EIT Community identifies synergies to drive the European circular economy agenda

EIT Community introduces system maps of circular economy actions across Europe

The concept of a circular economy has gained traction in Europe as a positive, solutions-based perspective for achieving economic development within increasing environmental constraints. According to the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, global consumption of materials such as biomass, fossil fuels, metals and minerals is expected to double in the next 40 years, while annual waste generation is projected to increase by 70% by 2050. The need for transition to a greener and more competitive Europe will be implemented by joint circular economy actions.

Strengthening pan-European cooperation to boost innovation in Europe

EIT Innovation Community represents dynamic and creative partnerships that harness European innovation, education and entrepreneurship actions addressing societal challenges. To achieve the ambitious goals outlined in the EU Green Deal and the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, six EIT Communities, including EIT RawMaterials, EIT Digital, EIT Food, EIT Manufacturing, EIT Climate-KIC and EIT Urban Mobility, joined efforts for the EIT Circular Economy Community. EIT Circular Economy Community is led by EIT RawMaterials.

EIT Circular Economy Community has developed system maps to bring together and align circular economy strategies.

The system maps consolidate two databases:

1. Cross-KIC Circular Economy initiatives initiated, funded or supported by the six EIT Communities.
2. European Circular Economy initiatives in the portfolios of selected EU stakeholders.

These system maps are a useful tool for portfolio management, enabling the creation and implementation of a Cross-KIC strategy for the circular economy. They also serve as an access point for any interested stakeholder who wishes to scour the landscape of circular economy innovation funded and created by the EIT Community or other European stakeholders.

Fostering cross-innovation and collaboration for a green and circular future of Europe

With the introduction of the system maps, the EIT Community can understand better where their strengths, weaknesses, overlaps and synergies lie to trigger cross-innovation and collaboration, boosting their reach and influence in contributing to driving the European circular economy agenda. Moreover, the tool enhances transparency and enables collaboration in the ecosystem, positioning the EIT Community closer to other European Commission’s agencies or services that hold similar tools, for example, EASME Data Hubs and CORDIS .

The map of Cross-KIC circular economy initiatives represents the circular economy portfolio of six EIT Communities. Different views or clustering approaches in the system map enable an analysis of strengths, gaps, overlaps and synergies for the initiatives. The maps visually interpret the database of initiatives, including circular economy focus areas, economic sectors, position in the value chain, funding size.

The second map represents a set of initiatives related to the circular economy in the portfolios of selected European stakeholders. This map allows an overview and benchmarking with initiatives within key European stakeholders, including the European Commission, EASME, the European Investment Bank, ACR + Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management, EUROCITIES, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, WCEF/SITRA World Circular Economy Forum, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

We welcome all partners and stakeholders working on circular economy solutions to explore the systems maps and collaboration opportunities with the EIT Community.