO2 sequestration, flood reduction), stakeholder engagement (thousands involved), and replication success in 20+ cities.

EC signature date25 October 2018
Start date1 November 2018
End date31 December 2021

WoodCircus was a Horizon 2020 EU project involving 17 partners from the forest-based sector, aimed at promoting circular bioeconomy practices in woodworking value chains, particularly for wood construction. It focused on resource efficiency, waste management, and recycling to boost the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability.

Main Objective

The project sought to identify, evaluate, and disseminate best practices in process efficiency, wood waste collection, management, and recycling across European woodworking chains. By validating transferable solutions and providing evidence-based decision support, it aimed to minimize waste, enhance cascade use of wood resources, and connect rural economies to urban construction demands.

Strategic Objectives

• Compile empirical knowledge on wood-based value chains, from mobilization and transformation to reuse/recycling.
• Raise awareness, engage stakeholders (industries, RTOs, policymakers), and address regulatory barriers.
• Foster a self-sustaining WoodCircus Network for ongoing collaboration beyond the project lifetime.

Key Deliverables

Outputs included typologies of best-performing supply chains, an RTDI plan for wood industries toward circular economy, a White Paper with policy recommendations endorsed by stakeholders, and establishment of the WoodCircus Network linking technical institutes, industries, and policymakers.

Main Objective

The project sought to develop new circular value chains by cross-fertilizing traditional SMEs with design thinking experts and circular disruptors. It selected 24 “Classic SMEs” for a 4-phase Circularity Program to create 12 innovative solutions, which were then replicated in 42 “Adopter SMEs” facing similar challenges, fostering regional “CE Champions” and a scalable methodology.

Key Programs

• Circularity Program: A 9-month acceleration scheme offering up to €60,000 vouchers per selected SME, plus designers-in-residence and mentors to develop circularity solutions.
• Value Chain Replication Program: 3-month support for adopter SMEs, providing €15,000 vouchers to create feasibility plans and integrate proven solutions.

Deliverables and Impact

Outputs included 24 circularity solutions, feasibility plans for adopters, a “Circular Design Toolkit for Regions” to mainstream the approach EU-wide, and leveraged €6 million in follow-on funding from investors. The initiative emphasized technology implementation, business coaching, and pitching support to ensure long-term adoption.

Main Objective

The core goal was to establish a sustainable platform uniting programme owners, research organizations, and diverse stakeholders—like civil society, industry, SMEs, cities, and investors—to drive efficient circular economy research, development, and innovation (RDI). This platform aimed to address national and regional diversity via benchmarking, stakeholder mapping, and consultation mechanisms, ultimately reducing fragmentation in priorities, funding, and legal frameworks.

Strategic Objectives

• Map the state-of-the-art through benchmarking to identify synergies, gaps, duplications, and best practices in circular economy RDI.
• Develop a prioritisation methodology, culminating in a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), ex-ante impact assessments, and a policy toolkit for decision-makers.
• Define the future platform’s governance, legal frameworks, and financial sustainability model to ensure longevity beyond the project end.

Key Deliverables

Key outputs included stakeholder consultations, a benchmarking report on RDI priorities and mechanisms, the SRIA for joint circular economy programming, policy recommendations with best practices, and foundational elements for the ongoing EU Circular Cooperation Hub platform. These were designed to foster systemic collaboration toward net-zero goals aligned with the EU Green Deal.

KPIs and Performance Indicators

Specific public KPIs were not detailed in project summaries, but success hinged on metrics like stakeholder engagement levels, platform adoption post-project, SRIA implementation uptake by programme owners, and identified improvements in RDI synergies or gap closures. Sustainability of the platform was a key target indicator.​

DOI

10.3030/776745

Project closed

EC signature date30 October 2017

Start date1 December 2017

End date31 December 2020

This summary provides a structured overview of the COLLECTORS project (2017–2020), which focused on harmonizing waste collection data to help European decision-makers transition to a circular economy.

 Project Context & Objectives

While the EU generates 2.5 billion tonnes of waste annually, much of it contains valuable industrial materials. The “bottleneck” to recycling is often the collection stage, which varies wildly across regions.

• Target Streams: Paper & Packaging, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), and Construction & Demolition Waste (CDW).
• Primary Goal: To identify and “export” successful collection models from high-performing regions to those lagging behind.
• Assessment Pillars: Evaluating systems not just on volume, but on quality of materials, economics, environmental impact, and societal acceptance.

 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Results

The project focused on moving from raw data to actionable “Good Practices.”

 Main Deliverables & Phases

The project followed a sequential three-phase methodology:

1. Inventory Phase

• COLLECTORS Web Portal: A public, searchable database (www.collectors2020.eu) that standardizes how collection data is reported, allowing for “apples-to-apples” comparisons between different cities and countries.
• Knowledge Library: A centralized repository of existing studies and reports on waste management.

2. Assessment Phase

• Multicriteria Analysis: Beyond simple weight metrics, the project analyzed the purity of collected waste (crucial for recycling) and the cost-benefit ratio for local municipalities.
• Societal Acceptance: Studied how different collection methods (e.g., door-to-door vs. drop-off points) affect citizen participation and satisfaction.

3. Implementation (Ongoing/Future)

• Policy Guidelines: Translating the assessment of the 12 good practices into practical manuals for regional authorities.
• Capacity Building: Tools and workshops designed to increase the technical expertise of waste management decision-makers.

 Socio-Economic & Societal Impact

COLLECTORS acts as a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), meaning its value lies in bridging the gap between theory and practice:

• Informed Decision-Making: Local authorities no longer have to “reinvent the wheel”; they can use the portal to find a region similar to theirs that has already solved a specific collection challenge.
• Secondary Raw Materials: By improving collection quality, the project directly supports European industry’s access to sustainable, recycled materials, reducing reliance on imports.
• Citizen Engagement: Through focus groups, the project highlighted that successful waste systems require “buy-in” from the public, emphasizing the human element in technical infrastructure.

DOI

10.3030/821479

Project closed

EC signature date3 May 2019

Start date1 June 2019

End date30 November 2023

This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the Pop-Machina project (2019–2023), a Horizon 2020 initiative that explored the synergy between the maker movement and the circular economy.

 Project Context & Objectives

Pop-Machina aimed to demonstrate that collaborative production—communities making things together—is a powerful tool for urban regeneration and circularity. Instead of “Take-Make-Waste,” the project empowered citizens to use secondary raw materials (waste) to create new products.

• Pilot Cities: Implemented in 7 European cities: Leuven (BE), Istanbul (TR), Thessaloniki & Piraeus (GR), Santander (ES), Venlo (NL), and Kaunas (LT).
• Maker Empowerment: Focused on providing the digital and physical infrastructure for “circular makerspaces” where people can repair, recycle, and upcycle.
• Inclusion: A strong focus on empowering underrepresented groups, including women and vulnerable communities, through skill development.

 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Innovation

The project utilized “Social Industry 4.0” technologies to bridge the gap between hobbyist making and professional circular business models.

 Main Deliverables & Demonstrators

1. The Social Collaboration Platform (SCP)

The “digital heart” of the project, the SCP allowed makers to:

• Connect & Share: Find nearby makers and makerspaces.
• Book Equipment: Real-time booking of digital fabrication tools (3D printers, laser cutters).
• Marketplace: A hub to sell circular products or services to the community.

2. Tokenization & Value Chain Certification

• Tokenization of Work: Using Blockchain (BaaS), the project introduced the POP token. Users earn tokens by performing circular tasks (e.g., uploading training videos, recycling materials) and can spend them on services or materials within the marketplace.
• Certification Framework: A mechanism to verify the “circularity” of a product’s value chain, ensuring that items produced in makerspaces meet sustainability standards.

3. Urban Metabolism & Maker Mapping

• Circular Maker Passport: A tool developed to characterize the unique “circular profile” of makers and spaces in each pilot city.
• Urban Metabolism Reports: Detailed analysis of how materials flow through cities and where makerspaces can intervene to “close the loop.”

 Socio-Economic & Societal Impact

Pop-Machina moved beyond academic research to create a lasting “circular maker ecosystem”:

• Entrepreneurship: The Circular Maker Accelerator helped transition DIY projects into viable, market-ready circular businesses.
• Social Welfare: By providing free access to high-tech tools and training, the project reduced inequalities and fostered social cohesion.
• Environmental Resilience: Reduced city dependence on raw material imports by maximizing the reuse of local waste streams.
• Legacy: The POP-MACHINA Replication Guides provide a blueprint for any city in the world to adopt this model and turn their “waste” into “wasterials.”

DOI

10.3030/821000

Project closed

EC signature date3 May 2019

Start date1 June 2019

End date30 November 2022

 Project Context & Objectives

Mineral wool (insulation) represents a significant environmental challenge. Although it makes up only 0.2% of CDW by weight, its low density means it occupies a disproportionately large volume in landfills, where costs are expected to rise above €100/t.

• The “Wasterial” Goal: Convert under-exploited mineral wool into sustainable raw materials for the construction industry.
• The Innovation: Using Alkali-activation (Geopolymerization) to turn the reactive silica and alumina in wool into a binder, replacing CO2-intensive Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC).
• The Circular Loop: Spans from pre-demolition audits and robotized demolition to smart sorting and final product manufacturing.

 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Results

The project successfully demonstrated that mineral wool is a viable secondary raw material at an industrial scale.

 Main Deliverables & Work Performed

The project moved through the entire value chain to prove the feasibility of the circular concept:

1. Smart Demolition & Sorting

• On-site Analysis: Utilized time-gated Raman spectroscopy and handheld XRF technology to identify material composition before demolition.
• Audit Guidelines: Created standardized procedures for pre-demolition audits involving mineral wool.

2. Pre-treatment Technologies

• Processing: Developed systems for compression, shredding, and ball milling to achieve the specific particle size required for geopolymerization.
• Environmental Safety: Successfully managed risks related to organic resin content and ammonia emissions during the activation process.

3. Novel Construction Products

Large-scale pilots produced a variety of AAM (Alkali-Activated Material) products:

• Precast Elements: Pavement slabs, facade elements, and reinforced wall panels.
• Acoustic Panels: Utilizing the inherent properties of the original wool.
• Dry Mixes: Floor screed and 3D-printing concrete materials.

 Impact & Policy Recommendations

WOOL2LOOP positioned itself as a key contributor to the EU Green Deal and the Paris Agreement by decoupling economic activity from resource depletion.

Key Barriers Identified

Despite the success, the project highlighted five hurdles for market uptake:

1. Shortage of traditional slag/binders.
2. Lack of collection infrastructure for secondary raw materials.
3. Outdated building codes.
4. High investment costs for upscaling.
5. Market conservatism toward non-OPC concrete.

Policy Recommendations

• Taxation: Implement taxes on virgin materials or landfilling to make “wasterials” more competitive.
• Performance Standards: Shift building codes from “material-based” to “performance-based” to allow for new low-carbon cements.
• Green Procurement: Encourage public bodies to require LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) data for all building products.

DOI

10.3030/690047

Project closed

EC signature date3 May 2016

Start date1 June 2016

End date31 May 2019

This summary provides a structured overview of the Urban_Wins project, which focused on the “Urban Metabolism” approach to transform waste management into a circular, participatory process across European cities.

 Project Context & Objectives

Urban_Wins addressed the inefficiency of traditional waste policies by applying Urban Metabolism (UM)—a model that treats cities like living organisms, analyzing the flow of materials, energy, and water to optimize consumption.

• The UMAn Model: Applied to 7 pilot cities to map material flows (inflows vs. outflows), identifying where raw materials come from and where waste ends up.
• Participatory Planning: Beyond just data, the project aimed to co-design waste strategies with the people actually living and working in these cities.
• The Goal: To move from reactive waste management to proactive, circular urban planning that reduces dependence on raw materials.

 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Outcomes

The project successfully integrated scientific data with massive stakeholder engagement to produce measurable results.

 Main Deliverables & Work Performed

Urban_Wins produced a comprehensive toolkit for city planners and researchers to replicate their success:

1. The Urban Metabolism Toolkit

• MFA Manual: A guide for collecting the 23 datasets needed to analyze a city’s material flows.
• Indicator Dashboard: A set of metabolism indicators for 8 pilot cities to monitor progress toward circularity.
• Policy Analysis: A review of waste strategies across 6 EU countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and Austria).

2. The “Agoras” (Participatory Model)

• Physical & Online Agoras: Created a space for citizens, NGOs, and SMEs to co-design 164 action proposals.
• 26 Pilot Actions: Real-world testing of ideas, ranging from school awareness campaigns to local waste management plans (e.g., in Manresa).

3. Roadmaps for the Future

• 8 Local Roadmaps: Specific paths for pilot cities to reach a circular economy.
• 1 EU Roadmap: A high-level strategic document to guide future urban planning at the European level.

 Socio-Economic & Societal Impact

The project demonstrated that science-based planning is more effective when paired with social engagement.

• Environmental Benefit: Direct reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, soil use, and hazardous substances through optimized material flows.
• Social Cohesion: The “Agoras” strengthened the sense of community belonging, giving citizens a voice in “the common good” and urban welfare.
• Economic Shift: By involving 1,000 SMEs, the project catalyzed the transition to circular business models, reducing costs associated with raw material consumption.
• Replicability: The modular Urban_Wins toolkit allows any EU city to adopt these methods, whether they want to focus on data (MFA) or stakeholder participation (Agoras).

DOI

10.3030/776758

Project closed

EC signature date31 October 2017

Start date1 December 2017

End date31 August 2021

This summary provides a structured overview of the CLIC (Circular models Leveraging Investments in Cultural heritage adaptive reuse) project, highlighting its efforts to bridge cultural heritage with the circular economy paradigm.

 Project Context & Objectives

CLIC addressed the “abandonment crisis” of European cultural heritage. While many sites are seen as financial burdens, the project reframed them as investments that can drive sustainable development.

• The Paradigm Shift: Moving from a “Take-Make-Waste” demolition model to Adaptive Reuse, which conserves the “embodied energy” of buildings and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
• The Human Dimension: Reframing heritage as a “Common Good”—a shared resource that builds relational values, community health, and social inclusion.
• Evaluation Tools: Developing methods to calculate the “complex social value” of heritage, making a business case for restoration over demolition.

 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Results

The project focused on validating circular models through local partnerships and competitive innovation.

 Main Deliverables & Work Performed

CLIC utilized a trans-disciplinary approach to provide practical tools for cities and investors:

1. Heritage Innovation Partnerships (HIPs)

The project established HIPs in four diverse pilot areas to co-create Local Action Plans (LAPs):

• Salerno (Italy): Focusing on urban regeneration.
• Rijeka (Croatia): Linking industrial heritage with the “European Capital of Culture” context.
• Västra Götaland (Sweden): Focusing on regional rural landscapes.
• Amsterdam (Netherlands): Collaboration with the Pakhuis de Zwijger cultural foundation.

2. Decision Support System (DSS)

• Developed a toolkit for policy-makers to assess the multidimensional impacts (cultural, social, environmental, and economic) of reuse projects.
• Included “tri-profit” metrics that integrate different forms of value into a single measure.

3. Circular Business & Financing Models

• Innovative Finance: Explored high-leverage tools like venture philanthropy, ethical banking, and impact investment.
• Governance Models: Experimented with public-private-people partnerships (PPPP) to ensure long-term, inclusive management of heritage assets.

 Socio-Economic & Societal Impact

CLIC proved that adaptive reuse is more than just “fixing old buildings”—it is a catalyst for modern urban life:

• Job Creation: Stimulated new skills in sustainable construction, digital management of heritage, and “circular” entrepreneurship.
• Waste Prevention: Direct environmental impact by avoiding the massive waste streams associated with building demolition.
• Wellbeing: Demonstrated how high-quality, culturally rich urban spaces improve the mental and physical health of local residents.
• Policy Influence: Contributed to the UN New Urban Agenda and provided recommendations for European legislation on circular city planning.