Circular Economy SRIA 2020

STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND
INNOVATION AGENDA ON
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
SEPTEMBER 2020
Developed by
ABOUT US
Developed within the H2020 CICERONE project, the EU Circular Cooperation
Hub is a new platform to help stimulate collaboration opportunities, such as
joint programming, between programme owners (i.e. institutions that fund
and design circular economy related activities). The platform will provide a
space for co-design, networking and strategic alignment to support national,
regional and local governments in their implementation of joint circular
economy programmes.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020
Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement 820707.
MISSION
CICERONE aims to bring national, regional and local governments together to jointly tackle the circular economy
transition needed to reach net-zero carbon emissions and meet the targets set in the Paris Agreement and EU
Green Deal. This document represents one of the key outcomes of the project: a Strategic Research & Innovation
Agenda (SRIA) for Europe, to support owners and funders of circular economy programmes in aligning priorities
and approaching the circular economy transition in a systemic way.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Core project team: Version September 2020
IVL – Alexandra Wu, Åsa Stenmarck, Jurate Miliute- ISBN 978-2-919313-25-9
Plepiene, Henrik Johansson
ENEA – Roberta de Carolis, Claudia Brunori, Priscilla
Reale, Cristian Chiavetta and Erika Mancuso
RVO – Antoinet Smits
GKZ - Wolfgang Reimer, Mengchun Lee, Markus Reuter The production of this document would have been
CEA - Arnaud Witomski, Sébastien Sylvestre impossible without the dedicated and tireless work by
hundreds of stakeholders with various backgrounds
Jülich - Jean-Francois Renault across Europe and beyond. Their contributions
VITO - Dirk Nelen, Kévin Le Blevennec, Karl Vrancken throughout the consultation rounds and workshops
provided us with valuable inputs and perspective. We
VTT - Henna Sundqvist-Andberg would like to take this opportunity to express our
IETU - Izabela Ratman-Kłosińska gratitude and hope that we will continue to work together
to advance the transition towards a circular economy.
WI - Bettina Bahn-Walkowiak, Carina Koop
This is a living document, any revisions will be published
Bluenove – Natacha Dufour, Adina Tatar, Chloe
online.
Schiellein
You can redistribute this publication under the terms of
CKIC – Laura Nolan, Cliona Howie
GNU General Public License as published by the Free
CIRCULAR ECONOMY SRIA

LGI - Vincent Chauvet, Gabor Szendro Software foundation (version 3).
Graphic design and layout: Disclaimer: the contents of this document do not
necessarily represent the official position of the
LGI – Motu Shafau
European Commission.
3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The global economy of today is still based on a linear approach with a focus on exploiting cheap natural resources
and managing economies of scale in manufacturing processes. But this is changing, as the interest and ambition
to transform global production and consumption systems towards the circular economy continue to grow. Circular
economy prioritises resource efficiency and retaining the value of materials and products throughout their entire
life cycle, with increased focus on value-chain actors, citizens and other socio-economic aspects. This new way of
managing the economy and resources has a significant potential to create positive impact.
To tackle the complex challenge of shifting towards a productive circular economy in the European Union (EU), the
European Green Deal was formed in 2019 as a growth strategy to ensure that economic growth is decoupled from
resource use while aiming for zero net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050. At the same time, the second
version of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan (EU CEAP) was released in spring of 2020 to encourage societal
transformation towards the circular economy, which is also part of the EU Green Deal. Numerous other EU
initiatives, including the new Horizon Europe programme, are also increasingly focusing on circular economy-
related topics.
Public funding is an important source of financing for System change can boost resilience
Circular Economy (CE) oriented research and innovation against crises
(R&I) programmes at both national, regional and Switching to a circular economy means changing the
European levels. However, circular economy is often not entire system we live and operate in – and this will not
directly addressed or defined in funding programmes – be achieved through single-point interventions.
with many focusing on specific impacts, for example Systemic change means shifting both the function
waste reduction and resource efficiency, which does not and structure of a system and sustaining change
consider circular economy in a systemic way. Furthermore, overtime through programmatic intervention.
funding often occurs on a highly technical level, targeting
specific aspects of the value chain rather than through The global COVID-19 crisis has exposed fundamental
the lens of systemic change with the involvement of flaws in current economic and resource systems.
multiple stakeholder groups and citizens - this is slowly Circular economy can boost the EU’s resilience
shifting, but significant upscaling is needed to increase against similar future crises by securing material
impact. supply, decoupling environmental degradation from
economic growth and reducing the dependency on
The EU Horizon 2020 CICERONE project (2018-2021)¹ material consumption as the means to socioeconomic
is developing a platform for EU programme owners (POs, prosperity.
i.e. public funders of programmes related to circular
economy) to coordinate and collaborate on priority
research and innovation actions. Part of this process was the development of the Circular Economy Strategic
Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). This SRIA is as a strategic guidance document that specifically focuses
on the topic of CE in the European Union. The SRIA targets national, regional and local programme owners to
identify joint priorities in research and innovation, co-implement joint programmes and guide further cooperation.
Collaboration will be based on the SRIA’s joint programmes, which provide a framework for a more systemic
innovation aiming to create holistic, cross-cutting and systemic programmes with greater impacts.
The SRIA was developed based on eight priority themes (biomass and biotechnologies, chemicals, construction
and demolition, food, plastic, raw materials, waste and water). The themes build on four societal areas that face
sustainability challenges (urban areas, industrial systems, value chains and territory and sea) to identify priority
areas for CE research and innovation (aka. Innovation fields) that tackle EU region-wide issues and facilitate the
circular economy transition. Based on the innovation fields, four joint programmes were developed in this SRIA:
1) Circular Cities, 2) Circular Industries, 3) Closing the Loop and 4) Resource Efficiency on Territory & Sea (see
the figure below).
1
More information can be found on the CICERONE website: http://cicerone-h2020.eu/
4
The Circular Economy SRIA was developed by identifying innovation fields across eight themes and four
societal challenge areas, out of which four joint programmes were formed. Members of the programme
owner platform are foreseen to use both the joint programmes and innovation fields to collaborate on
circular economy programming. These aspects of the SRIA can also be tailored to their needs.
The SRIA aligns closely with major EU strategic research and innovation actions. Such collaboration
documents and policies, such as the European Green can contribute to the acceleration of the EU’s systemic
Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan. transition to the circular economy.
Contributing, rather than duplicating, the ambitions and As key priorities, issues, targets and strategies are
efforts of European strategies and initiatives is a central changing on the ongoing basis, the SRIA’s elements

tenet of the four joint programmes. In this way, the SRIA are intended to be updated or the new ones to be
provides deep added value not only by providing a developed when SRIA will be used for future cooperation
basis for programme owners to join forces working on throughout the platform developed within CICERONE.
circular economy research and innovation, but also in The detailed methodology joint programme development
contributing to sustainable socioeconomic development is included in the SRIA and could serve as a reference
in the EU. for the future updating and development.
The joint programmes are composed of relevant circular An overview of the joint programmes, including their
economy objectives and the research and innovation respective objectives, subprogrammes and activities is
activities needed to achieve them. Each of the joint presented below.
programmes contain a pilot joint call and a pilot project,
which serve as examples of how the SRIA could be
used by programme owners to carry out joint
programming, and how the potential projects could look
like. Overall, the SRIA will be used by programme
owners of the platform to collaborate and implement
5
CIRCULAR CITIES
Achieving the vision of a circular society requires rethinking how we use different products, services and materials
and how to find new ways of creating value while addressing the urban challenges of today. The Circular Cities
subprogramme complements major strategies and initiatives related to sustainable urban development (e.g. JPI
Urban Europe, EU Green Deal, EU CEAP) to create systemic change from the circular economy perspective,
especially in the areas of creating closer engagement and involvement of urban citizens and enhancing the
circularity of resources, materials and products. In this regard, the goal of this joint programme is to facilitate and
promote the transition to circular economy in urban areas in line with existing sustainable urban development
initiatives.
OBJECTIVE A: TO ENABLE URBAN CIRCULARITY AND INCREASING CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT

IN CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS
Subprogrammes Activity name and description
A1 Infrastructure to A1.1 Technical development and digitalisation of waste systems

enable circular
A1.2 Improved collection systems for reuse, remanufacturing and sharing
material and
product flows A1.3 Planning and design for reuse and recycling
A2.1 Analysis of the current situation on inefficiencies and opportunities for waste
collection and recycling
A2.2 Coordination and implementation of citizen engagement in waste sorting and

collection for target waste streams
A2 Citizen
participation in A2.3 Analysis of social and behavioural barriers for consumers and citizens for
circular material systemic transition to circular economy
and product flows A2.4 Coordination to scale up existing repair and reuse stations (physical and digital)
A2.5 Product design that facilitates use-life extension and consumer involvement
A2.6 Development of innovative inclusive governance approaches on citizen

participation
A3.1 Review of packaging-free and reduced packaging businesses and good

practices/cases
A3 Enhancing
material efficiency A3.2 Analysis of new future-proof food and nutrition concepts from the resource
and circular flows efficiency and food security perspective
in the food and A3.3 Upscaling recommercialisation and valorisation of commercial and agricultural
food packaging food waste
sector
A3.4 Coordination to scale up recycled/reusable food packaging and packaging-free/
reduced packaging (where appropriate)
6
OBJECTIVE B: TO ENHANCE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
IN URBAN AREAS
B1.1 Scaling up organic waste collection, diversion from landfills and reuse
for energy and food production (soil nutrient cycling and replenishment)
B1 Circular economy
B1.2 Scaling up wastewater recovery and recycling for irrigation and food
considerations of water and
production
soil in food systems
B1.3 Mapping of food systems in the EU to identify opportunities for
circularity
B2.1 Overcoming barriers to scale up brownfield development and land

reuse
B2 Circular economy in land B.2.2 Scaling up of reusing private and public spaces
and soil resources in
B2.3 Circular economy in urban transport systems
construction and urban
planning B2.4 Urban farming to provide ecosystem services, food, water storage
and cooling, climate mitigation/adaptation
B2.5 Historical cultural heritage and natural capital enhancement
B3.1 Market introduction of existing pilots and demonstration initiatives on

B3 Circular economy water cascading, wastewater reuse and nutrient recycling
considerations in water
supply and treatment systems B3.2 Water type separation and infrastructural changes to water supply
and treatment systems
B4.1 Review of integrated water resource management (IWRM) and

innovative water efficiency cases in commercial and residential buildings
B4 Shifting towards circular B4.2 Engaging citizens in scaling up integrated water management in

water systems in buildings buildings/local level
B4.3 Engagement of citizens in integrated water resources management in

new urban development
7
CIRCULAR INDUSTRIES
This joint programme focuses on the development of new integrated solutions and the upscaling of existing tools
and solutions that already exist at small scale, to be implemented in factories, industrial areas and productive
sectors (e.g. agro-industry, metallurgy and textiles, amongst others). This is strongly in line with The EU Green
Deal which identifies disruptive innovative technologies a key part of the long-term path to sustainable growth. In
this regard, the goal of this joint programme is to facilitate the transition of industries to the circular economy
through research and innovation.
The activities identified in this joint programme concern innovation in product design, production processes, the
efficient use and management of resources, reduction of emissions and waste, valorisation of process waste,
collaborative exchange between different industries and cross-sector collaboration (e.g. through industrial
symbiosis), sustainable and circular management of industrial areas, redevelopment of industrial areas and the
conversion of existing factories to the circular economy.
OBJECTIVE A: TO DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGIES, QUALITY STANDARDS AND ANALYTIC

METHODS FOR NEW MATERIALS PRODUCTION AND RESOURCE AND WASTE
CHARACTERISATION
A1.1 Water type separation and infrastructural changes to water supply and
treatment systems
A1.2 Pilot, demonstration and upscaling of innovative biotechnological processes

for chemicals production
A1 Developing new A1.3 Development of innovative biotechnological processes for plastics

technologies for new production
materials production A1.4 Pilot, demonstration and upscaling of innovative biotechnological processes
for plastics production
A1.5 Developing processes and eco-design to substitute hazardous substances
A1.6 Pilot, demonstration and upscaling of hazardous substance management

in new materials production
A2.1 Promotion of traceability

A2.2 Chemical footprint considerations at the front end of business innovation

A2 Developing quality
standards and analytic A2.3 Developing non-destructive analytical methods to achieve better knowledge
methods for materials of materials composition and properties
production and
A2.4 Upscaling the use of new analytical techniques and instruments for
characterisation
characterisation
A2.5 Expansion of extended producer responsibility systems to other sectors
A3.1 Upscaling systems for widescale secondary raw material use
A3.2 R&D in analytical chemistry and in electronics focused on instrumental

analysis
A3 Developing new A3.3 Development of cost-efficient extractive and processing technologies for
technologies for resource improved separation of by-products of ore mining in the EU within the supply
and waste characterisation chain of materials in CE
A3.4 Scale up the use of new analytical instrumental technique for characterisation
A3.5 New agile processing technologies that adaptively operate within a robust
smelter system
8
OBJECTIVE B: TO ENABLE INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS NETWORKS AND FOSTER DIGITALISATION
TO MASTER THE COMPLEXITY OF PRODUCTS, PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS
B1 Smart Factories -
B1.1 Efficient secondary resources information sharing
Building SME
partnerships, “alliances of B1.2 Digitalisation of SMEs for circular economy
interests” and industrial
B1.3 Development of infrastructure and facilities to upscale industrial symbiosis
symbiosis networks
OBJECTIVE C: TO RAISE AWARENESS OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY BY PROMOTING NEW/

BETTER DESIGN AND USE OF PRODUCTS AND BETTER RE-USE OF MATERIALS ALREADY IN
CIRCULATION
C1.1 Eco-design and processes that minimise product environmental impact
C1 Promoting eco-design C1.2 Upscaling of production based on renewable sources

and eco-processes
C1.3 Advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and efficient material
recovery
C2.1 Development of reverse logistics systems
C2 Promoting re-use, repair C2.2 Standardisation of components

and remanufacturing
C2.3 Advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and efficient material
recovery
OBJECTIVE D: TO REDUCE THE CARBON EMISSIONS OF COMPANIES

D1 Greenhouse gas
accounting and D1.1 Development of GHG accounting or inventory systems
management system D1.2 Development of GHG management systems
(individual company*)
D2.1 Technologies for e-waste dismantling, separation and recycling
D2.2 Establishment of secondary market platforms for product reuse

D2 Promoting secondary
raw materials market and D2.3 Improvement of e-waste collection infrastructure
industry
D2.4 Separation technologies for food contact plastic
D2.5 Establishment of secondary market platforms for raw materials
D3.1 Promote the adoption of simulation and modelling tool for assessing
carbon footprint
D3 Reducing the carbon D3.2 Upscaling energy use efficiency measures

and GHG emissions in
D3.3 Foster renewable power source
industrial systems
D3.4 Develop technologies for capturing, storage and disposal of GHG
D3.5 Promotion of CO2 utilisation technologies
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CLOSING THE LOOP
Closing the loop in production and manufacturing is a key factor to promote the transition to a circular economy, in
line with the new EU CEAP. This is relevant for both materials (e.g. critical raw materials) and products (e.g. plastic
packaging, WEEE and tyres), as well as in specific supply chains (e.g. buildings, agro-industry, textiles). This joint
programme focuses on the implementation of synergic actions at macro level involving all the actors of the value
chain (designer, producer, distributor, user, end-of-life manager, recycler) in order to identify barriers and remove
bottlenecks and broken rings hindering the closure of production loops and implement a sustainable system for all
the actors involved. Private actors are also of high relevance.
OBJECTIVE A: TO ENSURE THAT THE MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIPS IN HORIZON EUROPE

FOCUS ON KEY PRIORITIES IN CIRCULAR ECONOMY
A1.1 Analysis of composition and assembly technologies for different existing complex
products
A1 Circular
complex product A1.2 Evaluation of secondary resources as raw materials for complex products
design A1.3 Design of complex products for recycling and reuse
A1.4 Building and testing of pilot plants
A2 Circular A2.1 Downgrade materials analysis

business model
A2.2 Circular business models development
strategies for
complex products A2.3 Testing of circular business models
OBJECTIVE B: TO ADDRESS TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES TO HUMAN AND

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN THE CONTEXT OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY
B1.1 Improvement of existing technologies for detecting and separating hazardous

materials
B1 Circular design B1.2 Development of new technologies for detecting and separating of hazardous
and technical materials
development for
human and B1.3 Scaling-up of technologies for detecting and separating hazardous materials
environmental B1.4 Circular safety design
health
B1.5 Traceability systems for communicating chemicals of concern in products
B1.6 Circular business models for human and environmental health
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OBJECTIVE C: TO ELABORATE AND STIMULATE THE ADOPTION OF NEW POLICIES, STANDARD
AND PROTOCOLS FOR GOVERNANCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, FOSTERING
INTER-STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION AND INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT IN THE ENTIRE
VALUE CHAIN
C1 Traceability and
management of C1.1 Flow analysis of critical and non-critical raw materials
raw materials to
C1.2 European database of raw materials building on suitable IT support
support
governance and C1.3 European database of raw materials at regional level
standardisation
C2 Promoting C2.1 Materials and sectors analysis

market viable
C2.2 European industrial symbiosis platform (data)
solutions for
circular economy C2.3 European industrial symbiosis platform (instrument)
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RESOURCE EFFICIENCY ON TERRITORY AND SEA
This joint programme focuses on the application of circular economy to the complex relationships between
mainland human activities and open waters, chiefly represented by the technosphere environment of harbours.
Priority is given to actions that promote transition to the circular economy in the management of small and big
ports, fostering sustainable and circular innovations in the major productive sectors occurring in the ports and in
the main activities and businesses linked to its economic life.
This joint programme is in line with the emerging Blue Economy principles and the Blue Growth perspective: the
main topics addressed include sustainable tourism, integrated and circular waste and water management, climate
change impacts including sea level rise and mitigation measures. Based on this, the goal of this joint programme
is to enable circular economy transition in ports and marine systems.
OBJECTIVE A: TO DESIGN AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE MARITIME TRANSPORT
A1.1 Development of eco-design approaches for the watercraft production industry

A1 Transitioning
A1.2 Development of solutions for electric vessels in maritime transport and upscaling of
to a circular and
cold ironing at port areas
sustainable
shipping industry A1.3 Development and market upscaling of innovative recyclable composite materials
and 3D printing in the watercraft industry
OBJECTIVE B: TO PROMOTE EFFICIENT RESOURCE USE IN PORTS AND COASTAL AREAS

WITH A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE
B1 Transitioning B1.1 Design and implementation of industrial symbiosis platforms for discards and waste
to integrated valorisation at ports (in connection with coastal cities)
resource
B1.2 Calculation models to design (mainly nature-based) climate change adaptation
management
actions in ports and coastal cities
approaches
working at the B1.3 Material flow analysis with a life cycle perspective at ports and coastal cities
territorial level
B1.4 Innovation hubs in to foster circular economy in port areas and engagement with
with a holistic
coastal cities
and circular
perspective B1.5 Circular and sustainable tourism certification schemes
B2.1 Valorisation of fish species with commercialisation and sustainable extraction

B2 Transitioning
potential
to a sustainable
fishing and B2.2 Valorisation of seafood by-products and promoting industrial symbiosis in the
circular fisheries sector
aquaculture
B2.3 Implementation of sustainable multitrophic aquaculture processes in the appropriate
sector
marine areas
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CONTENTS
1 Introduction 15
2 Overview of the Joint Programmes 22
3 Detailed Joint Programmes 26
3.1 Circular Cities 27
3.2 Circular Industries 48
3.3 Closing the Loop 74
3.4 Resource Efficiency on Territory and Sea 91
4 Research and Innovation Priority Areas (Innovation Fields) 101
4.1 Societal Challenge Areas 102
4.2 Themes 107
5 Guidance for Programme Owners to Use the SRIA 118
5.1 Co-implementation of Joint Programmes (i.e. Joint Programming) 120
5.2 Using the SRIA framework for future joint programming work 121
6 Alignment of SRIA to Major EU Initiatives 122
6.1 The European Green Deal 123

6.2 The Circular Economy Action Plan 123
6.3 Horizon Europe 127
7 Conclusion 129
List of Annexes
ANNEX I: SRIA Methodology 131
ANNEX II: Innovation fields and relevant EU CEAP priority areas for each subprogramme 135
ANNEX III: Innovation fields excluded f rom the SRIA 151
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LIST OF ACRONYMS
B2B Business-to-Business
B2C Business-to-Consumer
C&D Construction and demolition
CE Circular economy
CRM Critical raw materials
CSA Coordination and support action
EEE Electrical and electronic equipment
EPR Extended producer responsibility
EU CEAP European Circular Economy Action Plan
GHG Greenhouse gas
IF Innovation field
IF ID Innovation field ID number
IWRM Integrated water resource management
JP Joint programme
ODM Original design manufacturer
OEM Original equipment manufacturer
PO Programme owner
R&I Research and innovation
SME Small and medium enterprises
SRIA Strategic research and innovation agenda
TRLs Technology readiness levels

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1 Introduction
1. Introduction
The global economy of today is still based on a linear approach with a focus on exploiting cheap natural resources
and managing economies of scale in manufacturing processes. The design of products and services are often
built upon limited lifetime expectations and there is great attention on rapidly changing trends and marketing to
maximise sales volumes. The traditional linear economy does not focus design and product development on reuse,
remanufacturing and material recycling. It also does not consider a systemic approach that incorporates the full
value chain perspective. If the global economy remains in this linear form, greenhouse gas emissions and waste
generation will continue to grow.
Over time, the understanding and awareness of the unsustainable use of resources in the linear economy has
grown. The circular economy approach prioritises sustainable consumption, resource efficiency and retaining the
value of materials and products throughout the entire life cycle. This new sustainable way of managing the economy
and resources has a significant potential to create positive impact in almost all value chains. It includes product
design that is based on life cycle thinking with increased quality awareness and lifetime extension. Circular
economy-based business models also place greater emphasis on offering services and functions than material
products, as well as inspire society to rethink how individuals interact with services and products to fulfil their
various needs. In the circular economy, greenhouse gas emissions decrease and what is conventionally considered
as ‘waste’ is converted into valuable resources.
16
To tackle the complex challenge of shifting towards a productive circular economy in the EU, the European Green
Deal was formed in 2019 as a growth strategy to ensure that economic growth is decoupled from resource use
while aiming for zero net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050. At the same time, the second version of the EU
Circular Economy Action Plan (EU CEAP) was released in spring of 2020 to encourage societal transformation to
the circular economy, which is also part of the EU Green Deal. Numerous other EU initiatives, including the new
Horizon Europe programme, are also increasingly focusing on circular economy-related topics.
As part of the societal transition towards circular economy, adopting a systemic approach to conducting circular
economy-related research and innovation is key. However, circular economy is often not directly addressed or
defined in funding programmes – with many focusing on specific impacts, for example waste reduction and
resource efficiency, which does not consider circular economy in a systemic way. Furthermore, funding often
occurs on a highly technical level, targeting specific aspects of the value chain rather than through the lens of
systemic change with the involvement of multiple
stakeholder groups and citizens - this is slowly shifting, Why system change?
but significant upscaling is needed to increase impact. Switching to a circular economy means changing
Therefore, the CICERONE² project is developing the the entire system we live and operate in – and this
strategic coordination of objectives and programming of will not be achieved through single-point
regional, national and European funding programmes to interventions. A systemic approach is needed to
streamline circular economy research and innovation. The create sustained change – looking not only at
project is developing a platform for EU programme owners impact assessments of existing single
(POs) (i.e. organisations that implement European, technologies, business models or policies, but
national and regional funding programmes on research how they interconnect and put pressure on the
and innovation) to coordinate and collaborate on priority rest of the system to scale up results. Systemic
research and innovation (R&I) actions on circular change means shifting both the function and
economy. Part of this process is the development of the structure of a system and sustaining change
circular economy strategic research and innovation overtime through programmatic intervention.
agenda (SRIA).
What is the Circular Economy SRIA?
This circular economy strategic research and innovation agenda (referred to as “CE SRIA” or simply “SRIA”) is a
strategic guidance document that specifically focuses on the topic of circular economy in the European Union. A

focus on systemic change and adopting a cross-cutting interdisciplinary approach is at the heart of the CE SRIA.
This is reflected by the SRIA’s systemic framework of eight priority themes (biomass and biotechnologies,
chemicals, construction and demolition, food, plastic, raw materials, waste and water) that build on four societal
areas that face sustainability challenges (urban areas, industrial systems, value chains and territory and sea) to
identify priority areas for circular economy research and innovation to tackle EU region-wide issues and facilitate
the transition to a circular economy.³
Within each theme and challenge, a set of circular economy innovation fields (i.e. broad areas of priority research
and innovation) were identified. These are R&I actions that facilitate circular economy transition. These innovation
fields were strategically linked to form four systemic joint programmes (i.e. structured and strategic research
and innovation programmes to ensure an interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral and systemic approach in circular
economy R&I). The four joint programmes are: 1) Circular Cities, 2) Circular Industries, 3) Closing the Loop and 4)
Resource Efficiency on Territory and Sea. Each joint programme consists of circular economy objectives that the
programme aims to achieve.
2
More information can be found on the CICERONE website: http://cicerone-h2020.eu/
3
The eight themes were selected by the experts in the CICERONE project based on ongoing European priorities and roadmaps related
to green growth, sustainability and circular economy. The four societal challenge areas were developed as an innovative framework for
the SRIA to analyse the research and innovation actions needed amongst the eight themes to facilitate circular economy transition.
17
The conceptual framework of the SRIA is illustrated in the diagram below:
THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY SRIA CROSS-CUTTING

GOVERNANCE TOOLS
CHALLENGES JOINT PROGRAMMES
(in form of Innovation Fields)
URBAN AREAS CIRCULAR CITIES
INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CIRCULAR INDUSTRIES
VALUE CHAIN
TERRITORY AND SEA
CLOSING THE LOOP
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY ON
PROGRAMME OWNER
TERRITORY & SEA
PLATFORM
A collaboration platform for circular
economy research and innovation to carry out
joint programming
capacity building
policy support
BIOMASS & BIO CHEMICALS CONSTRUCTION FOOD PLASTIC RAW WASTE WATER
TECHNOLOGIES & DEMOLITION MATERIALS
PRIORITY THEMES (in the form of Innovation Fields)
The systemic approach behind the CE SRIA and the CICERONE project. The CE SRIA feeds into the
programme owner (PO) platform to be used by POs to collaborate and implement joint R&I programmes.
In summary, the following terms are defined and used throughout the SRIA:
▪ Innovation fields (IFs): areas of research and innovation that are oriented towards functionality and usage
value. They are formulated to address clear requirements and encompass technical and scientific solutions.
Each priority theme and challenge area consist of a set of relevant innovation fields.
▪ Priority themes: are a core part of the SRIA conceptual framework. They represent material flows (raw,
manufactured, primary and secondary materials), within which innovation fields are defined. The eight themes
are: biomass and biotechnologies, chemicals, construction and demolition, food, plastic, raw materials, waste
and water, and they crosscut the challenge areas. For detailed descriptions, see Section 4.2. Themes.
▪ Challenge areas: are also a core part of the SRIA conceptual framework. They represent various geographical
and societal levels on which circular economy systems can be built. Under each challenge area, innovation
fields are developed. The four challenges are: urban areas, industrial systems, value chains and territory and
sea. They are crosscut by the themes in the overall SRIA framework. For detailed descriptions, see Section
4.1. Societal Challenge Areas.
▪ Joint programmes: structured and strategic research and innovation programmes developed based on
innovation fields that were linked together from one challenge and its relevant themes. For example, the
Circular Cities joint programme is based on the innovation fields from the Urban Areas challenge area and
innovation fields from its relevant priority themes.
▪ Objectives: are found in each joint programme and they set the direction for the development of the joint
programmes’ actions. They were defined based on the synthesis and analysis of major European strategies
and policies on circular economy as well as the input of extensive stakeholder engagement.
Contributing, rather than duplicating, the ambitions and efforts of European strategies and initiatives is a central
tenet of the four joint programmes. In this way, the SRIA provides significant added value not only by providing a
basis for programme owners to join forces working on circular economy research and innovation, but also in
contributing to sustainable socio-economic development in the EU.
18
The SRIA’s alignment with the EU CEAP
The new EU Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) was adopted by the European Commission in spring 2020.
With this plan the EU aims to ensure that valuable resources are kept in the EU economy as long as possible and
the plan introduces a number of measures that are in line with the European Green Deal. The SRIA contributes to
achieving the goals and actions of the CEAP and can be seen in the alignment of the SRIA’s joint programmes and
subprogrammes to the priority areas of the CEAP. This is summarised in the diagram below.
Number of SRIA subprogrammes that align with priority areas in the new EU CEAP, categorized by the four
joint programmes.
In general, the SRIA contributes to all priority areas of the CEAP, most strongly in the areas of Plastics, Food,
Water and Nutrients, Textiles and Electronics and ICT. The SRIA also contains subprogrammes related to the
CEAP’s priority areas of Batteries and Vehicles, Construction and Buildings and Packaging. The joint programmes
Circular Industries (40 subprogrammes) and Closing the Loop (27) represent the strongest alignment to the CEAP,
followed by Circular Cities (25). Resource Efficiency on Territory and Sea has the least alignment with the CEAP
however this also represents a difference in the scope of the SRIA beyond the CEAP on targeting issues related
to territory and sea. This joint programme is designed to contribute to other relevant strategies, including the
Bluemed SRIA⁴.
An analysis of how well the SRIA aligns with the EU CEAP, including the alignment of every subprogramme of the

SRIA to the CEAP’s priority areas can be found Section 6. Alignment of SRIA to Major EU Initiatives.
4
The Bluemed SRIA can be found here: http://www.bluemed-initiative.eu/wp- content/uploads/2018/12/BLUEMED-SRIA_Update_2018.
pdf.
19
The SRIA: Developed through collaboration and building on state-of-the-art
The SRIA was developed by mapping and compiling circular economy objectives in the EU by analysing the
current state-of-the-art and conducting extensive stakeholder consultation. Analysing the current state-of-the-art
involved the mapping of existing circular economy research and innovation programmes in the EU and internationally
and interviewing key experts and programme owners involved in such programmes. A case study analysis was
also conducted on European joint programmes to identify relevant lessons learned for the SRIA’s joint programmes.
The SRIA builds on the current state-of-the-art in circular economy programming as follows:
Current state of the art⁵ and lessons learned How the SRIA responds
The majority of circular economy-related

The SRIA addresses circular economy holistically by addressing
R&I programmes only addresses circular
product lifecycles, whole value chains and the involvement of
economy partially by focusing on specific
actors beyond the conventional (e.g. citizen engagement,
aspects (e.g. resource efficiency, waste as
behavioural sciences and other social aspects).
a resource).
The SRIA focuses on scaling and market introduction, again by

The largest share of programmes currently
emphasising greater focus on societal linkages, behaviour, the
being funded are in the areas of technology
whole product lifecycle (especially design and use phases). It
development, process optimisation and
also focuses on achieving higher TRLs on technology
addressing field pilot implementation.
development/process optimisation.
The SRIA includes both of these material streams (Waste and

The focus of current programmes is
Biomass) in its scope as well as six others in the priority themes
predominantly on the waste and biomass
(Chemicals, Construction and Demolition, Food, Plastics, Raw
material streams, and the most frequently
Materials and Water). Furthermore, the SRIA goes beyond the
addressed product life cycle phase is the
end-of-life phase by focusing on actions in the use phase (e.g.
end-of-life phase.
recycling, reusing) and further upstream (e.g. design phase).
The SRIA focuses on creating framework conditions for

Circular economy-oriented product design promoting eco-design. It also addresses eco-innovations in two
is an important element in shifting to main fields: 1) hardware (technologies and technical
circular systems. infrastructures) and 2) software (skills, expertise and business
models).
There is a lack of long-term up-scaling All activities in the SRIA’s joint programmes emphasise building
projects, which is needed to bridge the gap off existing state-of-the-art, best practices and knowledge as a
between successful research and actual basis. Where relevant, many activities are also focused on
implementation on an industry level. upscaling in the market and industry levels.
Indeed, the SRIA will be used by programme owners of the

platform on which joint programming is a key function. The SRIA
Stronger communication is a key part of includes guidance for PO users for how to use the SRIA to
joint programming. collaborate on joint programming, co- identify new priorities and
actions, etc. The platform will also include key functions on the
exchange of results and building on best practices.
The SRIA development process involved extensive stakeholder engagement. This focused primarily on European
programme owners at the national, subnational (regional) and local levels, but it also included experts, academia,
government/policymakers, SMEs and businesses, industry, NGOs and civil society groups. Multiple consultations
and collaborations with stakeholders were conducted to identify the objectives and priority innovation fields, which
were used to form the joint programmes of the SRIA. For more details, see ANNEX I: SRIA Methodology
5
Analysed in the early stages of the CICERONE project which started in November 2018.
20
Who is the SRIA created for and how will it be used?
The SRIA takes a highly targeted approach and identifies priority circular economy research and innovation actions
based on the input from a broad range of stakeholders and actors across the EU, especially from programme
owners as the main target group.
The SRIA is intended for use by members of the joint programming platform (mainly composed of EU programme
owners) to co-create, co-fund and work together towards systemic circular economy. Collaboration will be based.
on the SRIA’s joint programmes which provide strategic guidance for systemic innovation to create holistic, cross-
cutting and systemic programmes to create greater impact.
The SRIA is intended to allow for short- and long-term collaborative action – while the joint programmes outline key
activities that programme owners can implement together to achieve shared circular economy ambitions, the
innovation fields provide strategic direction for the ongoing design of additional circular economy research and
innovation programmes as priorities and issues evolve over time. This systemic and long-term focus makes the
SRIA complementary to vertical SRIAs and roadmaps on specific topics.
It is important to note that the innovation fields and joint programmes in the SRIA are not intended to be exhaustive
but represents priority areas for the EU. In addition, the SRIA itself is intended to be a living document and allow
future programme owners to address additional topics from the new EU Circular Economy Action Plan.
Structure of the SRIA
Following this introduction, Section 2. Overview of the Joint Programmes provides a list of the subprogrammes
under each of the four joint programmes. Section 3. Detailed Joint Programmes comprises the bulk of this SRIA
and provides the detailed subprogrammes and activities. Section 4. Research and Innovation Priority Areas
(Innovation Fields) provides the full list of innovation fields for each challenge area and priority theme. Section
5. Guidance for Programme Owners to Use the SRIA provides a brief explanation of how POs could use the
SRIA to implement joint programming as well as update the SRIA to maintain its relevance to circular economy
priorities. Section 6. Alignment of SRIA to Major EU Initiatives briefly explains the relevance of the SRIA in
contributing to the objectives of the European Green Deal, EU CEAP and Horizon Europe programme. This is
followed by Section 7. Conclusion.
21
Overview
2 of the Joint
Programmmes
2. Overview of the Joint
Programmes
Joint programmes are structured and strategic R&I programmes that define, in further detail, the specific activities,
necessary disciplines and actors that should be involved in future R&I actions in the circular economy. There
are four joint programmes, each corresponding to a challenge area. They will be used by members of the joint
programming platform of programme owners to co-create, co-fund and work together towards systemic circular
economy.
It is important to note that the joint programmes are not intended to be exhaustive, given that the selected priorities
are based on current circular economy research and innovation in the EU and extensive consultation with EU
stakeholders. The joint programmes focus on cross-cutting and transdisciplinary aspects to bring about systemic
change, and they also represent examples and templates of how systemic programmes can be built. Indeed,
further subprogrammes and activities can be developed out of the priority innovation fields.
WATER
INNOVATION FIELDS JOINT

WASTE OF THEMES PROGRAMMES
CHEMICALS

VALUE CHAIN CLOSING THE LOOP
BIOMASS & BIO TERRITORY AND SEA RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
TECHNOLOGIES ON TERRITORY & SEA
FOOD
CONSTRUCTION
& DEMOLITION
RAW
MATERIALS Identification of new innovation
fields, ongoing strategic development Co-implementation
of SRIA, co-development of new of joint programmes.
PLASTIC
joint programmes.
PROGRAMME OWNER PLATFORM
23
The CE SRIA was developed by identifying innovation fields across eight priority themes and four societal
challenge areas, out of which four joint programs were formed. Members of the programme owner platform
are expected to use both the joint programmes and innovation fields to collaborate on circular economy
programming. These aspects of the SRIA can also be tailored to their needs.
The following list provides an overview of the joint programmes. Under each joint programme is a list of
subprogrammes that further break down joint programming activities by topic.
A note on TRL levels: Some of the activities listed in the joint programmes include indication of the approximate
current and desired technology readiness levels (TRLs). This was based on the EU’s TRL scale but with some
adaptation for the purpose of the SRIA. While the EU scale focuses on the maturity level of technologies specifically,
the TRLs indicated in the SRIA refer to both technological and non-technological readiness to conduct:
▪ Basic research: TRL 1-2,
▪ Lab or in-house demonstration: TRL 3-4,
▪ Field pilot: TRL 5-6,
▪ Market introduction: TRL 7-8, and
▪ Scaling: TRL 9.
Since the TRLs of circular economy activities vary widely across the EU, those indicated in the SRIA are
approximations only, based on the general extent to which the listed joint programme activities already exist
across the EU, their potential to develop and scale, and with a timeline of up to the year 2030 for the desired TRL
to be reached.
3.1 CIRCULAR CITIES
Objective A: To enable urban circularity and increasing citizen engagement in circular solutions
Subprogramme A1: Infrastructure to enable circular material and product flows
Subprogramme A2: Citizen participation in circular material and product flows
Subprogramme A3: Enhancing material efficiency and circular flows in the food and food packaging sector
Objective B: To enhance circular economy and natural resource management in urban areas
Subprogramme B1: Circular economy considerations of water and soil in food systems
Subprogramme B2: Circular economy in land and soil resources in construction and urban planning
Subprogramme B3: Circular economy considerations in water supply and treatment systems
Subprogramme B4: Shifting towards circular water systems in buildings
3.2 CIRCULAR INDUSTRIES
Objective A: To develop new technologies, processes, quality standards and analytic methods for new
materials production and for resource and waste characterisation
Subprogramme A1: Developing new technologies for new materials production
Subprogramme A2: Developing quality standards and analytic methods for materials production and
characterisation
Subprogramme A3: Developing new technologies for resource and waste characterisation
Objective B: To enable industrial symbiosis networks and foster digitalisation to master the complexity
of products, processes and systems
Subprogramme B1: Smart Factories - Building SME partnerships, “alliances of interests” and industrial symbiosis
networks
24
Objective C: To raise awareness of industrial ecology by promoting new/better design and use of products
and better re-use of materials already in circulation
Subprogramme C1: Promoting eco-design and eco-processes
Subprogramme C2: Promoting re-use, repair and remanufacturing
Objective D: To reduce the carbon emissions of companies
Subprogramme D1: Greenhouse gas accounting and management system (individual company*)
Subprogramme D2: Promoting secondary raw materials market and industry
Subprogramme D3: Reducing the carbon and GHG emissions in industrial systems
3.3 CLOSING THE LOOP
Objective A: To ensure that the manufacturing partnerships in Horizon Europe focus on key priorities in
circular economy
Subprogramme A1: Circular complex product design
Subprogramme A2: Circular business model strategies for complex products
Objective B: To address toxic / hazardous substances to human and environmental health in the context
of circular economy
Subprogramme B1: Circular design and technical development for human and environmental health
Objective C: To elaborate and stimulate the adoption of new policies, standard and protocols for
governance resource management systems, fostering inter-stakeholder collaboration and integrated
management in the entire value chain
Subprogramme C1: Traceability and management of raw materials to support governance and standardisation
Subprogramme C2: Promoting market viable solutions for circular economy
3.4 RESOURCE EFFICIENCY ON TERITORY AND SEA

Objective A: To design and promote sustainable maritime transport
Subprogramme A1: Transitioning to a circular and sustainable shipping industry
Objective B: To promote efficient resource use in ports and coastal areas with a long-term perspective
Subprogramme B1: Transitioning to integrated resource management approaches working at the territorial level
with a holistic and circular perspective
Subprogramme B2: Transitioning to a sustainable fishing and circular aquaculture sector
25
Detailed Joint
3 Programmmes
3. Detailed Joint
Programmes
3.1 CIRCULAR CITIES
Cities are important engines for the transition towards especially in the areas of creating closer engagement
the circular economy. Today, 75% of the population in and involvement of urban citizens and enhancing the
Europe is living in urban areas, and this is still growing. circularity of resources, materials and products.
Cities are where the majority of economic activities,
Based on the above, the goal of this joint programme is
consumption, emissions and waste production take
to facilitate and promote the transition to circular
place. At the same time, European cities hold great
economy in urban areas in line with existing sustainable
knowledge and significant human, financial,
urban development initiatives. Specifically, the
technological and infrastructural resources. These
objectives the joint programme are:
assets empower cities to lead the transition towards the
circular economy and unlock related economic, 1. To enable urban circularity and increasing citizen
environmental, and social benefits. engagement in circular solutions, and
The development of urban sustainability has been the 2. To enhance circular economy and natural resource
basis of many European initiatives related to circular management in urban areas.
economy. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation described a
Given the many possible areas of work in circular
vision of circular economy in cities as one where waste
economy and cities, the activities presented in this joint
and pollution is designed out of cities, products and
programme represent a starting point for programme
materials are kept in use to maintain their value, and
owners to collaborate on circular economy research
natural systems are regenerated in and around cities.⁶
and innovation across the EU, and they also reflect the
The new EU Circular Economy Action Plan identifies
priorities identified by key stakeholders on cities in the
the importance of making circularity work for people,
development of this SRIA. Further activities can and
regions and cities. The European Green Deal also
should be developed jointly by programme owners as
identified the need to reduce urban air pollution
priorities and issues change in European cities.
especially from transport, the importance of citizen

dialogues and inclusion of citizens in sustainable urban Nonetheless, the activities outlined in this subprogramme
development, and the role of cities to contribute to are expected to deliver the following impacts:
climate change mitigation. The Joint Programming
▪ Reduced use of resources and related environmental
Initiative (JPI) Urban Europe programme identifies four
impacts through innovations enabling better
sustainable development areas for cities: 1) digital
infrastructure and the engagement of citizens;
transition in urban governance, 2) from resilience to
urban robustness, 3) sustainable land- use and urban ▪ Increased material efficiency in the food waste
infrastructure, and 3) inclusive public spaces for urban sector and decreased packaging per unit weight of
liveability⁷. products;
Achieving the vision of a circular society requires ▪ Improved soil quality and increased resource
rethinking how we use different products, services and efficiency for water, soil and nutrients in urban
materials and how to find new ways of creating value areas; and
while addressing the urban challenges of today.⁸ The
▪ Improved land and soil management through better
Circular Cities subprogramme of this SRIA complements
construction practices and urban planning.
the above strategies and initiatives to create systemic
change from the circular economy perspective,
6
See https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/CE-in-Cities-Project-Guide_Mar19.pdf
7
See https://jpi-urbaneurope.eu/about/sria/sria-2-0/
8
URL: https://www.circularcityfundingguide.eu/circular-cities/
27
Objective A: To enable urban circularity and increasing citizen engagement in
circular solutions
Subprogramme A1: Inf rastructure to enable circular material and product flows
Rationale for the subprogramme
This subprogramme focuses on innovations in infrastructure and service development to complement and facilitate
increased citizen participation in circular material and product flows. It requires making collection system
convenient, user-friendly and informative (but not to produce information overload). The subprogramme focuses
on both digital (e.g. sensors, apps) and non-digital innovations to incentivise citizen participation and boost
acceptance. Special focus is required for the planning and design of construction and demolition (C&D) materials
in order to increase reuse/recycling. In all activities, the inclusion of a territorial Responsible Research and
Innovation (RRI) approach is important during the analysis of social and behavioural barriers for citizens and for a
systematic transition to CE.
Subprogramme activities - R&I Actions
List of activities of this subprogramme and their corresponding TRL levels (current TRL level and the desired/
targeted TRL level at the end of the activity):
Activity name and description Actors involved
A1.1 Technical development and digitalisation of waste systems ▪ Digitalisation

experts
This activity involves:
(sensors, AI,
▪ Mapping and creating inventories of existing technologies and initiatives for waste etc.)
management (e.g. collection systems, digital tools and systems).
▪ Service design
▪ Scaling up, expanding industry involvement, exploring and piloting innovative policy
▪ Systems
programmes and instruments, and business models.
design
▪ Developing and implementing measures to engage and incentivise citizens and building
▪ Municipalities
consumer acceptance, to facilitate improvements in the waste management system
▪ Private
▪ Developing a market for the solutions found.
collector and
▪ Conducting research to develop novel technologies and processes, including biomimicry. waste
management
▪ Implementing demonstration projects.
companies
▪ Conducting consumer (user) tests.
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (4) --> TRL: Market introduction (8) - Scaling (9)
A1.2 Improved collection systems for reuse, remanufacturing and sharing ▪ Municipalities
This activity involves: ▪ Private actors
▪ Investigating various collection points in EU cities to maximise reuse flows. ▪ Retailers

(shopping
▪ Scaling up collection for reuse and remanufacturing.
centres)
▪ Developing and implementing policy innovations to modify collection systems (from
▪ Repair actors
recycling to reuse).
▪ Policy makers
▪ Optimising systems, with a systemic perspective to integrate considerations of culture,
infrastructure, existing second-hand sectors, web platforms, social dimensions and ▪ City planners
preparation for reuse, sharing and remanufacturing (e.g. repair networks).
▪ Developing and implementing measures to engage and incentivise citizens and build
consumer acceptance
▪ Prioritising electrical and electronic equipment, textile and bulky waste streams (e.g.
construction and demolition waste), which may be good starting points.
28
▪ Research on how to increase the efficiency of waste collection from end-of life electrical
and electronic equipment (EEE) and sustainable future technologies (wind miles, solar
panels etc.) that contain critical raw materials (CRMs) in order to facilitate the economy
of scale for the recycling of CRMs from waste at regional or global level.
TRL: Lab of in-house demonstration (4) --> TRL: Market introduction (8) - Scaling (9)
A1.3 Planning and design for reuse and recycling ▪ Municipalities
This activity involves: ▪ Private actors
▪ Planning of construction and demolition (C&D) waste collection systems to improve ▪ Citizens
reuse and recycling.
▪ Designers
▪ Designing C&D materials and buildings for reuse and recycling (modular design). (including
interior
▪ Leveraging on the “Renovation Wave” as an opportunity to upscale circularity in the
designers)
construction and renovation sector.
▪ Developers
▪ Developing and implementing measures to engage and incentivise citizens and build
consumer acceptance. ▪ Construction
and
▪ Developing product passports and smart identification systems (and/or building on
renovation
existing and state-of-the-art systems).
companies
▪ Developing or upscaling the use of material banks for used materials.
▪ Architects
▪ Internalising external impacts in material and service pricing.
▪ Consumers
▪ Involving citizen engagement with waste management.
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (4) --> TRL: Market introduction (7- 8)
Subprogramme timeline
Period & Activities

Year 1-4 Year 5-10
A1.1 Technical development and A1.2 Improved collection systems for reuse, remanufacturing and
digitalisation of waste systems sharing
A1.3 Planning and design for reuse and recycling
29
Subprogramme A2: Citizen participation in circular material and product flows
Designing waste out of cities and maintaining the use and value of materials in cities are central tenants of circular
economy in urban areas. It is also widely covered in the EU CE Action Plan with directives, legislation proposals
and other tools to turn waste into valuable resources.
While measures to improve waste management systems have involved both infrastructural development and
awareness raising/social campaigns, in general more focus has been placed on the infrastructural and technological
aspect. A systemic transition to circular economy is not possible without the extensive engagement of citizens,
especially in cities and urban areas. The EU CE Action Plan also identifies citizen dialogues as a significant aspect
in circular economy transition.
This subprogramme complements Subprogramme 1.1 above to couple citizen participation actions with
infrastructure development in enhance material and product circularity. This subprogramme focuses on citizen and
user engagement in the circular economy, especially in the areas of enhancing the circularity and improving the
efficiency of material and product flows. It aims both to enhance the use and expand the ‘body of knowledge’ of
scientific insights on behaviour change and providing alternative behaviour patterns. The programme is also
intended to complement efforts to tackle ongoing policy issues related to the sharing economy, such as thresholds
for regulation, consumer protection, IPR, competition, labour market and taxation, where such political and
economic aspects are not directly addressed in this SRIA.
To fulfil the objective in this subprogramme, there is a need to focus on infrastructure for waste collection to
improve its sorting, identify valuable waste materials and improved information and education. It also requires new
incentives for citizens to support waste sorting both financially and practically. Product design improvements that
facilitate a more efficient waste separation and sorting is also required.
A2.1 Analysis of the current situation on inefficiencies and opportunities for ▪ Academics/
waste collection and recycling researchers
This activity involves: ▪ Input from municipal

policymakers, citizens,
▪ Compiling existing projects and studies (background study).

waste management,
▪ Developing a framework for identifying these key gaps/opportunity areas, taking producers, retailers
into the differences in local contexts.
▪ Municipal actors from
▪ Analysing and identifying major gaps in separation and collection of waste cities that have
streams and materials where citizen engagement is a key lever. climate-neutral goals
or similar climate
▪ Analysing the sources of issues and how these gaps and barriers can be
ambitions
overcome with citizen participation.
▪ Analysing conflicts and matching between existing waste management

infrastructure and the bio-based packaging industry (including the certification
body).
Desired TRL: N/A
A2.2 Coordination and implementation of citizen engagement in waste sorting ▪ Municipal policymakers
and collection for target waste streams
▪ Waste management
This activity involves: actors and recyclers
▪ Using the framework from activity 1 above to identify cases in EU cities where ▪ Citizens and
systems for increased citizen engagement in waste sorting and separation can households
be implemented.
30
▪ Including tools, technologies and infrastructure for waste sorting and collection ▪ Producers and retailers
in Subprogramme 1.1. It should also include information and education
programmes in parallel.
▪ Involving citizen engagement with waste management.
▪ Focusing on solutions that make business and financial sense and align with
the interests of citizens and households.
Desired TRL: N/A
A2.3 Analysis of social and behavioural barriers for consumers and citizens ▪ Behavioural
for systemic transition to circular economy economists
This activity involves: ▪ Social scientists
▪ Focusing on geographic and sectoral areas where insight on social and ▪ Civil society
behavioural factors on citizens in the circular economy is currently missing. organisations
▪ Compiling existing analyses on the barriers to transition to circular economy ▪ Consumers

and circular economy initiatives specifically from the consumer and citizen
▪ Citizens
perspective.
▪ Psychologists and
▪ Accounting for differences in countries or regions and culture and where
psychology experts (in
concrete barriers are (e.g. low awareness, lack of infrastructure and systems,
relation to health
financial barriers).
benefits)
▪ Designing programmes to capture genuine citizen engagement and spark
change to sensitise them on the issue. This may include policy innovations
▪ Analysing motivations for stakeholders (customers, private sector, public

sector).
▪ Analysing the social and health benefits of urban circular models specific to the
target cities or geographic area (e.g. community building, social cohesion from
repair cafes and others).
▪ Researching consumer behaviour and preferences related to sharing (rental,

take back) models specific to the target cities or geographic areas.

▪ Researching behavioural change in connection to decreased consumption,
increased recycling & reuse.
▪ Research on how to measure the avoidance of resource use including evaluation

of potential rebound effects.
Desired TRL: N/A
A2.4 Coordination to scale up existing repair and reuse stations (physical and ▪ Operators of existing
digital) product repair and
reuse programmes/
stations
▪ Mapping (or literature review) of existing repair and reuse programmes at city
▪ Experts in product
level⁹.
design, service design,
▪ Investigating most common reused products. material experts, digital
platform/app
▪ Assessing consumer demand, barriers to uptake/upscale repair and reuse
developers,
actions.
behavioural/social
9
Examples of studies include: Grassroots Innovation and the Circular Economy - A Global Survey of Repair Cafés and Hackerspaces
(Keiller and Charterm, 2014), Improving product reparability: Policy options at EU level (2015), Material and Waste Management in a
Circular City (Fischer, Menger, Bastein and Wilts, 2017) and Machbarkeitsstudie zum Aufbau einer Qualitätsgemeinschaft Reparatur
in Berlin (Henseling, Degel and Oertel, 2018)
31
▪ Assessing existing business models and developing new business models and scientists, business experts
solutions to overcome barriers. and economists,
communications/public
▪ Introducing or scaling up urban circular economy production systems, including
relations experts
digital applications (e.g. to broker the exchange of services, goods or materials),
maker-labs (e.g. to promote local production, local repair and manufacturing). ▪ Municipal actors/
authorities (e.g.
▪ Implementing upscaling programmes.
cooperation between
▪ Involving the participation of producers for consideration in future product waste management
design. administration and
procurement
▪ Developing, improving and upscaling certification or standard systems on the
department)
quality and performance of used products or parts.
▪ Consumers and
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Market introduction (8)
citizens (city level)
▪ Producers (brands and

corporations of the
products involved)
▪ EU partnerships and
research and
development networks
on standards and
common framework
conditions (as relevant)
▪ National level
organisations
responsible for
standardisation and
certification (as
relevant)
A2.5 Product design that facilitates use-life extension and consumer ▪ Experts in product
involvement design, service design,
material experts,
environmental
▪ Introducing or piloting new product lines or integrating use-life extension chemistry
properties to existing product lines in partnership with producers.
▪ Operators of product
▪ Scaling up the integration of circular business models in companies and repair and reuse
estimating the volume of reused products to enable business model development stations at municipal
and definition of input materials in product design. level
▪ Considering the optimisation of the value per weight of raw material use by ▪ Producers (brands and
designing products that facilitate product servitisation, sharing and extension of companies of targeted
operational lifetime. products
▪ Considering design aspects on chemicals traceability and providing information ▪ Consumers

on chemicals of concern.
TRL: Lab of in-house demonstration (4) --> TRL: Market introduction (7) (on
average, since EU cities and sectors differ widely on this)
32
A2.6 Development of innovative inclusive governance approaches on citizen ▪ Local government
participation
▪ Social scientists
▪ Political scientists
▪ Developing governance innovations that is inclusive and has a strong focus on
▪ Civil society
the involvement of citizens. This can be realised through participative
organisations
mechanisms such as urban living lab and in central public spaces, adopting a
citizen science approach. ▪ Citizens
▪ Co-designing and implementing projects with a strong support from the national
and local government and the active participation from citizens.
TRL: Field pilot (5) --> TRL: Market introduction (8) (with geographical differences)
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
A2.1 Analysis of the current situation on A2.4 Coordination to scale up existing repair and reuse
inefficiencies and opportunities for waste stations (physical and digital)
collection and recycling
A2.2 Coordination and implementation of

citizen engagement in waste sorting and
collection for target waste streams
A2.3 Analysis of social and behavioural

barriers for consumers and citizens for
systemic transition to circular economy
33
Subprogramme A3: Enhancing material efficiency and circular flows in the food
and food packaging sector
Food and food packaging waste and inefficiency have been highlighted as some of the biggest challenges that
need to be addressed in circular economy, especially in the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. Based on the Action
Plan and the EU Plastics Strategy, the EU aims to make all packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030.
Citizens, as consumers of food and food products, play a significant role in this shift. This involves changing their
attitude and behaviour in how food is consumed and managed, also including how food is packaged and stored.
At the same time, infrastructure and services need to be established to complement and respond to citizen
behaviour shifts. There is a need for ambitious circular economy actions to reduce both the scale and volume of
materials within circular flow systems while fulfilling citizen needs (for food and nutrition) and minimising material
use and waste. This means reducing the area in which the circular process is achieved, e.g. community composting
to reduce circular flow of food waste so that wastes are composted in the same area in which they are produced;
or decreasing the amount of packaging used per unit weight of product to minimise material use and wastes. This
subprogramme focuses on coupling the citizen engagement/behavioural aspects with infrastructural development
to enhance material efficiency and circularity in food and food packaging.
This subprogramme focus on increasing material efficiency and circular flows in the food and food packaging
sectors and at the same time considers the importance of packaging to reduce levels of food waste. This requires
measures such as involvement of reverse logistics, analysis of trade-off from reducing volume of both food and
packaging flows (e.g. reducing amount of packaging means less volume/need for recycling sector), consideration
of marketing aspects and consumer psychology (e.g. perceptions of value based on amount of packaging versus
amount of usable product). It is also important to fulfil citizen needs for food and nutrition with minimal material
use. The subprogramme focuses on leverage on environmental motivations of younger and future generations to
provide services that reduce or remove packaging. Shifting to more local and seasonal food especially switching
to vegetarian and vegan diets is important for the climate change mitigation perspective. The subprogramme
considers the need of integrated chemicals management, which involves ensuring that products and packaging
are free of chemicals of concern and hazardous chemicals in the first place, or at least knowing chemical
composition of products (i.e. information sharing aspect).
Citizens specifically need businesses and products that reduce packaging, information and awareness raising
measures for these products and services as well as information on chemicals in products to facilitate consumer
decisions.

A3.1 Review of packaging-free and reduced packaging businesses and good ▪ Producers and brands
practices/cases
▪ Supply chain actors
▪ Product and
▪ Conducting an inventory of innovative packaging-free and/or reduced packaging packaging designers
products and services. This can include both desk research and interviews with
▪ Chemists and
practitioners of the cases studied – analysis of their success factors, failures
environmental
and lessons learned in their contexts.
scientists
▪ Analysing potential adverse effects of reduced packaging (e.g. food loss due to
▪ Communications
shorter shelf-lives or perverse behaviour such as unpackaging food in the
experts
stockroom of the store (thus shifting the problem of packaging from the
household to the store) in relation to net benefits. ▪ Marketing experts
▪ Analysing gaps and barriers for upscaling or expansion of these cases in the ▪ Policymakers
EU, especially from the view of consumer and citizen participation.
34
▪ Analysing how to develop sustainable business models. ▪ Citizens/consumers
▪ Analysing consumer/citizen needs to fulfil food and nutrition function and what ▪ Retailers
is necessary – balancing needs vs. wants.
▪ Analysing safe packaging design: chemicals-of-concern in products and

whether/how such information is communicated to consumers. Focus should be
placed on plastic-related materials.
▪ Developing recommendations for overcoming these gaps and barriers especially

from a citizen engagement, participatory and social perspective.
▪ Considering and encouraging risk-assessment and risk- management based

practices in order to reduce health risks, introducing strict harm-reduction and
safety measures.
Desired TRL: N/A
A3.2 Analysis of new future-proof food and nutrition concepts from the ▪ Producers and
resource efficiency and food security perspective farmers
This activity involves: ▪ Entrepreneurs and

start-ups
▪ Conducting inventory of new concepts, technologies, behaviours and an
analysis of impacts on circular economy based a food products related case ▪ Citizen/consumers
(e.g. products form vertical city farming, insects-based foodstuffs, fermentation
▪ Food hygienists
technologies).
▪ Marketing experts
▪ Evaluating new “future-proof” concepts in terms of their impacts on/contribution
to the concept of CE. ▪ Nutritionists
▪ Analysing the potential for market uptake and consumer acceptance and ▪ Policymakers
behavioural adaptation.
▪ Municipalities
Desired TRL: N/A
▪ Food retailers
A3.3 Upscaling re-commercialisation and valorisation of commercial and ▪ Food producers and
agricultural food waste farmers

This activity involves: ▪ Retailers and brands
▪ Conducting an inventory of current SMEs and initiatives to valorise close-to- ▪ Policymakers and
expiry food. ministry
representatives
▪ Developing or upscaling technological innovations and regulatory changes to
re-commercialise expired retail and commercial food, including related aspects ▪ Citizens/consumers
such as transport logistics. This can also include changes to food waste
▪ Communications
categorisation to decriminalise use of usable but expired food.
experts
▪ For food and organic waste from the agricultural sector, promoting and upscaling
the use of by-products (e.g. crop waste in animal feed, manure in fertiliser and
other nutrient recovery from organic wastes). Traceability should be integrated ▪ Start-ups
to safeguard human, animal and environmental health, and ensure social
acceptance
Desired TRL: N/A
35
A3.4 Coordination to scale up recycled/reusable food packaging and ▪ Producers and brands
packaging-free/reduced packaging (where appropriate)
▪ Product and
▪ Building on existing research and efforts towards 100% recyclable or reusable packaging designers
packaging (or as much as possible in compliance with safety and other
▪ Chemists and
considerations). This includes building on basic research and technological
environmental
development as well as market introduction and scaling.
scientists
▪ Where appropriate, leveraging on the outcomes of above activities to scale up
▪ Communications and
packaging-free/reduced packaging products and services in EU cities. Strong
science popularisation
consideration needs to be made in ensuring net positive impacts, and avoiding
experts
negative side effects such as potential food loss and resulting net increase in
carbon footprint ▪ Marketing experts
▪ Including interventions to build lasting business models ▪ Policymakers
▪ Scaling up these activities and considering issues on hazardous chemicals or ▪ Citizens/consumers

chemicals-of-concern, including the latest research on unregulated chemicals
▪ Retailers
risks
▪ Food hygienists
▪ Conducting innovative education and communication campaigns to shift
consumer and citizen behaviour to “rethink” their needs and how it reflects in
their purchasing decisions
Desired TRL: Market introduction (7-8)
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
A3.1 Review of packaging-free and reduced A3.3 Upscaling re-commercialisation and valorisation
packaging businesses and good practices/cases of commercial and agricultural food waste
A3.2 Analysis of new future-proof food and nutrition A3.4 Coordination to scale up recycled/reusable food
concepts from the resource efficiency and food packaging and packaging-free/reduced packaging
security perspective (where appropriate)
36
Objective B: To enhance circular economy and natural resource management in
urban areas
Subprogramme B1: Circular economy considerations of water and soil in food

systems
Soil health, food and bioeconomy are among the priorities of the new Horizon Europe programme. Indeed, waste
use efficiency and sustainable soil management are two of the biggest problems in sustainable food production. In
a circular economy, these two aspects must be managed alongside food waste management – another key priority
in EU circular economy-related initiatives. This subprogramme is intended to address such issues to close the
loops for nutrients and water in food systems.
This subprogramme focuses on closing material loops so that nutrients, water and soil should be managed to shift
food systems towards circular economy. It requires that nutrients are cycled back in the areas where the food is
produced as well as food production practices include the optimisation of water use.
B1.1 Scaling up organic waste collection, diversion from landfills and reuse ▪ Civil and infrastructural
for energy and food production (soil nutrient cycling and replenishment) engineers
This activity involves: ▪ Municipal policymakers

and land-use planners
▪ Mapping and conducting inventories of existing technologies and initiatives.
▪ Agricultural sector (e.g.
▪ Scaling up, expanding industry involvement, exploring and piloting policy
farmers, associations)
programmes, instruments and business models.
▪ Local communities and
▪ Developing the market for fertiliser from recycled sources.
households
▪ Collaborating between cities and municipal policymakers and land-use
planners.
TRL: Field pilot (5) - (6) --> TRL: Scaling (9)

B1.2 Scaling up wastewater recovery and recycling for irrigation and food ▪ Civil and infrastructural
production engineers
This activity involves: ▪ Municipal policymakers

and land-use planners
▪ Mapping and conducting inventories of existing technologies and initiatives.
▪ Agricultural sector (e.g.
▪ Scaling up, expanding industry involvement, exploring and piloting policy
farmers, associations)
programmes and instruments, business models.
▪ Local communities and
▪ Developing urban-rural/agricultural infrastructure and market for wastewater
households
reuse.
▪ Conducting research to increase the effectiveness of decentralised wastewater

treatment technologies.
▪ Creating and promoting collaboration between cities/municipal policymakers

and land-use planners.
37
B1.3 Mapping of food systems in the EU to identify opportunities for circularity ▪ Lifecycle analysis
(LCA) experts
▪ Systems analysts
▪ Mapping and conducting scenario modelling of food systems with the aim to
understand food production, supply chain, consumption and transport systems ▪ Food and agriculture
considering urban-rural interactions. value chain actors
▪ Considering issues on food quality and safety, energy balance, economic ▪ Consumers
sustainability, stakeholder attitudes and resource efficiency.
▪ Brands and
▪ Identifying where raw materials are extracted, where biomass is grown and corporations,
where it is transported/disposed – to identify where nutrient and water loops businesses
should be closed.
TRL: Basic research (1) --> TRL: Basic research (2)
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
B1.1 Scaling up organic waste collection, B1.3 Mapping of food systems in the EU to identify
diversion from landfills and reuse for energy opportunities for circularity
and food production (soil nutrient cycling and
replenishment)
B1.2 Scaling up wastewater recovery and

recycling for irrigation and food production
38
Subprogramme B2: Circular economy in land and soil resources in construction and
urban planning
In the circular economy, the role that land and soil management plays in construction and urban planning is on
optimising the use of space for human use and food production. It is also focused on conserving land and soil to
make use of existing resources and the avoid extraction of virgin resources. The EU Green Deal identifies the
“Renovation Wave” as an opportunity to significantly integrate sustainability measures in buildings and construction.
The inclusion of citizens in public spaces is also important and ought to be considered in urban planning.
This subprogramme focuses primarily on land and soil resources when developing circular economy measures in
construction and urban planning. This requires measures such as optimising land use to limit greenfield
development, optimising the use of living space and land for food production, maximising the efficiency of natural
resource use and avoiding virgin resource extraction, valuing cultural and historical heritage and integrating
climate change mitigation and adaptation through urban planning innovations.
B2.1. Overcoming barriers to scale up brownfield development and land reuse ▪ Urban planners, land-
use policymakers
▪ Environmental
▪ Developing and introducing measures to comprehensively map and plan at the
scientists and
early stages of inventorying brownfield sites, conducting feasibility studies,
ecotoxicologists
involving local communities and incorporating all stakeholders and disciplines.
▪ Environmental
▪ Developing financial instruments and investments to make brownfield
chemists
development more cost-effective. This includes land remediation techniques,
feasibility study methods and technologies. ▪ Stakeholder and
community
▪ Developing policy innovations to enable and incentivise greater brownfield
engagement experts
development projects. This includes legislation changes, tax incentives and
investments. ▪ Real estate market
experts, economists

Desired TRL: Scaling (9)
▪ Construction
companies and
developers
B2.2 Scaling up of reusing private and public spaces ▪ Urban planners and
land-use policymakers
▪ Real estate market
▪ Investigating policy innovations to enable greater reuse of spaces, beyond
experts, economists
residential space into commercial and public spaces.
▪ Building and property
▪ Conducting inventories of existing studies on behavioural barriers and
owners
opportunities to space sharing and leveraging on findings and recommended
solutions to devise next steps/interventions. ▪ Citizens and users
▪ Enhancing the engagement between space users, real estate developers and ▪ Behavioural and social
agents, building owners and property managers to develop sustainable business scientists
models, with the aim to scale up.
▪ Architects
▪ Investigating sustainable and circular pop-up building installations for crisis
management
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (3) - (4) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) -
Scaling (9)
39
B2.3 Circular economy in urban transport systems ▪ Urban planners
This activity involves: ▪ Municipalities
▪ Urban planning strategies and measures that enable effective mobility planning ▪ Product and system
and even reduce the need for transport (e.g. sustainable compact city designers
development).
▪ Citizens and users
▪ Developing and upscaling solutions that minimise and optimise trip lengths/
▪ Construction and
duration and energy use.
engineering
▪ Promoting zero-emissions transport and mobility solutions, low lifecycle impact companies
vehicles and transport systems.
▪ Prioritising and promoting material circularity in transport systems and

equipment.
▪ Adopting digital and data solutions for mobility optimisation.
▪ Developing and upscaling innovative freight strategies to implement efficient

reverse logistics and resource flows.
▪ Upscaling innovations on shared mobility to optimise freight and human

transport.
▪ Integrating circularity metrics (e.g. efficiencies in mobility optimisation, material

use, energy consumption, GHG emissions) in public and municipal procurement.
TRL: Basic research (1) - (2) --> TRL: Market introduction (7) - (8)
B2.4 Urban farming to provide ecosystem services, food, water storage and ▪ Farmers and
cooling, climate mitigation/adaptation agricultural experts
This activity involves: ▪ Building managers
▪ Implementing urban farming systems (pilot and demo). ▪ Architects
▪ Scaling up urban farming systems. ▪ Building residents/

users
▪ Developing and testing policy innovations to enable the systemic upscaling of
urban farming. ▪ Consumers
▪ Investigating and testing measures to boost social acceptance and citizen ▪ Urban policymakers
engagement, analysis of behavioural barriers (links with Objective 1).
▪ Research and implementation of integrative urban planning with nutrient

exchange with the green belt around the city and its connection to commodity
production.
TRL: Field pilot (5) - (6) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) - Scaling (9)
40
B2.5 Historical cultural heritage and natural capital enhancement ▪ Policy makers
This activity involves: ▪ Urban planners
▪ Developing and implementing policy innovations, tools and technologies to ▪ Construction

protect and valorise cultural heritage. companies and
developers
▪ Developing an integrated accounting methodology to assess the natural capital
as it is and how it can be improved (by means of scenarios analysis). ▪ Environmental and
forestry scientists
▪ Suggesting and implementing interventions for natural capital enhancement to
reach bioclimatic control. ▪ Citizens
▪ Evaluating the achieved benefits of implemented interventions.
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (4) --> TRL: Market introduction (8)
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
B2.1 Overcoming barriers to scale up brownfield B2.4 Urban farming to provide ecosystem services,
development and land reuse food, water storage and cooling, climate mitigation/
adaptation
B2.2 Scaling up of reusing private and public spaces
B2.5 Historical cultural heritage and natural capital
B2.3 Circular economy in urban transport systems
enhancement
41
Subprogramme B3: Circular economy considerations in water supply and treatment
systems
One of the biggest barriers to circular economy transition from the water supply and management perspective is
the lack of infrastructure to implement integrated water resource management. Initiatives exist on water optimisation
in industry and agriculture, and some greywater reuse in commercial/residential applications, however they need
to be scaled. This subprogramme is necessary to begin the systemic shift towards integrated water resource
management at a wider scale, as well as reduce stress to natural water sources as outlined in the EU Green Deal.
As there are many existing initiatives on water reuse and process optimisation in industry, water reuse and nutrient
capture in agriculture, and greywater reuse systems in commercial/residential areas. But most of them are at
piloting and demonstration stage, with some at public-private partnership stage. What is needed is a massive
expansion of these initiatives for market introduction in EU cities. This should involve development and
implementation of sustainable business models, greater industry participation and overcoming social/behavioural
challenges where relevant/applicable. In some cases, there is also a need to fundamentally change urban
infrastructure. What also tends to be missing is policy – existing initiatives demonstrate the viability of the
technology and methods, but policy gaps to upscale them and open the market.
B3.1 Market introduction of existing pilots and demonstration initiatives on water ▪ Economists and
cascading, wastewater reuse and nutrient recycling industry experts
This should involve: ▪ Environmental

engineers, utility
▪ Inventory or review of existing initiatives and good practices (databases already
engineers
exist). Such initiatives include wastewater reuse and nutrient recycling from
wastewater sludge in industry, agriculture and urban centres (commercial and ▪ Policymakers
housing).
▪ Environmental
▪ Market and business analysis of relevant good practices based on specific EU policy researchers
urban contexts (i.e. need to narrow down on geography to identify local needs first). and academics
▪ Investigate innovative policy interventions to bring these initiatives to market and ▪ Industry and utility
expand them. This may include financial and investment instruments. managers
▪ Design programme or project for market introduction and expansion of these ▪ Consumers and
initiatives where they do not already exist. This may also consider schemes such downstream users
as the EU environmental technology verification scheme - to enhance such tools, (where relevant)
raise their visibility and set up respective good practices on green public procurement
that take existing environmental voluntary schemes into account.
▪ Demonstration at the system level especially including nontechnical barriers.
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (3) - (4) --> TRL: Market introduction (7) - Scaling
(9)
B3.2 Water type separation and infrastructural changes to water supply and ▪ Civil,
treatment systems environmental,
utility, urban
This could involve policy innovations to standardise water types and flow separation
engineers
and associated infrastructural changes to manage water types accordingly in urban
systems. This should consider local contexts including resource availability and ▪ Policymakers
scarcities e.g. of a system from (Novotny, 2010):
42
▪ Black water: containing biodegradable organic matter for energy and fertiliser ▪ Environmental
recovery policy researchers
and academics
▪ Yellow (urine) water: containing unoxidised nitrogen and phosphorus for nutrient
recovery ▪ Industry and utility
managers
▪ Grey water: from laundry, bath and kitchen that can be treated for non-potable
reuse ▪ Consumers and
downstream users
▪ White water: containing surface street and highway runoff with toxic and
(where relevant)
carcinogenic compounds, metals, PAHs, petroleum hydrocarbons, etc. for
stormwater treatment
▪ Blue water: clean water for potable use
Reclamation and reuse for above types:
▪ Water recycling: grey, white and blue, including rainwater recycling
▪ Fertiliser recovery: yellow and black
▪ Biogas and organic fertiliser/soil conditioner: black
▪ Irrigation: treated black, yellow, white and blue
▪ Raw water for water supply: white and blue
TRL: Basic research (1) - (2) --> TRL: Field pilot (5) - (6)
Period & Activities
Year 1-4
B3.1 Market introduction of existing pilots and demonstration initiatives

on water cascading, wastewater reuse and nutrient recycling

B3.2 Water type separation and infrastructural changes to water supply
and treatment systems
43
Subprogramme B4: Shifting towards circular water systems in buildings
Citizens play a pivotal role in circular economy transition, not only in terms of acceptance but also in active
participation. Many circular economy-related initiatives have focused on more on industrial and commercial water
use and less at the household level. Water supply and management in a circular economy requires both
infrastructural changes to buildings and residences as well as to the behaviour of the people who use them.
Therefore, this subprogramme is important to ensure systemic shift for water in circular economy from both the
technical and social angles. One option to involve the citizens could be to use PPPP (Public-Private-People
Partnerships) to encourage the shift towards a circular economy.
To fulfil the objective in this subprogramme, we considered what is needed to shift towards circular urban water
systems, and what are the possible contributions of citizens in this process. Overall, it requires infrastructural
overhauls to implement integrated water system management (e.g. systems to separate water types (water
cascading), nature-based solutions for water treatment and supply) and the introduction of digital technologies for
smart water management. Moreover, retrofitting and renovating existing commercial and residential buildings (old
and modern) is also essential. Policies and urban master planning for integrated water system management in
new buildings and urban development are important as well assessment technologies and tools at household and
building level for water supply and treatment (e.g. rainwater capture) – development and scaling.
B4.1 Review of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and innovative ▪ Water management
water efficiency cases in commercial and residential buildings researchers and
academics
▪ Input/data from urban
▪ Conducting inventories of IWRM initiatives and their success factors, failures,
planners,
lessons learned. This can include both desk research and interviews with
policymakers, citizens,
practitioners of initiatives programmes studied.
economics and social
▪ Analysing the above factors in relation to their context. experts
▪ Analysing gaps and barriers for IWRM in EU cities, the role of citizen engagement
and participation.
▪ Developing recommendations for overcoming the gaps and barriers especially

from a citizen engagement, participatory and social perspective.
▪ Identifying measures especially prioritising short-term measures and solutions

to existing problems.
Desired TRL: N/A
B4.2 Engaging citizens in scaling up integrated water management in ▪ Urban planners

buildings/local level
▪ Municipal
This activity involves: policymakers
▪ Linking to and leveraging on the outcomes of the above activity, focusing on EU ▪ Citizens (at building or
cities. community level)
▪ Implementing or upscaling integrated water management methods such as ▪ Housing corporations

greywater capture and reuse systems, rainwater capture, making water
▪ Property developers
consumption more efficient and preventative, etc.
▪ Providing the technologies and incentives to scale this up – including information

and public engagement campaigns, policies and financial incentives.
44
▪ Expanding understanding of the gaps and barriers of both traditional and novel ▪ Ecologists and water
water management technologies and approaches, and solutions to overcome management experts
them, especially from a citizen engagement perspective.
▪ Behavioural and social
▪ Developing PPPP (Public-Private-People Partnerships) to encourage the shift scientists
towards a circular economy.
▪ Environmental
Desired TRL: Market introduction (7) - (8) economists
B4.3 Engagement of citizens in integrated water resources management in ▪ Urban planners

new urban development
▪ Municipal
This activity involves: policymakers
▪ Based on the findings of the first and second activities, developing and ▪ Citizens (at building or
implementing the levers for successful citizen participation in Integrated Water community level)
Resource Management (IWRM) and piloting them in new urban development
▪ Housing corporations
projects.
▪ Property developers
▪ Targeting both commercial and residential development projects. The progress
and learnings should be monitored and analysed to improve the understanding ▪ Ecologists and water
of gaps and potential solutions for future projects. management experts
▪ Integrating communication aspects to ensure that the results are recorded, ▪ Behavioural and social
communicated and exploited. scientists
▪ Developing PPPP (Public-Private-People Partnerships) to encourage the shift ▪ Environmental

towards a circular economy. economists
Desired TRLs: Field pilot (6) to Market introduction (7) - (8)
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10

B4.1 Review of integrated water B4.2 Engaging citizens in scaling up integrated water management
resource management (IWRM) and in buildings/local level
innovative water efficiency cases in
B4.3 Engagement of citizens in integrated water resources
commercial and residential buildings
management in new urban development
45
3.1.1 Pilot Joint Call – Circular Cities
In joint programming initiatives, programme owners in sustainable urban development work for climate
should seek to cluster funding programmes under change mitigation, as well as the central role of cities in
shared circular economy objectives. The Pilot Joint facilitating this.
Calls provide examples of how programme owners can
The Circular Cities pilot is in line with the above visions
collaborate in joint programming using the SRIA. They
and strategies, especially by focusing on the closer
are intended to complement, align and valorise already
engagement of citizens and enabling the conditions
existing initiatives, and focus investment in filling the
needed for implementing circular solutions for products
gaps and merging the isolated best practices. In this
and materials. The pilot employs a multidisciplinary
section an example joint call is provided, followed by an
approach for addressing technical, economic and social
example project, to demonstrate the types of activities
innovation challenges while fostering innovation in the
that could be implemented under the calls. The R&I
respective domains.
activities should focus on filling the technological and
non-technological gaps, including the technical, How innovation is integrated: Measures to improve
economic and social innovation needed to achieve the waste management systems have traditionally been
transition to circular economy. When collaborating on focused on technical solutions and infrastructural
joint programming, programme owners should also developments, while somewhat to a lesser degree on
emphasise the exchange of best practices and lessons raising awareness and social campaigns. The synergies
learned from the implementation of the programmes. between technological/infrastructural developments
Continuous communication and exchange on with the adequate engagement of citizens and
programme implementation should also take place to addressing behavioural issues have often been out of
avoid the unnecessary duplication or overlap of sync. The transition to circular economy is not possible
initiatives and to build strategically on past activities. without an extensive engagement of citizens enabling
them with behavioural knowledge and information on
Rationale for this pilot joint call: Achieving the vision
how to use the available resource management systems
of a circular society requires adapting existing
and infrastructures.
infrastructures and developing new ones that align with
circular solutions, create new values and address the The aim of this pilot joint call is to improve the
many challenges of unsustainable urban development. coupling of citizens’ participation with new
The new EU Circular Economy Action Plan identifies initiatives, new market and technological solutions
the importance of circular economy in the creation of and infrastructural developments to enhance the
new jobs. The European Green Deal emphasises the effectiveness of material and product circular
importance of dialogue with citizens and their inclusion solutions in an urban context.
EXAMPLE JOINT CALL: ENABLING URBAN CIRCULARITY AND INCREASING CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT IN
CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS
(This is an example of a joint call that can be created by programme owners under the Circular Cities joint
programme.)
Topics covered: Urban area, waste, plastics, raw materials, construction and demolition materials, chemicals,
value chains, waste.
Description:
The objective of this call is to facilitate and promote the transition to circular economy in urban areas in line with
existing sustainable urban development initiatives. Specifically, the objectives are:
▪ To enable urban circularity and increasing citizen engagement in circular solutions, and
▪ To enhance circular economy and natural resource management in urban areas.
The expected impacts of this call are:
▪ Reduced use of resources and related environmental impacts through innovations enabling better
infrastructure and the engagement of the citizens;
▪ Decreased consumption of virgin and non-renewable materials.
46
Desired actors involved: This call is open for application to public and private actors, service and system
designers, city planners, research institutes and consumers’ organisations. Other key stakeholders that should
be engaged/consulted (but not necessarily funded) in projects are policy makers.
Locations/scale of application: Regional level
TRL levels covered: The target TRL of this project is TRL 3-5 (lab or in-house demonstration) and TRL5-6 (field
pilot)
This joint call contributes to these SRIA objectives: Circular Cities Objective 1: To enable urban circularity
and increasing citizen engagement in circular solutions
EXAMPLE PROJECT: CREATING CIRCULAR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENGAGING CITIZENS IN REUSE
This is an example of a project under the above joint Location(s) of project implementation: Regional
call: “Enabling urban circularity and increasing citizen level.
engagement in circular solutions”.
TRL levels: The target TRL of this project is TRL5-6
Description: (field pilot).
The aim of the project is to enable circularity and This project will be implemented by a combination
increase citizens’ engagement in circular solutions of the following groups: engage and consult with key
through reuse in urban areas. stakeholders including (but not necessarily limited to)
municipalities, private and public waste management
The project targets long-term environmental benefits
companies, repair actors, second-hand actors,
including climate mitigation actions and other added
academics (social scientists, behavioural economists,
value societal benefits through waste minimisation
psychologists, engineers), producers and retailers,
strategies such as material reuse, product lifetime
designers and consumer organisations.
extension and new applications including infrastructural
adjustments and citizens’ engagement. Holistic and Basis of the project from the Circular Economy SRIA:
transdisciplinary projects are encouraged in both
Subprogrammes:
technical and nontechnical domains. Focus on material
recycling and energy recovery are not the focus of this ▪ Circular cities – Subprogramme A1: Infrastructure
project. to enable circular material and product flows

The project suggests strategic activities to increase ▪ Circular cities – Subprogramme A2: Citizen
circularity in urban areas. Its key focus is on: participation in circular material and product flows
▪ Mapping and evaluating the existing initiatives, Innovation fields:

infrastructures (including digital and non-digital)
▪ Urban Areas (1): Citizen involvement for circular
and successful examples of citizens’ engagement
and sharing economy
in reuse of products and/or materials though, e.g.
product design/construction for reuse, collection ▪ Urban Areas (2): Circular systems for used
systems, second-hand markets, digital systems, products
etc.;
▪ Waste (3): Setting up circular business models to
▪ Developing and implementing measures to engage extend product lifespan.
and incentivise citizens and build consumers’
▪ Urban Areas (5): Advanced waste management
acceptance of circular practices;
systems for circularity
▪ Testing and implementing demonstration projects.
▪ Raw Materials (5): Optimising value per kg of raw
material use
47
3.2 CIRCULAR INDUSTRIES
To transition to the circular economy, industrial efficient use and management of resources, reduction
processes need to shift towards sustainable production of emissions and waste, valorisation of process waste,
and adopt innovative technologies and tools that are collaborative exchange between different industries
resource efficient. This joint programme focuses on the and cross-sector collaboration (e.g. through industrial
development of new integrated solutions and the symbiosis), sustainable and circular management of
upscaling of existing tools and solutions that already industrial areas, redevelopment of industrial areas and
exist at small scale, to be implemented in factories, the conversion of existing factories to the circular
industrial areas and productive sectors (e.g. agro- economy.
industry, metallurgy and textiles, amongst others).
The expected impacts of this joint programme include:
This is strongly in line with The European Green Deal
▪ Greater shift towards circular industrial production,
which identifies disruptive innovative technologies a
characterised by increased use of secondary raw
key part of the long-term path to sustainable growth. In
materials, material circularity and cycling of energy;
this regard, the goal of this joint programme is to
facilitate the transition of industries to the circular ▪ Increased availability of knowledge, data and
economy through research and innovation. Specifically, standards to facilitate circular economy in industrial
the objectives of this joint programme are: production; and
1. To develop new technologies, quality standards and ▪ Reduced consumption of material and energy and
analytic methods for new materials production and emissions of air pollution and greenhouse gases,
resource and waste characterisation, reduced impact to environmental and human health
due to industrial production and industrial activities.
2. To enable industrial symbiosis networks and foster
digitalisation to master the complexity of products, The SRIA aims to address the transition to circular
processes and systems, economy, which is the pre-requisite to reach self-
sufficiency in the EU and a driver for climate change
3. To raise awareness of industrial ecology by promoting
mitigation. The potential for self-sufficiency is part of the
new/better design and use of products and better
different pilot joint calls in the SRIA. In the Circular
re-use of materials already in circulation, and
Industries joint programme, this is addressed by
4. To reduce the carbon emissions of companies. industrial symbiosis-related activities.
The activities identified in this joint programme concern

innovation in product design, production processes, the
48
Objective A: To develop new technologies, processes, quality standards and analytic
methods for new materials production and for resource and waste characterisation
Subprogramme A1: Developing new technologies for new materials production

This subprogramme is strongly in line with The European Green Deal, specifically new technologies, sustainable
solutions and disruptive innovation, which are considered to be “critical to achieve the objectives of the European
Green Deal”. It dedicates a section to “mobilising research and fostering innovation” in response to the challenge
“to keep competitive advantage in clean technologies by increasing significantly the large-scale deployment and
demonstration of new technologies across sectors and across the single market, building new innovative value
chains” (European Commission, 2019).10
To fulfil the objective in this subprogramme, developing innovative processes to sustainably produce chemicals
and materials, reducing the dependence from oil and improving the recyclability of materials were considered. This
requires measures such as the development of innovative biotechnological processes for the production of
chemicals as well as plastic materials, produced from renewable resources. The integrated chemical footprint
needs to be considered at the front of innovation in businesses and business decisions in order to (i) reduce the
chemical impact of production processes; (ii) limit the circulation of substances of concern for human health and
the environment, and (iii) facilitate safe product recycling without perpetuating the presence of such substances
on the market in observance of industrial symbiosis principles. Industrial symbiosis is the process by which waste
or by-products of an industry or industrial process become the raw materials for another. The application of this
concept allows materials to be used in a more sustainable way and contributes to the creation of a circular economy.
A1.1 Development of innovative biotechnological processes for chemicals ▪ Chemical companies

production
▪ Research centres
This activity involves: with expertise in
chemistry and
▪ Conducting research to develop novel biochemical production processes,
biotechnology

including biomimicry.
▪ Engineering
▪ Producing sustainably fine chemicals with added value as building blocks.
companies
▪ Producing advanced intermediates or active ingredients as starting materials for
▪ Universities
specialty chemicals, especially pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals and
agrochemicals.
TRL: Basic research (2) --> TRL: Field pilot (5)
A1.2 Pilot, demonstration and upscaling of innovative biotechnological ▪ Chemical companies

processes for chemicals production
▪ Industry actors,
This activity involves: producers,
manufacturers,
▪ Piloting, demonstrating and scaling up the innovations developed in activity 1
(original equipment
above.
manufacturers
TRL: Field pilot (5) --> TRL: Scaling (9) (OEMs), original
design
manufacturers
10
European Commission (2019) The European Green Deal. Brussels: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
49
(ODMs), parts
manufacturers)
▪ Engineering
companies
A1.3 Development of innovative biotechnological processes for plastics ▪ Chemical companies

production
This activity involves: expert in chemistry,
polymers and
▪ Conducting research to produce novel biochemical production processes,
biotechnology
including biomimicry, to sustainably produce plastics, either recyclable or bio-
degradable. ▪ Engineering
companies
▪ Considering existing technologies and innovations of bio-based and biodegradable
plastics and developing solutions to overcome their shortcomings (e.g. by ▪ Universities
addressing collection and sorting infrastructure, communication and knowledge
▪ Downstream actors
building, shifting consumer behaviour).
including consumers,
TRL: Basic research (2) --> TRL: Field pilot (5) waste management
sector, municipalities
A1.4 Pilot, demonstration and upscaling of innovative biotechnological ▪ Chemical companies

processes for plastics production
manufacturers
▪ Piloting, demonstrating and scaling up innovations developed in activity 3 above.
(OEMs, ODMs, parts
TRL: Field pilot (5) --> TRL: Scaling (9) manufacturers)
▪ Engineering
companies
▪ Downstream actors
including consumers,
waste management
sector, municipalities
A1.5 Developing processes and eco-design to substitute hazardous substances ▪ Chemical companies
This activity involves: ▪ Industry actors,

producers,
▪ Developing new processes and encouraging product eco-design for substituting
manufacturers
hazardous substances, while retaining key properties.
▪ Hazardous chemical substitution should place special focus on the fields of:
expert in chemistry
waterproof and oil proof materials, preservatives and antimicrobials, plasticisers,
and material science
and protective surface treatments.
▪ Engineering
companies
▪ Universities
50
A1.6 Pilot, demonstration and upscaling of hazardous substance management ▪ Chemical companies
in new materials production
▪ Engineering
This activity involves: companies
▪ Piloting, demonstrating and scaling up innovations developed in activity 5 above. ▪ Industry actors,
producers,
▪ Developing communication tools and methods to inform consumers.11
manufacturers
TRL: Field pilot (5) --> TRL: Scaling (9) (OEMs, ODMs, parts
manufacturers)
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
A1.1 Water type separation and infrastructural A1.4 Pilot, demonstration and upscaling of innovative
changes to water supply and treatment systems biotechnological processes for plastics production
A1.2 Pilot, demonstration and upscaling of A1.5 Developing processes and eco-design to substitute
innovative biotechnological processes for hazardous substances
chemicals production
A1.6 Pilot, demonstration and upscaling of hazardous
A1.3 Development of innovative biotechnological substance management in new materials production
processes for plastics production
11
This can be linked to traceability-related activities in the Closing the Loop joint programme - Subprogramme 2.1 Circular design and
technical development for human and environmental health.
51
Subprogramme A2: Developing quality standards and analytic methods for
materials production and characterisation
This subprogramme is strongly in line with the European Green Deal, specifically to develop new technologies,
sustainable solutions and disruptive innovation which are considered to be critical to achieve the objectives of the
European Green Deal. The EU’s trade policy, mentioned in the European Green Deal, facilitates trade and
investment in green goods and services toward an ecological transition. In particular all chemicals, materials, food
and other products that are placed on the European market must fully comply with relevant EU regulations and
standards. Developing quality standards and analytic methods for materials production and characterisation can
help to improve the composition of materials in line with a green transition of products.
This subprogramme focuses on developing quality standards and analytic methods for material production and
characterisation. It requires improving the awareness about what is on the market and in circulation. It is also
important to encourage the use of safe and non-hazardous substances in order (i) to limit the circulation of
substances of concern for human health and the environment, and (ii) to facilitate safe product recycling without
perpetuating the presence of such substances on the market. A better knowledge of materials composition and
properties is essential. To achieve the objective, building greater awareness about the need to correctly dispose
of old and damaged products from a materials perspective is required.
A2.1 Promotion of traceability ▪ Manufacturing, chemical,

primary raw materials,
and recycling companies
▪ Promoting traceability and transparency in value chains in terms of resource
▪ Research organisations
intensity, material composition/process material use, and lifecycle impacts by
using technologies e.g. blockchain technology or radio-frequency identification ▪ Universities
(RFID) and other industry 4.0 concepts. The information should be used as a
▪ Experts in: product
proof of a certain level of quality standard and reduce the analytical efforts at
design, service design,
the end-of-life.
material experts,
▪ Increasing sectoral and cross-sector knowledge and innovation networks Enterprise Resource
which address the capacity to shift towards circularity. Planning (ERP) systems,
business-to- business
▪ Improving knowledge and filling implementation gaps in different regions of
(B2B) and business-to-
Europe.
consumer (B2C) digital
▪ Involving SMEs in digitalisation and circular economy research and projects. platform/app developers
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Scaling (9) ▪ Circular business model
developers
▪ Consumer organisations
A2.2 Chemical footprint considerations at the front end of business ▪ Chemical companies
innovation
manufacturers
▪ Integrating chemical footprint considerations at the front end of innovations in
business research and development and business decisions. ▪ Research centres expert
in chemistry and material
▪ Addressing eco-design to safe and efficient processes for depolluting and
Science
disassembling complex products, aiming at concentrating material rates and
enabling highly selective recycling. ▪ Engineering companies
52
▪ When considering hazardous chemical substitution, special focus should be ▪ Universities
placed on the fields of waterproof and oilproof materials, preservatives and
antimicrobials, plasticisers and protective surface treatments.
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Scaling (9)
A2.3 Developing non-destructive analytical methods to achieve better ▪ Chemical companies

knowledge of materials composition and properties
▪ Research centres expert
This activity involves: in material science and/
or analytical chemistry
▪ Conducting research and development on analytical methods to build
Universities
knowledge on material composition and their properties.
▪ Research fields should be concentrated in the areas of analytical chemistry,

material science and electronics with a focus on instrumental analysis.
A2.4 Upscaling the use of new analytical techniques and instruments for ▪ Chemical companies
characterisation
▪ Research centres expert
This activity involves: in Electronics
▪ Promoting instruments and software capable of using the analytical ▪ Experts in analytical
instrumental techniques developed in the above activities for characterisation. chemistry and material
science
▪ Universities
A2.5 Expansion of extended producer responsibility systems to other ▪ Companies in target

sectors sectors for fostering EPR
systems
▪ Developing cost-efficient and effective extended producer responsibility
(EPR) systems. ▪ Competent authorities
▪ Developing product stewardship plans for the collection of used products and ▪ Circular business model

fostering reverse supply chain activities. developers
▪ Fostering knowledge and awareness on EPR and reverse supply chain

systems across sectors that do not currently have EPR systems.
▪ Implementing EPR and reverse supply chain systems in sectors including

detergents and cosmetics.
Desired TRL: N/A
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
A2.1 Promotion of traceability A2.4 Upscaling the use of new analytical techniques
and instruments for characterisation
A2.2 Chemical footprint considerations at the front end of
business innovation A2.5 Expansion of extended producer responsibility
systems to other sectors
A2.3 Developing non-destructive analytical methods to
achieve better knowledge of materials composition and
properties
53
Subprogramme A3: Developing new technologies for resource and waste
characterisation
The European Green Deal emphasises the importance of new technologies, sustainable solutions and disruptive
innovation, which are key areas in addressing waste management issues and improving waste reduction. In this
process, waste characterisation is also critical to scale up the valorisation and use of waste as a resource. Such
actions can support the creation of a robust and integrated single market in the EU for secondary raw materials
and by-products, and greatly benefit European companies and producers. According to the European Green Deal,
“this requires deeper cooperation across value chains, as in the case of the Circular Plastics Alliance. The
Commission will consider legal requirements to boost the market of secondary raw materials with mandatory
recycled content (for instance for packaging, vehicles, construction materials and batteries). To simplify waste
management for citizens and ensure cleaner secondary materials for businesses, the Commission will also
propose an EU model for separate waste collection” (European Commission, 2019).12 This subprogramme focuses
on developing technologies for resource and waste characterisation to facilitate the development of the sustainable
product and waste reduction policies outlined in the European Green Deal.
This subprogramme focuses on developing new technologies for resource and waste characterisation. It requires
measures such as ensuring raw material (RM) security and industry competitiveness by a proper usage of primary
RM from EU, indirectly supporting the development of the secondary RM industry (forward and backward integration
for maintaining metallurgy infrastructure), mapping and valorising secondary feedstock, achieving a better
knowledge of waste composition, gaining an overview of the sectoral and cross-sectoral circular economy
knowledge, filling capacity and gaps by digitalisation, improving the quality of waste collection to optimise the
recycling of resources and efficiently using secondary RMs. The materials industries and metallurgy industries
need to know the character of the secondary RMs to develop the appropriate processes and ensure RM security.
A3.1 Upscaling systems for widescale secondary raw material use ▪ Manufacturing
companies
▪ Experts in:
▪ Developing scalable solutions for exploring, creating inventories and sharing
product design,
information about material streams and potential sources of secondary raw material
service design,
extraction in the EU, including urban and landfill mining as well as industrial residues.
material experts
▪ Sustainable management of biomass feedstocks from co- products, side streams
▪ Software
and residual streams.
companies
▪ Developing sustainability criteria and circularity metrics for different biomass types.
▪ Research
▪ Developing safe and efficient processes for depolluting and disassembling complex organisations
products (including WEEE), aiming at concentrating material rates and enabling
▪ Universities
highly selective recycling.
▪ Circular business
▪ Developing efficient and eco-friendly sorting, disassembling, separation and
model developers
recovering processes for complex products.
▪ Engineers
▪ Considering aspects including the cost-efficiency of valuable elements with low-
concentration, robust and low-environmental impact detection and extractive
processes (e.g. real-time feedback, automation, digital simulation etc.), delivering
secondary feedstocks, and feasible multi-material recovery.
12
54
▪ Developing advanced, cost-effective industrial and urban wastewater treatment
technologies characterized by the recovery of valuable products and pollutants (e.g.
metals, minerals, nutrients and chemicals), microplastic filtration/treatment and
water capture and reuse from agricultural liquid and solid wastes. This may also
involve increasing operational efficiency of wastewater treatment facilities
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (4) --> TRL: Scaling (9)
A3.2 R&D in analytical chemistry and in electronics focused on instrumental ▪ Chemical

analysis companies
This activity involves: ▪ Research centres

expert in
▪ Developing more sensitive and accurate analytical techniques for resource and
electronics
waste characterisation.
▪ Experts in
analytical
chemistry and
material science
▪ Universities
A3.3 Development of cost-efficient extractive and processing technologies for ▪ Mining companies
improved separation of by-products of ore mining in the EU within the supply
▪ Metallurgy
chain of materials in CE
companies
▪ Research
▪ Focusing on EU deposits of critical raw materials with potential by-products to be organisations
considered as drivers in advanced technologies, such as for low carbon industry,
▪ Universities
e- mobility, communication and health care.
▪ Mapping the latest developments and technological conceptualisations in extractive

technologies, focusing on key developments in extraction and processing.
▪ Scaling up the latest innovations in extractive and processing technologies by

measures including digital twins that permit techno-economic and environmental
impacts of the complete CE system. Considering other sustainability and strategic

aspects including cost efficiency, social licence to operate and environmental
impacts in the process.
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (3) --> TRL: Field pilot (6)
A3.4 Scale up the use of new analytical instrumental technique for characterisation ▪ Chemical
companies
▪ Promoting instruments and software capable to use the analytical instrumental
expert in
technique developed in the above activities for characterisation.
electronics
▪ Experts in
analytical
chemistry and
material Science
55
A3.5 New agile processing technologies that adaptively operate within a robust ▪ Metallurgy
smelter system companies
This activity involves: ▪ Plastic companies
▪ Developing technologies and processes to adjust kiln design and operations in ▪ Secondary or
smelters to feed primary and secondary sources in terms of obtaining better yields higher education
and separation of by-products from carrier metals. establishments/
research
▪ Considering the quality requirements of products and materials.
organisations
▪ Considering improvements in decreasing emissions and effluents meeting
environmental constraints.
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
A3.1 Upscaling systems for widescale secondary A3.3 Development of cost-efficient extractive and
raw material use processing technologies for improved separation of
by-products of ore mining in the EU within the supply
A3.2 R&D in analytical chemistry and in electronics
chain of materials in CE
focused on instrumental analysis
A3.4 Scale up the use of new analytical instrumental
technique for characterisation
A3.5 New agile processing technologies that adaptively

operate within a robust smelter system
56
Objective B: To enable industrial symbiosis networks and foster digitalisation to
master the complexity of products, processes and systems
Subprogramme B1: Smart Factories - Building SME partnerships, “alliances of

interests” and industrial symbiosis networks
This subprogramme is connected to the four ‘Green Deal Missions’ outlined in the European Green Deal, which
focuses on issues related to climate change, oceans, cities and soil. They will bring together stakeholders and
form partnerships with industries and member states to conduct research and innovation on transport, batteries,
clean hydrogen, low-carbon steel production, circular bio-based sectors and the built environment. The EU will put
emphasis on supporting its immediate neighbours, with partnership and new networks really close to an “alliances
of interests” concept. There is a strong recognition that close collaboration with the EU’s immediate neighbours is
fundamental to circular economy transition. As such, partnerships on environment, energy and climate with the
“Southern Neighbourhood and within the Eastern Partnership” is envisaged. Finally, the EU Industrial Strategy
plans to mobilise the industrial sector and all the value chains towards a model of sustainable and inclusive
growth, ensuring efficient and clean resource cycles. This subprogramme is intended to support these initiatives
from the circular economy research and innovation perspective.
To fulfil the objective in this subprogramme, enabling and promoting the collaboration between SMEs in industry
to enable industrial symbiosis networks was considered. This requires measures such as efficient information
sharing about secondary resources (subproducts, waste and all possible secondary raw materials), digitalisation
of SMEs for circular economy, developing simulation tools and building infrastructure and facilities for industries to
share services and logistics. This subprogramme is inspired by the basic principles of industrial symbiosis in which
the resources generated by an industrial process are captured as a 'new' input into another process by one or
more other companies, providing mutual benefits.
B1.1 Efficient secondary resources information sharing ▪ Experts in: product

design, service
design, material

▪ Designing models and software for resource matching between industries. This experts, digital
may include designing digital platforms to share secondary resources, residues and platform/app
by products. developers
▪ Developing solutions to overcome current communication and data-sharing gaps, ▪ Producers (brands
including approaches to actively broker between companies, and building willingness and corporations
amongst value chain actors to set up symbiotic exchanges. of the products
involved)
▪ Promoting and implementing pilot cases through strategic communication and
coordination. ▪ Research
institutes
▪ IT companies and
digital platform
providers
57
B1.2 Digitalisation of SMEs for circular economy ▪ Software
companies
▪ SMEs
▪ Introducing digital technologies in SMEs to unlock the potential of circular economy.
▪ Policy makers
▪ Simplifying data management in circular economy models where information such
as material flows may be constantly exchanged. ▪ Producers and
recycling
▪ Considering the potentially limited resources of SMEs and complement existing
companies
efforts in developing innovative and supportive policies, and educational and training
programs.
TRL: Basic research (2) --> TRL: Scaling (9)
B1.3 Development of infrastructure and facilities to upscale industrial symbiosis ▪ Industrial parks
This activity involves: ▪ Companies
▪ Developing infrastructure and building facilities for industries to efficiently share ▪ Energy distribution
services such as water management, energy, thermal waste, and logistics to support service
industrial symbiosis.
▪ Competent
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Scaling (9) authorities
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
B1.1 Efficient secondary resources information B1.3 Development of infrastructure and facilities to upscale
sharing industrial symbiosis
B1.2 Digitalisation of SMEs for circular

economy
58
Objective C: To raise awareness of industrial ecology by promoting new/better design
and use of products and better re-use of materials already in circulation
Subprogramme C1: Promoting eco-design and eco-processes

This subprogramme is intended to support the Circular Economy Action Plan, highlighting the relevance of eco-
design and eco-processes for circular economy acceleration and implementation. In the “Mobilising industry for a
clean and circular economy” section of the EU Green Deal, the important role of circular design is discussed. It
states that “The circular economy action plan will include a ‘sustainable products’ policy to support the circular
design of all products based on a common methodology and principles. It will prioritise reducing and reusing
materials before recycling them. It will foster new business models and set minimum requirements to prevent
environmentally harmful products from being placed on the EU market” (European Commission, 2019).13
To fulfil the objective in this subprogramme, we considered the potential for eco-design and eco-processes to raise
awareness of industrial ecology. This allows minimisation of the environmental impact along products life cycle
from the design phase until their end-of-life, without jeopardising (but promoting) their economic feasibility and the
minimisation of the environmental impact of production processes. To achieve the objective in this subprogramme,
developing advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and efficient material recovery is required. Eco-design
according to the principles of industrial ecology supports the design of products that can be easily recovered in a
circular perspective which encourage symbiosis between industries. The valorisation of under-utilised infrastructures
and their conversion to circular economy hubs is expected to contribute to achieving the goal.
C1.1 Eco-design and processes that minimise product environmental impact ▪ Eco-designer
This activity involves: ▪ Producers
▪ Developing strategies and tools for designing products that minimise lifecycle ▪ Engineering
footprint, relying on the optimal combination of resource and energy efficiency, companies
use of secondary or substitute materials (especially critical raw materials),
▪ Manufacturing
design-for-usage, traceability and design-for-recycling.

companies
▪ Strongly linking to the Eco-design Directive, Ecolabel Regulation and Extended
Producer Responsibility (EPR).
▪ Integrating chemical footprint considerations at the front end of innovation.
▪ Avoiding the use of substances dangerous for the health and the environment.
▪ Focusing on additive manufacturing instead of subtractive manufacturing to

boost material efficiency.
▪ Improving product robustness, reliability and durability
▪ Placing focus on packaging and boosting circularity in terms of recycling and

degradability.
13
59
▪ Developing innovative industrial manufacturing solutions that enable minimum
resource and energy consumption in the production process, including additive
manufacturing, process intensification and quality standards supporting
versatile sourcing.
C1.2 Upscaling of production based on renewable sources ▪ Eco designer
This activity involves: ▪ Producers
▪ Developing and upscaling innovative biotechnological processes for producing ▪ Engineering

chemicals and polymers. companies
▪ Conducting research to produce novel biochemical production processes, ▪ Chemical and

including biomimicry, to sustainably derive fine chemicals with added value as biotechnological
building blocks, and advanced intermediates or active ingredients as starting companies
materials for specialty chemicals, particularly pharmaceuticals,
biopharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.
▪ Addressing biorefineries to shift towards the sustainable production of plastics,

either recyclable or biodegradable.
C1.3 Advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and efficient material ▪ Companies
recovery
▪ Research
This activity involves: organisations
▪ Developing processes and logistics for safe and efficient collection, disassembly, ▪ Recycling companies
recovery and reuse of valuable materials, especially for complex, composite
▪ Smelters (metal
and hazardous assemblies.
recycling)
▪ Software developers
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
C1.1 Eco-design and processes that minimise C1.3 Advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and
product environmental impact efficient material recovery
C1.2 Upscaling of production based on renewable

sources
60
Subprogramme C2: Promoting re-use, repair and remanufacturing
This subprogramme is directly connected with the new EU Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) which includes
a sustainable products policy to improve the design, production and marketing of sustainable products. It also links
to the CEAP’s intentions to provide support to circularity design and tools for industries to manage their supply
chains, establish minimum requirements to prevent the introduction of harmful products to the EU market and
prioritise reuse and repair before recycling. Finally, this subprogramme is also in line with the previous version of
the CEAP, by highlighting the relevance of eco-design for circular economy implementation.
To fulfil the objective in this subprogramme, the role of reuse, repair and remanufacturing in industries was
considered. This requires measures such as reverse logistic systems, promoting or encouraging the standardisation
of parts and components and production processes making repair and remanufacturing less expensive and more
efficient, and developing advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and efficient material recovery, in full
respect of the principles of industrial ecology.
C2.1. Development of reverse logistics systems ▪ Companies along the

product value chain
▪ Logistics service
▪ Promoting and developing environmentally friendly reverse logistic systems,
possibly B2B (i.e. service and facilities that are not necessarily owned by the ▪ Software company
same company), and optimal (i.e. either the products should be reused, repaired,
remanufactured or recycled).
TRL: Basic research (2) – Lab or in-house demonstration (3) --> TRL: Scaling (9)
C2.2 Standardisation of components ▪ Product designers
This activity involves: ▪ Manufacturing

companies
▪ Standardising product components to facilitate and increase product maintenance

during use life (e.g. mobile phone components such as battery, charger, screen). ▪ Competent
This may also lead to cost savings due to greater economies of scale. Aspects of authorities
standardisation may include:
▪ Value chain actors
▪ Consistency in quality
▪ Consumers
▪ Ease of maintenance
▪ Improved capability to reuse spare parts, modular design
▪ Standardisation of sizing
▪ Ease of production
▪ Reduced need to carry stock
▪ Mapping existing standardisations, state-of-the-art and the latest innovations.
▪ Identifying priority components for standardisation.
▪ Establishing guidelines, toolkit and training materials for manufacturing industries.
61
C2.3 Advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and efficient material ▪ Companies
recovery
▪ Research
This activity involves: organisations
▪ Developing processes and logistics for safe and efficient collection, disassembly, ▪ Recycling companies
recovery and reuse of valuable materials, especially for complex, composite and
▪ Smelters (metal
hazardous assemblies.
recycling)
▪ Software developers
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
C2.1 Development of reverse logistics systems C2.3 Advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and
efficient material recovery
C2.2 Standardisation of components
62
Objective D: To reduce the carbon emissions of companies
Subprogramme D1: Greenhouse gas accounting and management system (individual

company*)
While greenhouse gas accounting and management systems already exist (e.g. US EPA Guide to Greenhouse
Gas Management for Small Business & Low Emitters, or the UK’s Mandatory Carbon Reporting), the implementation
is mostly limited to the largest enterprises, many of which are under the legal obligation to do so. At the same time,
medium, small and micro enterprises account for the major share of business activities in the EU. By raising
awareness of greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and managing practices among smaller industries, particularly
those with energy or emission intensive processes, the companies can make better informed decisions on whether
they should implement GHG management systems considering the advantages and disadvantages..
The development of GHG management systems for smaller enterprises would also contribute to the EU climate
strategy and target and climate neutral society in the long run. After all, 50% of GHG emissions are related to
material use. GHG reduction can therefore only by realised if material intensity and resource efficiency are also
considered. This subprogramme supports smaller enterprises to increase their contribution to the climate change
related aspects of the EU Green Deal, EU Circular Economy Action Plan and the new Horizon Europe programme.
It targets smaller enterprises in emissions-intensive (direct, indirect and process related) industries: ferrous and
non-ferrous metals, cement production, wastewater treatment, chemicals, fertilisers, pulp and paper, food
processing and textiles.
To fulfil the objective in this subprogram, the role of GHG accounting and management to reduce carbon emissions
in industries was considered. This requires GHG accounting and management becoming a common practice in
industries. Companies need to be aware of their responsibility of its GHG emissions and how its GHG emissions
are related to energy consumption, efficiency etc. Also, this subprogramme also complies with the principles of
industrial symbiosis with certain proposals for saving and reuse of energy, water, materials and by- products.
Saving materials means avoiding the energy to produce them, therefore symbiotic solutions between industries
can decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

D1.1 Development of GHG accounting or inventory systems ▪ Companies (prioritising
emissions-intensive
companies (direct plus
▪ Developing GHG inventory and accounting practices (e.g. maintaining indirect and process
records of energy consumption, process GHG emissions) and finding related): Ferrous and non-
solutions to make them cost-efficient for SMEs. ferrous metals, cement
production, wastewater
▪ Developing guidelines and toolkits (considering ISO 14064).
treatment, chemicals,
▪ Mapping and presenting GHG emission data of the industry (according to fertilisers, pulp and paper,
the target audience). food processing and
textiles (excluding the
▪ Preparing training materials and conducting capacity building activities on
energy industry))
establishing GHG accounting systems.
▪ Consultants in GHG
Desired TRL: N/A
accounting
▪ Competent authorities
▪ Investors
63
D1.2 Development of GHG management systems ▪ Companies (prioritising
emissions-intensive
▪ Promoting and encouraging companies to reduce GHG emissions by indirect and process
periodically setting targets based on their GHG inventory (e.g. improving related): Ferrous and non-
energy efficiency in production processes). ferrous metals, cement
production, wastewater
▪ Identifying general measures and specific industry measures presenting
treatment, chemicals,
them accordingly to the appropriate target audiences. Ensuring that such
fertilisers, pulp and paper,
measures are cost-efficient for SMEs and developing incentives for SMEs to
food processing and
replace low efficiency machinery and processes.
textiles (excluding the
▪ Developing guidelines and toolkits for GHG management and control energy industry))
systems (considering ISO 14064).
▪ Consultants in energy and
▪ Collecting and sharing best practices. production efficiency, etc.
▪ Conducting capacity building activities. ▪ Competent authorities
Desired TRL: N/A ▪ Investors
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
D1.1 Development of GHG accounting or D1.2 Development of GHG management systems

inventory systems
64
Subprogramme D2: Promoting secondary raw materials market and industry
This subprogramme aligns with areas in the EU Circular Economy Action Plan related to plastics and critical raw
materials from the waste management perspective. The activities also reflect the objective: reducing carbon
emissions by directly reducing the emissions of material (and manufacturing) industries and indirectly reducing the
emissions of extractive and mining industries. At the same time, the subprogramme promotes secondary raw
materials (RMs) market platforms in anticipation of the expected influx of supply due to the improvement of the
recycling system. The promotion of the reuse product market platform, on the other hand, aims to maximise the
use of the products before they enter into the recycling system.
This subprogramme focuses on promoting secondary raw materials market and industry. This requires measures
such as raising awareness and acceptance for ensuring cost-competitiveness and the quality of secondary RMs,
ensuring transparency, introducing business-to-business market platforms, developing technologies for recovering
secondary RMs from waste streams, and ensuring enough collection points, efficient sorting and separation
technologies and sufficient recycling infrastructure. This subprogramme also applies the principles of industrial
symbiosis through the proposal of resource exchange platforms between two or more industries, by including the
shared utilisation of specific equipment or facilities in a symbiotic cooperation.
D2.1. Technologies for e-waste dismantling, separation and recycling ▪ Universities and research
institutes
▪ EEE producers
▪ Mapping existing e-waste dismantling and separation technologies and
solutions. ▪ E-waste collecting
service companies
▪ Identifying barriers and challenges (e.g. toxic substances, difficulty of
separation due to components being glued or soldered together, requiring ▪ Metallurgy companies
much manual intervention).
▪ Plastic recycling
▪ Developing cost-effective technologies or solutions (e.g. possible automation). companies

▪ Collaborating with EEE producers, e-waste collecting centres, recycling
companies (for e-waste components: metallurgy, plastic etc.).
▪ Exchanging and building on experience and lessons learned with EEE

producers participating in EPR schemes.
Desired TRL: N/A
D2.2 Establishment of secondary market platforms for product reuse ▪ Companies
This activity involves: ▪ Public departments
▪ Mapping current reuse paths, identifying potential suppliers (e.g. used/

unwanted products from companies/municipalities) and consumers.
▪ Creating virtual market platforms targeting different products for reuse.
▪ Considering quality standards of products for reuse.
▪ Promoting market platforms to target groups.
Desired TRL: N/A
65
D2.3 Improvement of e-waste collection infrastructure ▪ Competent authorities
This activity involves: ▪ Universities and research

institutes
▪ Mapping existing e-waste collection schemes and central facilities for
processing. ▪ EEE producers
▪ Identifying barriers and challenges to collection and building sufficient supply ▪ E-waste collecting
volumes service companies
▪ Evaluate the required waste volumes for cost-efficient recycling processes ▪ Metallurgy companies
(e.g. for minor metals, rare earth); considering economies of scale.
▪ Plastic recycling
▪ Developing effective (cross-border) e-waste collecting schemes. companies
▪ Collaboration between competent authorities, EEE producers, waste ▪ Households and

collecting service companies, recycling companies (i.e. for e-waste consumers
components: metallurgy, plastic etc.) to divert international export of e-waste
and build domestic supply volumes.
▪ Building on existing knowledge and expert networks.14
Desired TRL: N/A
D2.4 Separation technologies for food contact plastic ▪ Competent authorities
This activity involves: ▪ Universities and research

institutes
▪ Developing cost-efficient technologies for separating food contact grade
plastic packaging from non-food packaging. ▪ Municipal solid waste
plants and recycling
▪ Mapping existing sensor and separating technologies and machine learning
companies
technologies (e.g. based on the DEXRT (Dual Energy X-Ray Transmission)
and the LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) technologies or ▪ Sorting/separating
PRISM (Plastic Packaging Recycling using Intelligent Separation technologies technology companies
for Materials).
▪ Scaling up existing technologies.
▪ Developing, piloting and upscaling business models.

▪ Ensuring the compliance of the European Food Safety legislation so that

recycled plastics can again be used as food contact materials.
D2.5 Establishment of secondary market platforms for raw materials ▪ Companies (prioritising
emissions-intensive
▪ Mapping secondary raw material recycling streams, identifying potential indirect and process
suppliers (e.g. end-of-life product collectors, recycled raw material producers) related): Ferrous and
and consumers. Considering that prioritised metal and papers already have non-ferrous metals,
rather high demands and maturity. cement production,
wastewater treatment,
▪ Creating virtual market platforms targeting different secondary raw materials.
chemicals, fertilisers,
▪ Considering the quality standards of secondary raw materials. pulp and paper, food
processing and textiles
▪ Promoting market platforms to target groups.
(excluding the energy
▪ Ensuring cost-competitiveness compared to primary sources. industry))
14
Such as SCRREEN: http://scrreen.eu/
66
▪ Competent authorities
▪ Investors
▪ Public departments
▪ Junkyards
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
D2.1 Technologies for e-waste dismantling, D2.4 Separation technologies for food contact plastic
separation and recycling
D2.5 Establishment of secondary market platforms for
D2.2 Establishment of secondary market platforms raw materials
for product reuse
D2.3 Improvement of e-waste collection

infrastructure
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Subprogramme D3: Reducing the carbon and GHG emissions in industrial systems
Climate change mitigation and greenhouse gas reduction is a fundamental part of European sustainability
strategies. For example, the European Green Deal aims to transform European society to become fair, prosperous,
resource-efficient and competitive by 2050, while remaining carbon neutral and ensuring that economic growth is
decoupled from resource use. The EU is also working to ensure that the Paris Agreement remains a key multilateral
framework for tackling climate change and is continuing to engage with the G20 economies that are responsible
for 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
By 2021, the European Commission aims to reduce GHG emissions at the sectoral level by reviewing and proposing
to revise relevant climate-related policy documents where necessary. This includes the expansion of new trading
sectors in the EU Emissions Trading System, reduction of emissions outside the emissions trading system, and
regulations on land use, land use change and forestry. The Commission will also propose to amend the Climate
Law to update it accordingly.
The production and use of energy across economic sectors account for more than 75% of the EU’s greenhouse
gas emissions. At the same time, 60% of GHG emissions from consumption patterns are related to material
production and use. There is significant potential in global markets for low-emission technologies and sustainable
products and services. Greater focus is also being placed on decreasing material intensity and managing the
material footprint of products, as the lifecycle approach is increasingly being adopted.
Improving energy efficiency together with increasing renewable energy and reducing GHG emissions are the three
cornerstones of the EU climate strategy. This subprogramme is strongly linked to this and the above developments.
It complements the other activities of this joint programme on reducing material footprint in the lifecycle of products
with the overall aim of reducing GHG emissions. Specifically, this subprogramme focuses on the energy industry
(as the largest GHG emission sector in the supply of electricity and heat to other industries and households) and
the carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) industry (with technologies utilising CO2 as one of the key
adaptive measures once GHG is emitted).
To fulfil the objective in this subprogram, we considered direct GHG emission reduction actions for industries. This
requires measures such as developing simulation and modelling tools for carbon footprint assessment, improving
energy use efficiency, ensuring alternative sustainable energy sources, developing adaptive technologies/systems
to reduce industrial emission of GHGs and promoting biological technologies and processes to use CO2.
D3.1 Promote the adoption of simulation and modelling tool for assessing ▪ Companies along the
carbon footprint product value chain of
target sectors or products
▪ Software developer
▪ Developing and promoting simulation and modelling tools for assessing
carbon and GHG footprints along product value chains, including recycling ▪ Research organisations
processes, to support decision making processes in business management
▪ Universities
and improve the understanding on areas for efficiency improvement.
▪ Building on existing software and tools for carbon and GHG footprinting.
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (4) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)- (8)
D3.2 Upscaling energy use efficiency measures ▪ Energy distributors
This activity involves: ▪ Engineering companies
▪ Improving energy efficiency (including waste heat recovery) throughout value ▪ Energy manager
chains from raw materials production, manufacturing, logistics, commerce/
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service to recycling using innovative processes. ▪ Energy engineering
▪ Taking stock and considering the current state-of-the- art and latest ▪ Research organisations
innovations in process efficiency.
▪ Universities
▪ Producers
D3.3 Foster renewable power source ▪ Energy producers and

distributors
▪ Engineering companies
▪ Developing high-efficiency, cost-competitive and durable low-carbon energy
sources (for instance photovoltaic, thermal solar, hydroelectric, wind power, ▪ Energy manager
and geothermal, etc), including storage technologies (batteries, hydrogen)
▪ Energy engineering
and infrastructure for transmission and distribution in an environmentally
friendly and low carbon foot print way. ▪ Research organisations
TRL: Field pilot (5) --> TRL: Scaling (9) ▪ Universities
D3.4 Develop technologies for capturing, storage and disposal of GHG ▪ Engineering companies
This activity involves: ▪ Energy manager
▪ Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by developing technologies or systems ▪ Energy engineering

for their capture, storage and disposal.
TRL: Basic research (1) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) - Scaling (9)
▪ Universities
▪ Policy decision-makers
D3.5 Promotion of CO2 utilisation technologies ▪ Chemical companies
This activity involves: ▪ Energy manager
▪ Promoting biotechnological (microbiological) and chemical process for ▪ Energy engineering

consuming carbon dioxide.
▪ Developing new chemical (new catalyst), enzymatic and microbiological

processes to produce fuel, chemicals, polymers and other materials.
▪ Scaling up high-temperature co-electrolysis to produce methanol, DME or

other high value molecules.
TRL: Basic research (2) --> TRL: Scaling (9)
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
D3.1 Promote the adoption of simulation and D3.4 Develop technologies for capturing, storage and
modelling tool for assessing carbon footprint disposal of GHG
D3.2 Upscaling energy use efficiency measures D3.5 Promotion of CO2 utilisation technologies
D3.3 Foster renewable power source
69
3.2.1 Pilot Joint Call – Circular Industries
Rationale for this pilot joint call: This pilot joint call is call also aligns with the EU’s intention to emphasise
intended to develop technologies in factories to achieve support to its immediate neighbours, with partnerships
higher efficiency and productivity and in parallel, realise and new networks close to an “alliances of interests”
the implementation of a smart industrial cluster, concept.
connected with other stakeholders in the area (alliances
How innovation is integrated: The challenge is to
of interests).
promote innovative technologies and tools for the
This concept is mentioned in the European Green Deal, efficient use of resources in industry and for sustainable
the mission to “help deliver large-scale changes in production. In response, the joint call’s approach is
areas such as adaptation to climate change, oceans, based on innovative integrated solutions to be
cities and soil”. These missions will bring together a implemented in factories, industrial areas and
wide range of stakeholders including regions and production sectors (agro- industry, metallurgy, textiles,
citizens. Partnerships with industry and Member States etc.). This joint call focuses on the micro and meso
will support research and innovation on transport, levels, leaving the macro level approach to production
including batteries, clean hydrogen, low-carbon steel sectors in the pilot joint call of the Closing the Loop joint
making, circular bio-based sectors and the built programme.
environment (European Commission, 2019).15 This joint
EXAMPLE JOINT CALL: “DEVELOPMENT OF AN “CIRCULAR ECONOMY APPLICATION” AT MICRO-

MESO SCALE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SMART INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER, CONNECTED WITH
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE AREA (ALLIANCES OF INTERESTS)”
(This is an example of a joint call that can be created by programme owners under the Circular Industries joint
programme.)
Topics covered: Raw materials supply, secondary ▪ mapping of production activities

markets, secondary feedstock, recycling and reuse,
▪ finding the common services and infrastructures
downgrade material analysis, sustainable production
needed; and
and consumption, resilience, industrial symbiosis,
sharing economy, value chain and resource efficiency. ▪ identifying systems necessary to ensure the
protection of health, safety and the environment.
Description:
The guidelines may be followed by the drafting of an
This call aligns with the European Strategy for Raw
operative handbook that could track all regulatory
Materials, WEEE and plastics related strategies, and

obligations, bureaucratic constraints, operational
the EU CEAP.
procedures and all compliance aspects that make
The projects funded by this call should help achieve possible synergies between the various actors
the sustainable and circular management of industries involved in the industrial area.
either at a micro (single factory) or at a meso (industrial
These documents will facilitate the reproducibility of
areas, eco parks, etc) level.
such an organisational model in different territorial
Activities should be clearly replicable. contexts.
Note: In particular, to replicate a circularity-related The impacts and other characteristics of potential
project in industrial areas, it could be useful to draw projects at the micro and meso levels are described
up specific guidelines that trace the path developed in separately below.
order to make it easier to implement. To map the
project, the following main steps are needed:
▪ identification of the industrial area;
15
70
MICRO LEVEL MESO LEVEL
The activities should include the implementation of The activities should include the implementation of
technologies and methodologies for resource innovative business models based on the circular
efficiency. economy concept. Actions can be supported by using
and sharing data among different stakeholders, using
selected available tools (e.g. industrial symbiosis
▪ Technological update of plants platforms) and by the application of collaborative
models among stakeholders.
▪ Increase of social acceptance of new plants
▪ Decreased of use of hazardous materials in
European products according to circular economy ▪ Improved energy and resource efficiency
indicators throughout the value chain from raw materials
production, manufacturing, logistics, commerce/
▪ Reduction of waste production according to
service to recycling by innovative processes.
circular economy indicators
▪ Reduction of waste production according to
▪ Valorisation of materials and products otherwise
circular economy indicators
dispersed and disposed as waste
▪ Valorisation of materials and products otherwise
▪ Decrease in overall GHG emissions
dispersed and disposed as waste
▪ Increase of raw materials in the European internal
▪ Decrease in overall GHG emissions
market according to circular economy indicators
▪ Increase in the social acceptance of new industrial
▪ Decrease of raw materials imported in Europe
plants
according to circular economy indicators
▪ Improved economic and social performance in the
Desired actors involved: The main actors are
area
enterprises (especially SMEs) and circular economy
experts. Desired actors involved: The main actors are
enterprises (especially SMEs) and circular economy
Locations/scale of application: Single plants/
experts and
facilities
facilitators. Also, industrial areas, district governing
TRL levels covered: The projects at micro level
bodies and industry associations should be engaged.
should target a desired level of TRL 7 and include a
detailed pathway for reaching TRL 9 at 3 years after Locations/scale of application: All society and

the projects’ end. economy sectors should be involved.
This joint call contributes to these SRIA objectives: TRL levels covered: The project at meso level should
target TRL 7 and include a detailed pathway for
▪ Circular Industries Objective A ‘To develop new
reaching TRL 8 at 3 years after the project’s end.
technologies, quality standards and analytic
methods for new materials production and This joint call contributes to these SRIA objectives:
resource and waste characterisation economy’
▪ Circular Industries Objective B ‘To enable
▪ Circular Industries Objective C ‘To raise industrial symbiosis networks and foster
awareness of industrial ecology by promoting digitalisation to master the complexity of products,
new/ better design and use of products and better processes and systems’
reuse of materials already in circulation’
▪ Circular Industries Objective D ‘To reduce the
▪ Circular Industries Objective D ‘To reduce the carbon emissions of companies’
carbon emissions of companies’
71
EXAMPLE PROJECT: CIRCULAR INDUSTRY AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS
This is an example of a project under the above joint industrial aqueducts, energy production facilities
call: “Development of an “circular economy application” serving the area);
at micro-meso scale for the implementation of a smart
▪ the identification of a unitary operator that deals
industrial cluster, connected with other stakeholders in
with common services within the production area
the area (alliances of interests)”.
(e.g. collective waste management, energy,
Description: security)
The project aims to build the first integrated system for The adoption of collective plants and infrastructure can
tracking and monitoring the use of raw materials in imply technical process and/or plant modification in
Europe. An overall raw materials platform will be built, order to make possible the exploitation of thermal waste
leveraging on existing instruments (i.e. JRC) and and the sharing of water flows, for example. The project
connected to product value chains through a digital will valorise as many streams as possible in an
system, aiming to trace the quantity, purity and use of integrated industrial area.
raw materials in European products. The pilot will
An example of a sector where this project can take
include the CRMs first connecting selected European
place is an industrial area where a sugar factory
regions and a preliminary study for other raw materials
produces sugar from sugar beets in a symbiosis scheme
and regions.
with other nearby companies. In such a scheme, a
The project will include the following steps: biorefinery plant will process the waste of the sugar
factory, by carrying out two treatments. First, a pre-
▪ Development and implementation of innovative
treatment of extraction with supercritical CO2 (produced
technologies in resources, products and waste
by a nearby chemical plant) of a chemical specialty of
characterisation
pharmaceutical / cosmetic / nutraceutical interest. Then,
▪ Development and implementation of innovative and the waste undergoes an anaerobic digestion for the
efficient production processes production of a biodegradable polymer. A pharmaceutical
/ cosmetic / nutraceutical company will use the chemical
▪ Efficient secondary resources information sharing
specialty for the preparation of high added-value
▪ Digitalisation of SMEs for circular economy products. Another nearby industry then produces
cutting-edge packaging (also for the sugar factory) with
▪ Design of sustainable management and utilisation
the biodegradable polymer produced by the biorefinery.
of residual and co-product streams
A chemical company will perform the concentration and
▪ Building of infrastructure and facilities for industries
purification of the CO2 from air (reduction of greenhouse
to share services and logistics
gases), which is compressed in cylinders for application
The project aims to design a circular economy in chemical plants. This plant will use renewable energy
application at small-medium scale, including sources and passive systems for the cooling steps. The
stakeholders of a given and selected area, engaged in chemical company will supply CO2 to the biorefinery but
improving their efficiency through technological also to a carbonated drinks facility. This last company
advances, by following a “cluster” approach. A circular produces carbonated drinks by using the sugar
industrial area is characterised by the application of produced by the sugar factory and recovering CO2 from
industrial ecology and environmental management the chemical company. A unitary operator will centrally
systems principles. Generally, this kind of sustainable manage the common waste streams of all companies
area aims at the "closing of cycles" of material, water and the purification plants.
and energy, the pooling of the main environmental
In order to contribute to the production of renewable
services (water, energy, waste) and the optimisation of
energy, all buildings will be equipped with photovoltaic
the organisation of activities that generate impacts on
panels for the production of electricity, passive systems
the environment.
for heating and cooling and will share the water system
The cooperative approach will be reflected by two basic for the plants' heat exchangers and services. The
aspects: presence of a unitary manager of the production sector
and representatives of the actors operating within it, will
▪ the adoption of collective plants and infrastructure
allow the development of a program of environmental
within the industrial area (e.g. consortium cleaner
improvement of the area, that is a program of actions
treatment plant, centralised waste storage area,
seen by the participation of several actors, committed
to addressing problems of the industrial area, through a
72
sharing of both financial and human resources. The Basis of the project from the Circular Economy
actions can be both structural and managerial and SRIA:
facilitate the documental management of agreements
Subprogrammes:
and various procedural tools for the entire circular
community (stakeholders, industries, local authorities...). ▪ Subprogrammme A1: Developing new technologies
The central management of the area will provide for new materials production
common services (e.g. logistic, suppliers, transportation)
▪ Subprogrammme A3: Developing new technologies
and also the interaction with other stakeholders in the
for resource and waste characterisation
surrounding area (e.g. local authorities, social services,
education). ▪ Subprogrammme B1: Smart Factories - Building
SME partnerships, “alliances of interests” and
Location(s) of project implementation: EU-wide with
industrial symbiosis networks
territorial approach
▪ Subprogrammme D1: GHG accounting and
TRL levels: The target TRL of this project is TRL 7
management system (individual company)
This project will be implemented by a combination
▪ Subprogrammme D2: Promoting secondary raw
of the following groups: Enterprise (mainly SMEs), IT
materials market and industry
companies and software developers, circular economy
experts and facilitators ▪ Subprogrammme D3: Reduce the carbon/GHG
emissions in industrial systems
73
3.3 CLOSING THE LOOP
Closing the loop in production and manufacturing is a stakeholder collaboration and integrated management
key factor to promote the transition to a circular in the entire value chain.
economy, in line with the new EU Circular Economy
This joint programme focuses on the implementation of
Action Plan. This is relevant for both materials (e.g.
synergic actions at macro level involving all the actors
critical raw materials) and products (e.g. plastic
of the value chain (designer, producer, distributor, user,
packaging, WEEE and tyres), as well as in specific
end-of-life manager, recycler) in order to identify
supply chains (e.g. buildings, agro-industry, textiles).
barriers and remove bottlenecks and broken rings
Within this challenge, all value chain phases need to be
hindering the closure of production loops and implement
taken into consideration: design, material supply and
a sustainable system for all the actors involved. Private
production, consumption and distribution, maintenance,
actors are also highly relevant, and a possible way for
repair and end-of-life as new production of materials.
engage them is the activation of Public-Private-People
This type of challenge has a wide territorial extension
Partnership.
that is typically on the national and global scales
(depending on the geographical area of supply for The expected impacts of this joint programme include:
primary resources).
▪ Improved transparency and availability of
Based on this, the goal of this joint programme is to information in global and regional value chains and
support value chains that are closely linked the EU to collaboration among upstream and downstream
transition towards the circular economy. Specifically, value chain actors;
the objectives of the joint programme are:
▪ Large scale shifts of value chains towards circular
1. To ensure that the manufacturing partnerships in production, industrial symbiosis and closure of
Horizon Europe focus on key priorities in circular production loops; engaging non-EU value chain
economy, actors and indirectly enabling circular economy
transition in countries outside of the EU;
2. To address toxic/hazardous substances to human
and environmental health in the context of circular ▪ Increased production and volume of safer products
economy, and on the European market; and
3. To elaborate and stimulate the adoption of new ▪ Contribution to increasing self-sufficiency in the EU
policies, standard and protocols for governance in terms of the security and supply of materials and
resource management systems, fostering inter- products.
74
Objective A: To ensure that the manufacturing partnerships in Horizon Europe focus
on key priorities in circular economy
Subprogramme A1: Circular complex product design

This subprogramme was developed in connection with new Circular Economy Action Plan, aligning with the Action
Plan’s emphasis of eco-design for circular economy implementation, the relevance of the Eco-design Directive and
the intention to increase the effectiveness of the current Eco-design framework for energy-related products,
including the swift adoption and implementation the new Eco-design and Energy Labelling Working Plan 2020-
2024 for individual product groups. This subprogramme should help accelerate the transition, reaping the benefits
of the circular model in the EU and abroad. Moreover, in coherence with the new Action Plan, this subprogramme
should address the enabling conditions to support circular economy transition, such as innovation and investment
opportunities and enabling technologies. This subprogramme is particularly relevant for complex products and
composite materials, listed among key product value chains, as indicated throughout the sections below.
To fulfil the objective in this subprogramme, the entire life cycle of complex products, including design for reuse,
repair and remanufacturing were considered.
A1.1. Analysis of composition and assembly technologies for different ▪ Research centres and
existing complex products universities (technical
analysis)
▪ Producers (product
▪ Analysing the composition and review of assembly technologies for different
design, manufacturing
existing complex products (e.g. WEEE, batteries, wood-based panels, multi-
processes etc.)
material paper packaging, end-of-life tyres and others) for each of their value
chains.

A1.2 Evaluation of secondary resources as raw materials for complex ▪ Research centres and
products universities (technical
support)
▪ Companies for scaling up
▪ Evaluating secondary resources as raw materials for complex products (as
design and as end-users
in activity A1.3 below) in terms of their performance in its value chain
(testing)
A1.3 Design of complex products for recycling and reuse ▪ Research centres and
universities (technical
support)
▪ Designing complex products that can be recycled and reused with
▪ Companies for scaling up
performance evaluation (on criteria such as durability, technological results,
pilot plants design and
environmental impact and imported emissions) with an iterative process.
running and as end-users
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (4) --> TRL: Field pilot (6) (testing)
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A1.4 Building and testing of pilot plants ▪ Local administrations
working together with a
coordinated approach
▪ Building pilot plants for the production of complex products that are designed (providing premises and
for recycling and reuse for its value chain. specific authorisation)
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (4) --> TRL: Field pilot (6) ▪ Civil society (social
acceptance)
▪ Companies for buildings

and running
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
A1.1 Analysis of composition and assembly A1.3 Design of complex products for recycling and reuse
technologies for different existing complex
A1.4 Building and testing of pilot plants
products
A1.2 Evaluation of secondary resources as raw

materials for complex products
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Subprogramme A2: Circular business model strategies for complex products
This subprogramme is connected to the New EU Circular Economy Action Plan and its focus on eco-design for
circular economy implementation. It contributes to accelerating the circular economy transition, reaping the benefits
of the circular business models in the EU and abroad, working in strict connection with subprogramme A1 above.
As mentioned in the CEAP, the European Commission will promote more circular business models by linking
design issues to end-of-life treatment, considering rules on mandatory recycled content for certain materials of
components, and improving recycling efficiency.
New circular economy business models should facilitate:
▪ interaction between institutions and firms and the diffusion of good circular economy practices, aimed at
sustainable resource supply and synergies among enterprises,
▪ reduction of resource consumption in industrial sites and valorisation of residues, and
▪ improvement in stakeholder collaboration and capability in operating on the market, also creating public-
private partnerships and communities for increasing local investments and developing the economy (e.g.
with new value chains, firms and jobs).
In coherence with the new CEAP this subprogramme could foster the development of new circular business models
including reuse, repair and collaborative models, recycling installations to treat waste domestically, urban mining,
better quality of secondary raw materials and so on. Responding to the commitments of the European Green Deal,
this subprogramme should also contribute to developing an industrial strategy for a clean and circular economy.
A2.1 Downgrade materials analysis ▪ Companies

(providing needs per
sector/value chain
▪ Analysing the materials needed for each sector and the standard and purity and for
requested in relation to their application. The purpose is to facilitate the positioning development)
of the market for recycled materials to fill this demand.

TRL: Field pilot (5) --> TRL: Field pilot (6) and universities (for
technical support)
A2.2 Circular business models development ▪ Companies (for

business models
development)
▪ Developing circular economy business models along value chains (e.g. developing
▪ Local authorities
a regional pilot using a coordinated approach), aiming also to extend product life
(providing in- kind
through reuse, repair and recycling (e.g. industrial symbiosis, sharing economy).
contribution for
▪ Consideration of consumer needs and the relationship between business model coordinated
design and behavioural change. approach and local
needs/resources
info)
77
A2.3 Testing of circular business models ▪ Companies (to
conduct business
model testing)
▪ Testing circular business models in a real environment along the value chain (e.g.
in a regional pilot using a coordinated approach), aiming also to extend product
(providing in- kind
life through reuse, repair and recycling.
contribution for
▪ Involving consumer groups in tests and aligning business model development coordinated
with consumer needs. approach)
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Market introduction (8) ▪ Consumer
association for
consumers
involvement
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
A2.1 Downgrade materials analysis A2.2 Circular business models development
A2.3 Testing of circular business models

78
Objective B: To address toxic/hazardous substances to human and environmental
health in the context of circular economy
Subprogramme B1: Circular design and technical development for human and
environmental health
This subprogramme was developed in connection with the current activities of the European Chemicals Agency
(ECHA), European regulations on chemical substances, and strategies connected with the New Circular Economy
Action Plan. This subprogramme contributes to the acceleration of circular economy transition, reaping the benefits
of the circular model in the EU and abroad. It also contributes to meeting the needs of health and wellbeing of
consumers. Indeed, the CEAP, selecting different value chains as priorities, underlines the need to improve product
durability, reusability, upgradability and reparability, while also addressing the presence of hazardous chemicals in
products and designing products that tackle the presence of hazardous chemicals.
Finally, Horizon Europe will support the development of indicators and data, novel materials and products, and
methods to substitute and eliminate hazardous substances based on a “safe by design” approach. It will also
support the development of circular business models and new production and recycling technologies, including the
exploration of the potential of chemical recycling, keeping in mind the role of digital tools to achieve circular
objectives. Furthermore, the Marie Curie Actions research programme is expected to support the development of
skills, training and mobility of researchers in this area.
Moreover, in connection with the EU Industrial Strategy, this subprogramme activates the industrial sector and all
value chains towards a model of sustainable and inclusive growth, ensuring efficient and clean resource cycles.
Responding to the commitments of the European Green Deal, this subprogramme will likely create positive impacts
at the socio-economic level, ensuring adequate investment opportunities to develop and deploy new technologies.
To fulfil the objective in this subprogramme, circular design for safety was considered as the main approach. This
requires developing technologies for detecting and separating hazardous materials.
B1.1 Improvement of existing technologies for detecting and separating ▪ Research centres and

hazardous materials universities (technical
support)
▪ Companies (scaling up
▪ Recognising existing technologies for detecting and separating hazardous
and testing)
materials from complex products.
▪ Improving existing technologies for detecting and separating hazardous
(providing
authorisation)
▪ Scaling up existing technologies for detecting and separating hazardous
B1.2 Development of new technologies for detecting and separating of ▪ Research centres and
hazardous materials universities (technical
support)
▪ Developing new technologies for detecting and separating hazardous

materials. In particular flexible and modular pilot plants should be designed to
be applied to different products.
79
B1.3 Scaling-up of technologies for detecting and separating hazardous ▪ Research centres and
materials universities (technical
support)
▪ Scaling up new technologies for detecting and separating hazardous materials.
and testing)
(providing
authorisation)
B1.4 Circular safety design ▪ Substances authorities

(e.g. ECHA, on matters
related to information
▪ Conducting circular design of materials and products without hazardous requirements)
substances and with iterative processes, integrating ECHA feedback.
▪ Universities (technical
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (3) --> TRL: Field pilot (6) support)
and testing)
B1.5 Traceability systems for communicating chemicals of concern in ▪ Experts in:

products environmental
chemistry, digital
platform/app
▪ Developing, consolidating and/or improving ecolabel systems related to developers, ecolabel
chemicals of concern to streamline the many decentralised and scattered experts, consumer
ecolabels that already exist on the market. behaviourists
▪ Coordinating with manufacturers and supply chains to collect and standardise ▪ Industry groups
information, across various sectors and product types. The needs and including value chain
participation of consumers and citizens should also be considered, in terms of actors
the retail, use and end-of-life stages.
▪ Operators and
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Scaling (9) (systems exist but at very small scale) participants of existing
ecolabel systems for
chemicals in products
▪ Policymakers – EU,
national and municipal
levels
▪ Consumers
B1.6 Circular business models for human and environmental health ▪ Companies (main
actors)
▪ Research centres and
▪ Developing business models for complex products that are designed without
universities
hazardous materials
▪ Consumer groups
▪ Testing the business models in a real environment and identifying opportunities
for market introduction and upscaling. ▪ Local authorities
(providing in-kind
▪ Adopting a closely coordinated approach with key actors, namely industries,
contribution for
companies and value chain actors.
coordinated approach)
80
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
B1.1 Improvement of existing technologies for B1.3 Scaling-up of technologies for detecting and
detecting and separating hazardous materials separating hazardous materials
B1.2 Development of new technologies for B1.4 Circular safety design

detecting and separating of hazardous materials
B1.5 Traceability systems for communicating chemicals
of concern in products
B1.6 Circular business models for human and

81
Objective C: To elaborate and stimulate the adoption of new policies, standard and
protocols for governance resource management systems, fostering inter-stakeholder
collaboration and integrated management in the entire value chain
Subprogramme C1: Traceability and management of raw materials to support

governance and standardisation
This subprogramme is the basis for the whole ‘Closing the loop’ joint programme and is connected to all activities.
It focuses on the development of data systems and tools to support circularity and provide tools to industries to
better manage their supply chains. In accordance with the new Circular Economy Action Plan, this subprogramme
contributes to the development of the EU market for secondary raw materials as many businesses and public
buyers are ready to switch to recycled materials. Moreover, the subprogramme helps to foster a well-functioning
and integrated internal market for secondary raw materials to ensure that they are safe, competitively priced and
reliable. Responding to the commitments of the European Green Deal, this subprogramme should create positive
socioeconomic impacts to promote investment opportunities and develop and deploy new infrastructure. To fulfil
the objective in this subprogram, the need for a European database of raw materials was considered.
C1.1 Flow analysis of critical and non-critical raw materials ▪ Companies (needs
collection)
▪ Research centres and
▪ Conducting flow analysis of critical and non-critical raw materials needed in
universities (technical
relevant complex products, per European region and at the global level.
support)
▪ This activity should start with the collection and homogenisation of existing
documents.16
TRL: Field pilot (5)--> TRL: Scaling (9)
C1.2 European database of raw materials building on suitable IT support ▪ IT companies (IT
support for IT
instrument
▪ Developing a European database of raw materials building on suitable IT development)
support at the regional level, using a coordinated approach and technologies.
▪ Developing guidelines in order to promote the use of database and promote

traceability of raw materials.
16
Examples of this include:
• Raw materials scoreboard 2018
• Study on Data for a Raw Material System Analysis: Roadmap and Test of the Fully Operational MSA for Raw Materials
• Study on the review of the list of critical raw materials
• Material Flow Analysis of Aluminium, Copper, and Iron in the EU-28
82
C1.3 European database of raw materials at regional level ▪ Research centres and
Universities (technical
support)
▪ Building a European database of raw materials at the regional level using a
coordinated approach and technologies, building on existing systems (e.g. EU
and testing)
Raw Materials Information System (RMIS)).17
(providing
authorisation)
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
C1.1 Flow analysis of critical and non-critical C1.3 European database of raw materials at regional level
raw materials
C1.2 European database of raw materials

building on suitable IT support
17
URL: https://rmis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
83
Subprogramme C2: Promoting market viable solutions for circular economy
The new EU Circular Economy Action Plan involves the introduction of requirements for recycled content in
products, aiming to contribute to preventing a mismatch between supply and demand of secondary raw materials
and to ensure the smooth expansion of the recycling sector in the EU. This subprogramme supports design for
circularity and provides tools to industry for better managing their supply chains, contributing to developing the EU
market for secondary raw materials as many businesses and public buyers are ready to switch to recycled
materials. This subprogramme should overcome the lack of information regarding the presence or absence of
substances of concern in products and waste, which often hampers their recycling and uptake. Moreover, it should
contribute to fostering a well-functioning and integrated internal market for secondary raw materials to ensure that
they are safe, competitively priced and reliable. Responding to the commitments of the European Green Deal, this
subprogramme should create positive impact on the socioeconomic level ensuring adequate investment
opportunities to develop and deploy new infrastructure.
To fulfil the objective in this subprogram, the need for a European industrial symbiosis platform was considered.
C2.1 Materials and sectors analysis ▪ Companies (for needs

info sharing)
▪ Authorities (for
a. Deep analysis material strategic for transition to Circular Economy at European
resources info sharing)
level.
b. Downgrade materials analysis because of the results from part A. This activity
includes the analysis of materials needed per sector and their standard/
requested purity grade in relation to the application. This could facilitate the
position on the market of recycled materials.
C2.2 European industrial symbiosis platform (data) ▪ Companies (for sharing

info)
▪ Feeding of European industrial symbiosis platform after the engagement and
recruitment of companies. ▪ University (for industrial
symbiosis model
▪ The industrial symbiosis platform has the objective to enable the transfer of
setting)
resources (materials, energy products, water, services and expertise) and to
offer other operational instruments (legal databases, LCA and eco-design
tools, best practice databases, etc.) to small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
and other local operators.
▪ Once registered, enterprises can provide their own information about the
inputs and outputs they want to share with the users of the platform. They can
also have the possibility to use all of the functions provided by the platform
(queries, databases, industrial symbiosis matching), and look for cooperation
in terms of industrial symbiosis potential.
84
C2.3 European industrial symbiosis platform (instrument) ▪ ICT companies
▪ Building of the European industrial symbiosis platform.
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
C2.1 Materials and sectors analysis C2.2 European industrial symbiosis platform (data)
C2.3 European industrial symbiosis platform (instrument)
85
3.3.1 Pilot Joint Call – Closing the Loop
Rationale for this pilot joint call: Too often, circular How innovation is integrated: This pilot joint call
economy initiatives and projects focus only on one or considers a specific value chain of interest (e.g. specific
two phases of the value chain, while an overall life cycle critical raw material such as phosphorous or rare earths,
thinking extended to the entire value chain is mandatory or a type of complex product such as batteries or
to achieve the closure of the loop. In this pilot joint call, electronic equipment). It takes into consideration the
all the value chain phases are taken into consideration relevant existing initiatives and stakeholders to be
and the different typology of stakeholders are involved, involved, identifies the technological and non-
in order to assure that all criticalities are faced and technological gaps and implements R&I activities for
solved. An extra territorial approach is also foreseen in the closure of the loop.
the projects under this call.
EXAMPLE JOINT CALL 1: DEVELOPMENT OF REPLICABLE AND SUSTAINABLE JOINT SOLUTIONS

FOR CLOSING THE LOOP IN RAW MATERIALS SUPPLY AND INCREASING SECONDARY MARKETS IN
EUROPE
This is an example of a joint call that can be created by programme owners under the Closing the Loop joint
programme.
Topics covered: Raw materials supply, secondary actors, existing raw materials platforms especially
markets, recycling and reuse, downgrade material those addressing nutrients and phosphorus issues
analysis, plastics, value chains, waste and complex products alliances (e.g. European
Battery Alliance).
Description:
Other key stakeholders that should be engaged are
The objective of this call is to develop replicable and
policy makers and certification bodies (for secondary
sustainable joint solutions for closing raw material
raw materials).
supply loops and increase European markets in raw
materials. It contributes to the strategies and targets Locations/scale of application: All EU/EEA
described above. countries. The project should be developed at macro
level, demonstrating the replicability in the whole EU
The projects funded in the call should demonstrate a
continent. Partners from outside Europe should be
sustainable replicable method to enhance secondary
encouraged, especially the raw materials producers.
markets in Europe, both at technological and non-
technological level, through closing the loop in raw TRL levels covered: Aim to reach TRL 7 including a
materials supply. The project should contribute to the detailed pathway for reaching TRL 9 three years after
reinforcement of European manufacturing. the projects’ end.
The expected impacts of this call are: This joint Call contributes to these SRIA
objectives:
▪ Reduction of raw materials dispersion according
to circular economy indicators ▪ Closing the Loop Objective 1: To ensure that the
manufacturing partnerships in Horizon Europe
▪ Increase in the European internal market of raw
focus on key priorities in circular economy
materials according to circular economy indica-
tors ▪ Closing the Loop Objective 2: To address toxic/
hazardous substances to human and
▪ Decrease of raw materials import in Europe
environmental health in the context of circular
according to circular economy indicators
economy
▪ Increase in job creation in raw materials accord-
▪ Closing the Loop Objective 3: To elaborate and
ing to circular economy indicators
stimulate the adoption of new policies, standard
▪ Decrease in the use of hazardous materials in and protocols for governance resource
European products according to circular econ- management systems, fostering inter-
omy indicators stakeholder collaboration and integrated
management in the entire value chain
Desired actors involved: This call is open for
application to value chain public, private and civil
86
EXAMPLE PROJECT: INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF TRACEABILITY AND MANAGEMENT OF RAW
MATERIALS IN COMPLEX PRODUCTS
This is an example of a project under the above joint ▪ Pilot business cases on the reconversion of raw
call: “Development of replicable and sustainable joint materials use for selected products/components
solutions for closing the loop in raw materials supply
▪ Definition of a replication method
and increasing secondary markets in Europe”.
Location(s) of project implementation: EU-wide
Description:
The project aims to build the first integrated system for
tracking and monitoring the use of raw materials in This project will be implemented by a combination
Europe. In particular an overall raw materials platform of the following groups: Value chain actors, IT
will be built, leveraging on existing instruments (i.e. companies and software developers
Joint Research Centre) and connected to product value
Basis of the project from the Circular Economy
chains through digital systems, aiming to trace the
SRIA:
quantity, purity and use of raw materials in European
products. The pilot will include the critical raw materials Subprogrammes:
by connecting selected European regions and a
▪ Closing the Loop - Subprogramme C1: Traceability
preliminary study for other raw materials and regions.
and management of raw materials to support
The project will include the following steps: governance and standardisation
▪ Collection of raw materials information through a Innovation fields:

detailed review of existing databases and data
▪ Plastics (2): Traceability and information in the
available on Eurostat/single statistic databases
plastic value chain
▪ Development of a European database of raw
▪ Raw Materials (6): Efficiently aggregating valuable
materials building on suitable IT support
materials in waste collection
▪ Digital systems development for connecting
▪ Value Chains (2): Sustainable public procurement
products and European database including a digital
tool for ICT recognition of components ▪ Waste (5): Innovations to accelerate recycling and
secondary markets
▪ Flow analysis of critical and non-critical raw
materials ▪ Waste (1): Setting up circular business models to
extend product lifespan

▪ Downgrade analysis of material use, including their
composition
87
EXAMPLE JOINT CALL 2: DEVELOPMENT OF REPLICABLE AND SUSTAINABLE JOINT SOLUTIONS
FOR CLOSING THE LOOP IN STRATEGIC SECTOR (E.G. WEEE, CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION,
FOOD, TEXTILE) OR COMPLEX PRODUCTS (E.G. WEEE, BATTERIES)
This is an example of a joint call that can be created actors, existing raw materials platforms especially
by programme owners under the Closing the Loop those addressing nutrients and phosphorus issues
joint programme. and complex products alliances (e.g. Batteries
Alliance). Other key stakeholders that should be
Topics covered: Raw materials supply, secondary
engaged are policy makers and certification bodies
markets, recycling and reuse, downgrade material
(for secondary raw materials). Other key stakeholders
analysis, plastics, value chains, waste
that should be engaged are policy makers and
Description: certification bodies (for secondary raw materials).
The project should demonstrate a sustainable solution Locations/scale of application: All EU/EEA
for closing the loop in strategic sectors (e.g. textile countries. The project should be developed at macro
construction and demolition, food) or in complex level, demonstrating the replicability in the whole EU
products (e.g. WEEE, batteries) with the involvement continent. Partners from outside Europe should be
of all the stakeholders that impact the value chain encouraged, especially the raw materials producers.
(producers, consumers, recyclers, policy makers,
TRL levels covered: Aim to reach TRL 7 including a
value chain closure enablers). Technical and non-
detailed pathway for reaching TRL 9 five years after
technical aspects should be included. The project
the projects’ end.
should contribute to reinforcing the European
manufacturing industry in terms of competitiveness, This joint Call contributes to these SRIA
sustainability and autonomy (in raw material supply objectives:
and security).
▪ Closing the Loop Objective 1: To ensure that the
The expected impacts of this call are: manufacturing partnerships in Horizon Europe
focus on key priorities in circular economy
▪ Raw material import reduction at European level
according to circular economy indicators ▪ Closing the Loop Objective 2: To address toxic /
hazardous substances to human and
▪ Increasing of job creation in products design,
environmental health in the context of circular
recycling according to circular economy
economy
indicators, value chain closure enablers, etc.
▪ Closing the Loop Objective 3: To elaborate and
▪ European start-up dedicated to complex product
stimulate the adoption of new policies, standard
design created according to circular economy
and protocols for governance resource

indicators, new business models (pay for use,
management systems, fostering inter-stakeholder
sharing economy), recycling plants
collaboration and integrated management in the
Desired actors involved: This call is open for entire value chain
application to value chain, public, private and civil
88
EXAMPLE PROJECT 2.1: CLOSING THE LOOP IN EEE SECTOR
This is an example of a project under the above joint Location(s) of project implementation: EU-wide
call: “Development of replicable and sustainable joint
solutions for closing the loop in strategic sector”.
This project will be implemented by a combination
Description:
of the following groups: Value chain actors, IT
The project aims to build the first sustainable integrated companies and software developers
solution for closing the loop in EEE sector. In particular,
whole value chain of selected EEE products (i.e. printed
SRIA:
circuit boards, photovoltaic panels, batteries) will be
connected and closed. The project will be based on Life Subprogrammes:
Cycle Thinking, following multidimensional, inclusive
▪ Closing the Loop - Subprogramme A1: Circular
and multi-stakeholder approach and shall include
complex product design
actions on:
}
▪ A1.1 Analysis of composition and assembly
Sustainable supply
technologies for different existing complex
Design Circular business models products
Production LCA/LCC/Social LCA ▪ A1.2 Evaluation of secondary resources as raw

materials for complex products
Use and reuse
▪ A1.3 Design of complex products for recycling
Collection
and reuse
The project will include the following steps:
▪ A1.4 Building and testing of pilot plants
▪ Composition and assembly technologies analysis
▪ Closing the loop - Subprogramme A2: Circular
of different existing complex products, including
business model strategies for complex products
downgrade materials analysis
▪ A2.2 Circular business models development
▪ Evaluation of secondary resources as raw materials
for complex products ▪ Closing the loop - Subprogramme B1: Circular
design and technical development for human and
▪ Design of complex products for recycling and reuse
▪ Circular business models development

▪ Circular business models testing
▪ Pilot plants for recycling eco-designed complex

products building and testing
89
EXAMPLE PROJECT 2.2: CLOSING THE LOOP IN TEXTILE SECTOR
This is an example of a project under the above joint ▪ Quality and circular labelling/certification
call: “Development of replicable and sustainable joint
▪ Pilot plants for recycling eco-designed innovative
solutions for closing the loop in strategic sector”.
textile products building and testing
Description:
Location(s) of project implementation: EU-wide
The project aims to develop an integrated pilot in the
textile sector, reinforcing the European sustainable
textile value chain. The project aims to implement a This project will be implemented by a combination
closed loop starting from the design of innovative and of the following groups: Value chain actors, IT
sustainable textile products that can be easily recycled companies and software developers. Also, fashion
(i.e. devices for personal health protection). Also, the houses shall be involved to promote the use of circular
production process will be designed to avoid the use of textiles.
hazardous substances (according to the REACH
regulation and promoting recyclability). The entire value
SRIA:
chain shall be taken into consideration promoting
market uptake, collection, reuse and recycling through Subprogrammes:
the traceability of products, quality and circularity
labelling/certification. Pilot plants for cradle to cradle
complex product design
recycling will be developed and implemented, to test
the solution. The plant will be built in a flexible way in ▪ A1.1 Analysis of composition and assembly
order to be applied to different products and replicate technologies for different existing complex
the method in different European regions. Dedicated products
circular business models will also be developed.
▪ A1.2 Evaluation of secondary resources as raw
The project will include the following steps: materials for complex products
▪ Composition and assembly technologies analysis ▪ A1.3 Design of complex products for recycling
of innovative textile products, including downgrade and reuse
materials analysis
▪ A1.4 Building and testing of pilot plants
▪ Evaluation of secondary resources as raw materials
for innovative textile products
business model strategies for complex products
▪ Design of innovative textile products for recycling
▪ A2.2 Circular business models development
and reuse
▪ Closing the Loop - Subprogramme B1: Circular
▪ Circular business models development
design and technical development for human and
▪ Circular business models testing environmental health
▪ Traceability and collection schemes
90
3.4 RESOURCE EFFICIENCY ON TERRITORY AND SEA
This joint programme focuses on the application of 1. To design and promote sustainable maritime transport,
circular economy to the complex relationships between and
mainland human activities and open waters, chiefly
2. To promote efficient resource use in ports and coastal
represented by the technosphere environment of
areas with a long-term perspective.
harbours. Priority is given to actions that promote
transition to the circular economy in the management of The innovations covered in this joint programme can
small and big ports, fostering sustainable and circular create positive impact in the upscaled recovery and
innovations in the major productive sectors occurring in commercialisation of seafood by-products, integrated
the ports and in the main activities and businesses waste and water management, circular water vessel
linked to its economic life. production, industrial symbiosis between cities,
manufacturing and ports, and sustainable tourism and
This joint programme is in line with the emerging Blue
logistics. Such innovations can also create new
Economy principles and the Blue Growth perspective:
business models and jobs.
the main topics addressed include sustainable tourism,
integrated and circular waste and water management, The expected impacts of this joint programme include:
climate change impacts including sea level rise and
▪ Improved collaboration and synergies on
mitigation measures.
sustainable development and circular economy
Managing this complex transition to a circular and transition between ports and coastal cities;
sustainable anthropic connection between territory and
▪ Reduced energy and material consumption in
sea should be driven by an integrated approach and a
marine industries including shipping, tourism and
holistic view in order to create a feasible model for
fisheries; and
economic capital creation and natural capital safeguard.
Based on this, the goal of this joint programme is to ▪ Reduced air and water pollution at ports and oceans
enable circular economy transition in ports and marine leading to decreased negative environmental and
systems. human health impacts.
The specific objectives of this joint programme are:
91
Objective A: To design and promote sustainable maritime transport
Subprogramme A1: Transitioning to a circular and sustainable shipping industry

This subprogramme is dealing with the transition to more sustainable shipping sector through the cold ironing18 of
the port areas and the implementation of a circular production system in the shipping sector aimed at reducing
resource use and promoting recycling and reuse. These goals align with the Bluemed SRIA’s19 sections on
technology enablers and in line with the measures in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) strategy on the
reduction of GHG emissions from ships and the shipping sector20.
To fulfil the objective in this subprogram, the transition of the shipping industry towards circular economy in the
area of maritime transport was considered. This requires measures such as scaling up electric solutions in the
shipping and boat industry, using eco-design approaches for the shipping and boat industry, designing reverse
logistic for dismissed boat, introducing the extended producer’s responsibility in the legislation for the ship industry
sector, developing innovative recyclable composite materials and cold ironing of the port areas.
A1.1 Development of eco-design approaches for the watercraft production ▪ Product designers
industry
▪ Watercraft
This activity involves: production
companies
▪ Implementing eco-design approaches in the watercraft design and production
industry (including ships and boats). ▪ Research centres
▪ Designing and implementing solutions for the recycling and reuse of vessels to ▪ Logistic experts
enable circular production models, including the reverse logistics systems for
▪ Waste management
dismissed vessels.
companies
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Scaling (9) (Approaches and methodologies well
▪ Port authorities
developed, but rarely applied to the maritime sector)
A1.2 Development of solutions for electric vessels in maritime transport and ▪ Port cities
upscaling of cold ironing at port areas (municipalities)
This activity involves: ▪ Watercraft

production
▪ Designing, testing, developing and commercialising electric boats and ships and
companies
adapt port areas to provide cold ironing to electric vessels while hosting them at
ports. ▪ Port authorities
▪ Addressing the problem of high electricity demand by cruise ships by improving ▪ Research centres
the design and implementation efficiency of electricity systems at ports.
▪ Batteries developers
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) to Scaling (9) (systems exist and producers
but at very small scale, therefore focus should be on scaling up)
▪ Maritime companies
▪ Cruise companies
18
Cold ironing refers to the provision of shoreside electrical power to ships at berth while its engines are shut off, to maintain the functioning
of emergency equipment, refrigeration and cooling/heating, etc.
19
Based on the updated version of the Bluemed SRIA from 2018 which can be found here: http://www.bluemed- initiative.eu/wp-content/
uploads/2018/12/BLUEMED-SRIA_Update_2018.pdf.
20
The IMO strategy document can be found here: https://unctad.org/meetings/en/Contribution/dtltlbts- MyEM6thd04_IMO_en.pdf.
92
A1.3 Development and market upscaling of innovative recyclable composite ▪ Designers
materials and 3D printing in the watercraft industry
▪ Watercraft
This activity involves: production
companies
▪ Designing, testing, developing and commercialising recyclable and sustainable
composite materials, and fostering the introduction of 3D printing in the ▪ Research centres
watercraft production industry.
▪ 3D printing
TRL : Lab of in-house demonstration (3) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) (Prototypes companies
of materials exist in the maritime sector, but not market solutions. Market solutions are
available in the aviation sector)
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
A1.1 Development of eco-design A1.2 Development of solutions for electric vessels in maritime
approaches for the watercraft transport and upscaling of cold ironing at port areas
production industry
A1.3 Development and market upscaling of innovative recyclable
composite materials and 3D printing in the watercraft industry
93
Objective B: Promoting efficient resource use in ports and coastal areas with a long-
term perspective
Subprogramme B1: Transitioning to integrated resource management approaches

working at the territorial level with a holistic and circular perspective
This subprogramme focuses on transitioning to integrated resource management at the territorial level with a
holistic and circular perspective. These goals are already present among the knowledge enablers and economic
enablers of the Bluemed SRIA21 as well as the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda 2015-2020 of JPI
Oceans - the Healthy and Productive Seas & Oceans Intergovernmental Platform22.
To fulfil the objective in this subprogram, a holistic perspective on circular resource management at port areas was
considered. This requires measures such as introducing more efficient resource management in ports and coastal
areas, reducing environmental and social impact due to the port activities, introducing rehabilitation of neglected
areas in the port areas, improving the urban connection of the port areas with the urban areas and citizens usability
of the port areas. There is also a need of evaluation in the medium-long term of the effect of climate change on sea
level and implementation of mitigation and adaptation solution to climate change effect to the sea level.
B1.1 Design and implementation of industrial symbiosis platforms for discards ▪ Circular economy
and waste valorisation at ports (in connection with coastal cities) experts
This activity involves: ▪ Research centres
▪ Fostering the diffusion of online platforms for industrial symbiosis at territorial ▪ Companies of the
level (i.e. coastal cities and ports) for the valorisation of resources, waste and blue economy
discards as secondary materials or innovative products.
▪ Nature-based solutions to be used in re-naturalisation and climate change
adaptation actions at port and coastal cities.
▪ Platform developers
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) (Platforms exist but they are
still a niche, so focus should be on scaling up)
B1.2 Calculation models to design (mainly nature-based) climate change ▪ Blue economy
adaptation actions in ports and coastal cities companies
This activity involves: ▪ Construction

companies
▪ Modelling sea level rise calculations to design the appropriate adaptation
solutions for coastal cities and their port areas. A focus should be placed on ▪ Research centres
nature-based solutions.
▪ Developing nature-based solutions aimed at the re-naturalisation of port areas,
seas and coastal cities. Such solutions should also use secondary resources as
much as possible. Connection can be made with Activity B1.1 of this ▪ Nature based
subprogramme. solution
development
companies
21
Available here: http://www.bluemed-initiative.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BLUEMED- SRIA_Update_2018.pdf.
22
More information on the JPI Oceans SRIA can be found here: http://jpi-oceans.eu/news-events/news/jpi- oceans-sria-now-available.
94
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) (Models exist but not widely ▪ Climate change
disseminated, and they should be improved in terms of spatial resolution and experts
precision)
B1.3 Material flow analysis with a life cycle perspective at ports and coastal ▪ Strategic lifecycle
cities analysis experts
This activity involves: ▪ Circular economy

experts
▪ Developing and implementing efficient, integrated and circular resource
management systems at ports and coastal cities using the Material Flow ▪ Research centres
Analysis approach and with a lifecycle perspective, aimed at reducing raw
▪ Companies of the
material consumption, waste production and social and environmental impacts.
blue economy
▪ The lifecycle perspective applied includes both lifecycle analysis and strategic
lifecycle analysis.
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) (Approaches and methodologies
exist but they are not so diffused at ports and coastal cities and in the blue economy
sector)
B1.4 Innovation hubs in to foster circular economy in port areas and engagement ▪ Blue economy
with coastal cities companies
This activity involves: ▪ Construction

companies
▪ Creating innovation hubs for blue economy stakeholders to interact and foster
innovation, involve citizens and integrate port management into urban ▪ Innovation/research
management. The potential for tourism development should be considered. centres
▪ Considering the rehabilitation of unused and neglected port buildings to become ▪ Local authorities
physical spaces for hosting the innovation hubs.
▪ Promoting the creation of protection areas which can play a role in safeguarding
▪ Architecture firms
biodiversity and minimising long-term environmental impacts.
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) (Approaches and methodologies
exist but they are not so diffused at ports and coastal cities and in the blue economy

sector)
B1.5 Circular and sustainable tourism certification schemes ▪ Blue economy

companies
▪ Tourism sector
▪ Implementing circular economy and sustainable tourism certification schemes to
foster more efficient and circular use of resources and exploit other actions ▪ Research centres
aimed at a circular resource management in the tourism industry.
▪ Hotels
TRL: Lab or in-house demonstration (4) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) (Some
solutions are already present on the market, but the sector needs to be developed
overall)
95
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
B1.1 Design and implementation of B1.3 Material flow analysis with a life cycle perspective at ports
industrial symbiosis platforms for and coastal cities
discards and waste valorisation at ports
B1.4 Innovation hubs in to foster circular economy in port areas
(in connection with coastal cities)
and engagement with coastal cities
B1.2 Calculation models to design
B1.5 Circular and sustainable tourism certification schemes
(mainly nature-based) climate change
adaptation actions in ports and coastal
cities
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Subprogramme B2: Transitioning to a sustainable fishing and circular aquaculture
sector
This subprogramme is the transition to a circular, sustainable and respectful of the biodiversity fishing and
aquaculture sectors. These goals are already present among the Knowledge enablers and among the Economy
enablers of the Bluemed SRIA in its updated version of 201823 and among the Strategic Areas of the Strategic
Research and Innovation Agenda 2015-2020 of the JPI Oceans - the Healthy and Productive Seas & Oceans
Intergovernmental Platform24.
To fulfil the objective in this subprogram, the role the fishing and aquaculture was considered. This requires
measures such as increasing the market share of market neglected fish species, reducing waste and introducing
more efficient resource management of the fish transformation industry, fostering traditional fisheries processes
and local fish species, implementing more sustainable aquaculture processes and introducing fish stock
conservation.
B2.1 Valorisation of fish species with commercialisation and sustainable ▪ Fishing companies
extraction potential
▪ Communication
This activity involves: companies
▪ Valorising fish species with the potential for commercialisation and enough ▪ Fishing associations
stock for sustainable extraction but are otherwise overlooked on the market.
▪ Restaurants
This can be accomplished by market promotion focused on the health and
environmental sustainability features of such species. ▪ Characterisation labs
▪ Valorising the nutritional, organoleptic and environmental (sustainable and ▪ Labelling programme
traditional fishing processes) characteristics of the fish species through the developers
appropriate labelling for consumers and tourists.
▪ Touristic companies
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) (Characterisation analysis

and labelling already exist, but not aimed at reaching the goal described)
B2.2 Valorisation of seafood by-products and promoting industrial ▪ Seafood processing

symbiosis in the fisheries sector companies
This activity involves: ▪ Circular economy experts
▪ Valorising the discards and by-products of fish and promoting industrial ▪ Characterisation labs
symbiosis to shift the fisheries and seafood processing industry towards (Laboratories dealing
circular economy. with characterisation of
products or discards)
▪ Focusing on the valorisation of secondary materials to generate value-
added products (e.g. in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, energy or animal ▪ Research centres
feed industries).
▪ Using resource mapping at the territorial level and leveraging on industrial
symbiosis e-platforms to conduct the valorisation.
▪ Other companies from
TRL: Field pilot (5) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) (Some valorisation
the seafood sector, able
experience in the sector exist, but in general there is no implementation of the
to valorise their discards
circular economy model in the sector)
23
Accessible here: http://www.bluemed-initiative.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BLUEMED- SRIA_Update_2018.pdf
24
Accessible here: http://jpi-oceans.eu/news-events/news/jpi-oceans-sria-now-available
97
B2.3 Implementation of sustainable multitrophic aquaculture processes in ▪ Aquaculture companies
the appropriate marine areas
▪ Restaurants
▪ Characterisation labs
▪ Implementing sustainable multitrophic aquaculture processes aimed at
▪ Labelling programme
reducing marine pollution and supporting fish stock conservation.
developers
▪ Developing and using marine dynamics models to account for climate
change effects over a medium to long term perspective, to define optimal
(biologists)
areas for aquaculture implementation.
▪ Environmental experts
▪ Labelling sustainable seafood products from aquaculture based on their
nutritional, health and sustainability features. ▪ Climate change
modelists
TRL: Field pilot (6) --> TRL: Market introduction (7)/(8) (Some multitrophic plants
exist, but in general the sector is implementing traditional processes that are
pollution intensive)
Period & Activities
Year 1-4 Year 5-10
B2.1 Valorisation of fish species with B2.2 Valorisation of seafood by-products and promoting
commercialisation and sustainable extraction industrial symbiosis in the fisheries sector
potential
B2.3 Implementation of sustainable multitrophic
aquaculture processes in the appropriate marine areas
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3.4.1 Pilot Joint Call – Resource Efficiency on Territory and Sea
Rationale for this pilot joint call: For the resource resource management. There is a strong need to
efficiency on Territory and Sea joint programme, the enlarge the initiatives towards an integrated approach
existing initiatives and projects dedicated to territory and a holistic view in order to create a feasible model
and sea are mainly focusing either on natural resources for economic capital creation and natural capital
management or to specific fragments of the blue safeguard. Given the typology of project a territorial
economy. However, an overall socio-economic and approach is foreseen. In addition, it is essential that a
environmental approach needs to be improved in order common and interlinked approach is implemented with
to assure a circular economy approach in the regards to blue economy in connection to circular
management of territory and also to connect blue and economy.
circular economy in an organised way. Specific attention
How innovation is integrated: The management of
should be given to the complex relationships between
small and big ports is designed and implemented in
mainland human activities and open waters, and
connection to coastal zones including actions on
specifically to ports, which consist of the characteristics
upscaled recovery and commercialisation of seafood
of both urban and industrial areas and represent the
by-products, integrated waste and water management,
main connection between land and sea.
circular water vessel production, industrial symbiosis
The existing initiatives and projects on sustainable between urban and port areas, manufacturing and
ports only focus on energy efficiency and logistics, ports, and sustainable tourism and logistics. Such
excluding all the aspects related to material, waste and innovations can also create new business models and
water efficiency management and the connections jobs.
between land and sea, and natural and anthropic
EXAMPLE JOINT CALL: SUSTAINABLE AND CIRCULAR PORTS AND COASTAL TERRITORIES
This is an example of a joint call that can be created ▪ Reduced energy and material consumption in
by programme owners under the Circular Cities joint marine industries including shipping, tourism and
programme. fisheries; and
Topics covered: marine industries including shipping, ▪ Reduced air and water pollution at ports and
tourism and fisheries; raw material, biomass and oceans leading to decreased negative
biotechnologies, waste, water efficient use and environmental and human health impacts.
management; industrial symbiosis

Desired actors involved: This call is open for
Description: application to product designers, watercraft production
companies, research centres, logistic experts, waste
The objective of this call is to develop replicable,
and water management companies, port authorities,
holistic and integrated solutions to promote efficient
maritime and cruise companies, tourism companies,
and circular resource management in port areas and
fishing, aquaculture and fisheries companies.
sustainable and resilient development in coastal
territories. Other key stakeholders that should be engaged are
policy makers, climate change experts and civil
The projects funded should demonstrate a sustainable
society.
and replicable approach to manage the port and
coastal areas with an integrated and circular approach Locations/scale of application: All EU/EEA
aimed at exploiting resources efficiently, reducing the countries. The project should be developed at macro
pressure on the coastal and marine environment and level, demonstrating the replicability in the whole EU
valorising waste and discards keeping value on the continent. The project could be applied not only to
territories through eco-innovative solutions. sea ports, but also to river and lake ports. Partners
from outside Europe should be encouraged, especially
from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership
▪ Improved collaboration and synergies on Instrument (ENPI) side.
sustainable development and circular economy
transition between ports and coastal cities;
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TRL levels covered: Aim to reach TRL 7 including a ▪ Territory and Sea Objective A: To design and
detailed pathway for reaching TRL 9 three years after promote sustainable maritime transport
the projects’ end.
▪ Territory and Sea Objective B: To promote
This joint Call contributes to these SRIA efficient resource use in ports and coastal areas
objectives: with a long-term perspective
EXAMPLE PROJECT: RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE COASTAL TERRITORIES
This is an example of a project under the above joint nets and fish transformation valorisation in
call: “Sustainable and circular ports and coastal nutraceutic or pharmaceutic sectors are just two
territories”. examples;
Description: ▪ Defining and implementing sustainability and

circularity certification schemes (local) aimed at
The project aims to develop a holistic and sustainable
promoting circular touristic activities in the territories
territorial management system in coastal areas by
(i.e. hospitality sector, entertainment sector, etc...);
implementing circular economy principles to achieve a
fruitful coexistence between humans and nature in ▪ Designing and implementing an integrated, efficient
coastal territories. and circular waste and wastewater management
system able to valorise waste into resources,
To fulfil the objective, the following measures shall be
connected with the previous activities listed.
implemented: designing nature based solutions aimed
at mitigating the effects of sea level rise caused by Location(s) of project implementation: EU-wide
climate change on human activities and natural coastal (front-sea areas, lake and river areas) and Mediterranean
areas; fostering small and traditional fisheries also Sea
through touristic promotion of their activities and
products in order to preserve biodiversity and keep
value on the territory; a responsible and sustainable This project will be implemented by a combination
tourism through the certification of sustainable and of the following groups: Research centres, waste and
circular touristic activities; introducing an integrated, water management companies, port authorities,
efficient and circular waste and wastewater management touristic companies, fishing companies, municipalities
system with the ability to valorise waste in resources
while also considering fluctuations due to touristic

SRIA:
dynamics.
Subprogrammes:
The project shall include the following activities:
▪ Subprogramme B1: Transitioning to integrated
▪ Designing nature-based solutions for the mitigation
resource management approaches working at
of climate change effect and re-naturalisation of
the territorial level with a holistic and circular
coastal areas;
perspective
▪ Defining and implementing sustainability and
▪ Subprogramme B2: Transitioning to a
circularity certification schemes aimed at valorising
sustainable fishing and circular aquaculture
neglected fish species and discards from fish
sector
transformation in order to promote small and
traditional fisheries. The use of recyclable fishing
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Research and
4 Innovation
Priority Areas
4. Research and
Innovation Priority Areas
(Innovation Fields)
The SRIA is primarily about research and innovation. It is also aimed at supporting programme owners in
strategically orienting research funding, and as such it needs to target areas of market and societal interest. The
innovation fields (IFs) are areas of research and innovation that are oriented towards functionality and usage
value. They are formulated as to address clear requirements and encompass technical and scientific solutions.
This section describes the priority innovation fields which are the basis of the four joint programmes. The innovation
fields were identified by programme owners, policymakers and other key EU stakeholders. This section lists the
priority areas of research and innovation for the four societal challenge areas (urban areas, industrial systems,
value chains and territory and sea) and eight themes (biomass and biotechnologies, chemicals, construction and
demolition, food, plastic, raw materials, waste and water).
4.1 Societal Challenge Areas
4.1.1 Urban Areas

The Urban Areas challenge focuses on increasing circular flows of materials and energy in cities in order to
improve consumption efficiencies and minimise waste, thereby reducing negative sustainability impacts. The
engagement of citizens is key. It refers to the sustainability challenges related to the management and development
of areas where humans live in concentration. It commonly includes housing, urban transport, sanitation, utilities,
land use and communication, and covers urban and peri-urban areas. Examples at different geospatial scales are:
micro - individual households and buildings; meso - individual city level; and macro - interactions between cities,
agglomerations and sister cities (with social/political/cultural ties or partnerships).
The Urban Areas challenge is the basis of the Circular Cities joint programme in this SRIA.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Urban Areas challenge are:
Developing services to fulfil citizen needs and increase citizen engagement in waste
Objective 1.
management, recycling and second-hand markets in cities.
To improve resource management (water and soils) in urban and suburban areas, and
Objective 2.
areas with industrial agriculture
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INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field
objective(s)
Citizen involvement for circular and sharing economy

1 Understanding how citizens relate to circular and sharing economy and building Objective 1
knowledge and methods for this
Circular systems for used products

2 Objective 1
Systems for sharing, repair and circulation of used products
Green public procurement programmes

3 Objective 1
Identifying programmes for second-hand markets in public procurement
Advanced water treatment systems to promote circularity

4 Upgrading water treatment systems to increase recycling and reuse as well Objective 2
including risk analysis
Advanced waste management systems for circularity

5 Objective 2
New and improved waste systems for shifting towards circular collection systems
4.1.2 Industrial Systems

The Industrial Systems challenge addresses the efficient use of resources and the sustainable production through
the implementation of innovative technologies and tools at the level of individual factories, industrial areas or
industrial networks.
The actions concern innovation in product design, production processes, efficient use and management of

resources, reduction of emissions and waste, valorisation of process waste, collaborative exchanges between
different industries and cross-sector collaboration (for example through industrial symbiosis), the sustainable and
circular management of industrial areas, the redevelopment of industrial areas and the conversion of existing
factories to the circular economy.
The Industrial Systems challenge is the basis of the Circular Industries joint programme in this SRIA.
OBJECTIVES
The approach is based on innovative integrated solutions to be implemented in factories, industrial areas and
production sectors (agro-industry, metallurgy, textiles, etc.), in order to address the efficient use of resources in
industry, the sustainable production and the closure of cycles.
The objectives of the challenge are:
To develop new technologies, quality standards and analytic methods for new materials
Objective 1.
production and resource and waste characterisation
To enable industrial symbiosis networks and foster digitalisation to master the complexity
Objective 2.
of products, processes and systems
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To raise awareness of industrial ecology by promoting new/ better design and use of
Objective 3.
products and better re-use of materials already in circulation
Objective 4. To reduce the carbon emissions of the 100 most polluting companies
To develop new process and digital (twin) technologies for reducing losses from the CE
Objective 5.
system
INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field
objective(s)
High value manufacturing integrating eco-design

1 High value manufacturing integrating eco-design in the process, focusing on additive Objective 2 and 3
manufacturing instead of subtractive manufacturing to boost material efficiency.
Digitalisation and circular economy research and projects
Development of sectorial and cross-sector knowledge and innovation networks which

2 address circularity capacity, knowledge and implementation gaps in different regions Objective 1 and 2
of Europe Involving SME's in digitalisation and circular economy research and
projects
Biorefineries support
3 Supporting biorefineries in chemicals and plastics production and for biofuel or Objective 1 and 4
energy production
Optimisation of metallurgical processes
4 To develop new technologies for the optimization of metallurgical processes in the Objective 1 and 5
extraction of CRM from primary and secondary raw material feeds by reducing
effluents
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4.1.3 Value Chains
The challenge ‘Value chain’ covers the main topics for closing the loop of specific materials (e.g. Critical Raw
Materials or others), products (e.g. plastic packaging, WEEE, tyres, etc.) and in specific supply chains (such as
buildings, agro-industry, textile, etc.). Within this challenge all value chain phases need to be taken into
consideration: design, material supply and production, consumption and distribution and end-of-life as new
production of materials. This type of challenge has itself a wide territorial extension that typically applies from
national to global scale (depending on the geographical area of supply for primary resources).
The Value Chains challenge is the basis of the Closing the Loop joint programme in this SRIA.
OBJECTIVES
The goal is the implementation of synergic actions involving all the actors of the value chain (designer, producer,
distributor, user, end of life manager, recycler) in order to identify barriers and remove bottlenecks and broken
rings hindering the closure of loop and implement a sustainable system for all the actors involved.
To ensure that the manufacturing partnerships in Horizon Europe focus on key priorities in
Objective 1.
circular economy
To address substances of concern to human and environmental health in the context of

Objective 2.
circular economy
To elaborate and stimulate the adoption of new policies and protocols for governance
resource management systems, fostering inter-stakeholder collaboration and integrated
Objective 3.
management in the entire value chain, also through reverse logistics, and promoting
participation among young people, for boosting knowledge about secondary materials
INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field

objective(s)
Product lifetime extension
1 To extend product lifetimes and develop innovative business models including Objective 1
aspects such as industrial symbiosis in order to realise an effective closure of the
loop within entire value chains
Sustainable public procurement

2 Develop criteria for circularity and establish a uniform method for governments in Objective 3
sustainable public procurement
Sustainable sourcing
3 Objective 2
To promote sustainable sourcing following Circular Economy principles
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4.1.4 Territory and Sea
Territory & Sea is the challenge dealing with the complex relationships between mainland human activities and the
open water, chiefly represented by the technosphere environment of harbours. The goal is to set up a line of
actions aimed to a suitable transition to the Circular Economy in the small and big ports management, by fostering
sustainable and circular innovations in the main productive sectors occurring in the ports and in the main activities
and businesses linked to its economic life.
In line with the emerging Blue Economy principles and the Blue Growth perspective, the main addressed topics to
be tackled will be - among others - marine litter, sustainable tourism, integrated waste and water management, but
also the sea level increasing due to the climate change effects and the solutions for its mitigation. Innovation could
lead, for example, to the fishing traceability and valorisation of the fish supply chain residues in new products, to
the integrated waste and water management, to an industrial symbiosis platform implementation, to sustainable
logistics in tourists and goods management and to new jobs opportunity and businesses.
Managing this complex transition to a circular and sustainable anthropic connection between territory and sea
should be driven by an integrated approach and a holistic view in order to create a feasible model for economic
capital creation and natural capital safeguard.
The Territory and Sea challenge is the basis of the Resource Efficiency on Territory and Sea joint programme in
this SRIA.
OBJECTIVES
The approach is based on innovative integrated solutions to be implemented in factories, industrial areas and
production sectors (agro-industry, metallurgy, textiles, etc.), in order to address the efficient use of resources in
industry, the sustainable production and the closure of cycles.
Objective 1. To design and promote sustainable maritime transport
To promote efficient resource use in port areas and surroundings with a long-term
Objective 2.
perspective
INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field
objective(s)
Remanufacturing for the shipping industry

1 Transition to a circular shipping industry through product, process and system innovations Objective 1
(e.g. use of recyclable composite fibres in the ship production; electrification)
Integrated resource management approaches working at the territorial level with a

holistic and circular perspective
2 Implementation of circular, integrated and holistic resource management systems at the Objective 2
territorial level through eco-innovation and social actions at the product, process, system,
value chain and sector levels, with a long-term perspective for transition to a circular
economy able to adapt to and mitigate the climate change effects
Optimal fishing and aquaculture strategies
3 Circular resources management in the aquaculture and fisheries sectors through optimal Objective 2
resource use and the valorisation of by-products, discards and wastes with industrial
symbiosis implementation
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4.2 Themes
4.2.1 Biomass and biotechnologies

Biomass and biotechnologies have an important role in circular economy and are in the centre of a circular
bioeconomy. Although biomass is renewable, the sustainable supply, production and consumption of biomass
should not be taken for granted. When targeting a more bio-based circular economy and more circular bioeconomy,
the focus should be on resource and energy efficiency and the cascading use of biomass and biotechnologies,
prioritising the production of added value chemicals and biobased materials, and finally biofuels. Energy production
must be considered the last choice for closing the loop. Integration of cascading and circular principles along the
biomass and biotechnologies value chain is required in order to transform the use of biomass and biotechnologies
to be more sustainable.
The biomass and biotechnologies theme contribute to sustainable supply and its cascading use for sustainable
and resource efficient production and consumption of renewable chemicals, materials, fuels and energy in the EU.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Biomass and biotechnologies theme are:
Objective 1. To ensure secure and sustainable biomass feedstock supply and cascading use
Objective 2. To optimise efficient processing for integrated and circular biorefineries
To develop innovative biobased products and materials for a more biobased circular
Objective 3.
economy and more circular bioeconomy
INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field
objective(s)
Sustainable management of biomass feedstocks from co-products, side streams

and residual streams

1 Sustainable management and utilisation of biomass feedstock from different side-, Objective 1
residual and co-product streams. Development of sustainability criteria and circularity
metrics for different biomass feedstocks and related biobased products. Ensure safety
in material circulation, including cyber safety and health issues.
Resource efficient biomass pre-treatments and conversion into competitive

products and applications
Develop and demonstrate advanced, energy and carbon efficient, biomass pre-
Objective 2 and 3
2 treatment and conversion technologies, such as chemical, thermochemical and
biochemical technologies, to produce fuels, energy and especially biobased products
to variety of applications (e.g. films, fibres, packaging, structural composites) according
to circular principles including cascading processes, capturing and utilising CO2 in
processes, and material and product design for reuse or recycling.
Biorefinery process optimisation and integration towards circularity
3 Develop simulation and modelling tools, process technologies and logistic solutions for Objective 2
biorefinery process optimisation and integration towards cascading and circular
approaches. Ensure safety in material circulation.
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4.2.2 Chemicals
Chemicals are at the basis of society in the everyday products we use. Nonetheless some chemicals pose a risk
to human health or the environment. The REACH regulation either limits or forbids the use of some chemicals
while others are controlled on the initiative of companies and producers, but many hazardous and potentially
hazardous chemicals remain in production processes and in products. This constitutes a problem in the recovery
and recycling of the products because it perpetuates the presence of substances of concern on the market and
therefore its exposure to humans and the environment.
The Chemicals theme contributes to sustainable and healthy industrial production, conscious consumptions and a
correct waste management in the EU, to close resource cycles and minimize pollution.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Chemicals theme are:
Objective 1. To create a demand for healthy materials
To innovate materials, formulations and processes, also substituting or limiting the quantity
Objective 2.
of hazardous materials in products and in markets
Objective 3. To increase the traceability of chemicals in products and information to consumers
INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field
objective(s)
1 Introduce traceability for chemicals of concern in products Objective 1 and 3
Introducing traceability systems for chemicals of concern (e.g. a scorecard rating for
products) and promoting eco-labelling for chemicals of concern in products
2 Prioritise chemical footprinting in product innovations Objective 2

Integrate chemical footprint considerations at the front end of innovation in businesses

and business decisions, rather than have it be an add-on or afterthought when a
business already has significant sunk costs in a new product and is irrevocably down
the line on product development decisions.
3 Hazardous chemicals substitution especially in the fields of waterproof and oil- Objective 1, 2 and
proof materials, preservatives and antimicrobials, plasticisers, protective surface 3
treatments
To develop new processes and encourage product eco-design for substituting hazardous
substances, while retaining key properties. Hazardous chemical substitution should
especially be focused on the fields of waterproof and oil proof materials, preservatives
and antimicrobials, plasticisers and protective surface treatments. The aim of hazardous
material substitution is to achieve sustainable production processes, limit the circulation
of substances of concern for human health and the environment, and to facilitate safe
product recycling without perpetuating the presence of such substances on the market
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4 Extended producer responsibility Objective 2 and 3
Foster extended producer responsibility to improve the effectiveness of developing new

business models and build greater public awareness about the need to correctly dispose
of old/damaged products from a chemical perspective.
5 Promoting innovative biochemical production processes Objective 2
Research to produce novel biochemical production processes to sustainably derive fine

chemicals with added value as building blocks, advanced intermediates or active
ingredients starting materials for specialty chemicals, particularly pharmaceuticals,
biopharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.
4.2.3 Construction and Demolition (including waste)

Construction and demolition waste accounts for approximately 25%-30% of all waste generated in the EU. Material
flows related to construction and demolition include concrete, bricks, gypsum, wood, glass, metals, plastic,
solvents, asbestos and excavated soil. Given this diversity of materials, the potential for their recovery and
recycling from construction and demolition waste streams will also differ greatly from one material to another. A
more careful and well-researched use of building materials and technologies is expected to allow for an improved
use of construction and demolition waste, both in quality and quantity.
This theme focuses on planning and designing buildings and infrastructure that use building materials that are
produced in a resource efficient way, and that allow for a reduced waste generation from future demolition, while
maximising the recovery of useful materials from the waste that cannot be avoided.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Construction and Demolition Materials (including waste) theme are:
To increase recycling and preparation for reuse of waste from construction and demolition
Objective 1. activities as to obtain marketable and competitive secondary materials and reusable
products.

Objective 2. To reduce waste generation from construction and demolition activities.
To prevent health risks by avoiding the use of hazardous substances in construction

Objective 3. materials and buildings, and by appropriately treating hazardous waste resulting from
construction and demolition activities.
To remove regulatory barriers for innovation and establish EU-harmonised regulations,

Objective 4. criteria and standards on construction materials, selective demolition and C&D waste
recycling.
To promote the exchange and adoption of best circular and sustainable practices in
Objective 5.
construction.
To reduce resource consumption, waste and emissions related to the production of building
Objective 6.
materials and to the construction, (re-)use and demolition of buildings.
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INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field
objective(s)
1 Planning and design for re-use and recycling Objective 2
Integrating the following aspects in the planning and design phases of buildings to
minimise waste generation: reversibility, ease of transformation, deconstruction &
disassembly, future reuse and recycling of building components.
2 Effective material recovery and decontamination techniques Objective 1 and 3
Use of effective and flexible techniques for the sorting and recycling of construction
and demolition waste (CDW) and for safely managing hazardous CDW, always
assuring traceability
3 Methodologies for assessment of (environmental) life cycle costs Objective 6
Development of a common framework that enables the assessment of the technical,

economic and environmental performance of a building or a construction material
over its entire life cycle
4 Technical solutions, regulations, tools for policy makers Objective 4 and 5
The creation of incentives, technical solutions, tools and guidelines for policy
makers, that are flexible and adaptable to local features and conditions
5 Analysis of key properties of construction materials Objectives 1 to 6
Research on composition and physico-chemical properties of construction materials

improving concrete recycling
4.2.4 Food
Food is a renewable but extremely precious resource. Its management must not be subject to waste either for
moral or economic reasons. At any level it is necessary to promote practices that valorise food waste, even in
sectors other than food. In a hierarchy that favours human and therefore animal nutrition, the residues must be
collected and addressed to other productions or, lastly, to energy recovery.
The Food theme contributes to sustainable, healthy and efficient food production and consumption in the EU, to
close resource cycles and minimise waste and pollution.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Food theme are:
To guarantee food security, food safety and healthy diets as part of circular economy in the food
Objective 1.
sector
To understand future food production and supply chains in Europe including urban-rural
Objective 2.
interactions
To close material and energy cycles and prevent food and packaging waste while minimising
Objective 3.
emissions by 2050
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Objective 4. To educate eaters on circular food production and consumption systems
INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field
objective(s)
Smart, sustainable and productive farming systems
Smart and sustainable farming systems (including urban agriculture) that maintain Objective 1 and 3
1 natural resources, increase production efficiency and promote high food quality,
sustainability and awareness, characterised by logistical innovations that promote
healthy, local and seasonal foods.
Lifecycle mapping and scenario modelling of EU food systems
Mapping and scenario modelling of food systems with the aim to understand food Objective 2 and 3
2 production, supply chain, consumption and transport systems considering urban-
rural interactions. Consider issues on food quality and safety, energy balance,
economic sustainability, stakeholder attitudes and resource efficiency.
Re-commercialisation of commercial and agricultural food waste
Technological innovations and regulatory changes to recommercialise expired

retail and commercial food including related aspects such as transport logistics. Objective 3
3 For food and organic waste from the agricultural sector, promote and upscale the
use of by-products (e.g. crop waste in animal feed, manure in fertiliser and other
nutrient recovery from organic wastes). Traceability should be integrated to
safeguard human, animal and environmental health, and ensure social acceptance
General upscaling of market-friendly circular economy innovations in the

food sector Objective 2, 3 and
4 4

Adopt a systems approach to scale up market-friendly innovations and solutions
(e.g. zero-packaging supermarkets) to the mass market for wide commercial
adoption
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4.2.5 Plastic
Plastic is the material of excellence of the last century. The durability, chemical resistance and low cost of plastics
has enabled the development and mass-production of many innovative products and technologies. At the same
time, these positive qualities are also the main drawback. The short sighted and careless use of plastics has posed
critical environmental problems that are undermining the future balance of the planet. Marine litter is already
threatening life in the seas. Therefore, the plastics economy must change from a system that produces waste by
design to one that preserves the value and benefits of plastics while eliminating or minimising the drawbacks.
The Plastics theme contributes to the sustainable use of plastics, by increasing circular flows and seeking
alternatives to plastics where viable.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Plastic theme are:
Objective 1. To develop fossil-free plastics
Objective 2. To transition to smarter plastic use if it is more resource efficient than alternative materials
Objective 3. To increase the circularity of plastic flows
INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field
objective(s)
Design for sustainable plastic consumption and smarter use
Sustainable plastic design includes both material design and design for reuse/
Objective 2 and 3
1 recycling. It also includes contribution to policy development to enhance the
importance of design; social aspects and behaviour, etc. Considerations on
comparing plastic vs other materials and reducing consumption and dependence
on plastics (e.g. alternative materials).
Traceability and information in the plastic value chain

Objective 2 and 3
2 Increasing the traceability and transparency in plastic value chains in terms of
resource intensity, chemical composition/process chemical use and lifecycle
impacts.
Improve recycling technologies including chemical recycling

Objective 2 and 3
3 Development of recycling technologies to handle more parts of the plastic flows.
Including chemical recycling
Biobased plastics in a circular system

4 Development of biobased plastics, in relation to the existing system, making them Objective 1 and 3
circular also in terms of recycling and in some cases degradability.
112
4.2.6 Raw Materials
In the simplest terms, the linear economy model converts raw materials into waste. Virgin raw materials are a
limited resource, and often subject to importation and therefore to supply uncertainty. Their recovery and
reintroduction in the production process as secondary raw materials in a circular scheme are not only important for
economic reasons, but also for the sake of the environment and society.
This theme contributes to the sustainable and efficient consumption of raw materials throughout the value chain,
to reduce material and energy intensity while maximising material value and use.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Raw Materials theme are:
To secure and to trace a sustainable (environmentally, economically and socially) supply of

Objective 1.
minerals, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, in particular critical raw materials
To design low lifecycle footprint material solutions (from raw materials supply to product-
Objective 2.
service applications, and including manufacturing processes)
Objective 3. To enable maximum value usage of products in the economy
To implement a responsible end-of-life of products, from waste collection and sorting to

Objective 4.
recycling and valorisation
INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field
objective(s)
Mapping & valorisation of secondary feedstock
▪ Design and production processes supporting an increased supply of materials

from the optimal mix of primary and secondary sources, to address existing or
new applications
1 Objective 1

▪ Scalable solutions for exploring, inventorying and sharing the information
about material streams and potential sources for extracting secondary raw
materials over European territories, including urban and landfill mining as well
as industrial residues
Efficient primary mining & resource assessment
▪ Resource/water/energy efficient mining, mineral processing and metallurgy,

including for more complex and lower grades ores and minerals, enabling a
safe, low environmental and sanitary impact and economically viable
2 Objective 1
exploitation of primary raw materials in Europe
▪ Holistic knowledge of global resources, social and environmental conditions

of extraction, toxicity, geostrategic and economic factors regarding each of
the critical, toxic and technological materials
113
Eco-design and eco-processes in product design and material use
▪ Strategies for designing products with a minimum lifecycle footprint, relying

on the optimal combination of resource efficiency, use of secondary or
substitute materials, design-for-usage, traceability and design-for-recycling, in Objective 2
3 particular relying on the Eco-Design Directive, the Ecolabel Regulation,
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
▪ Industrial manufacturing solutions enabling minimum resource consumption in

the production process, including additive manufacturing, process
intensification and quality standards supportingversatile sourcing
Advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and efficient material recovery
4 Processes and logistics for safe and efficient collection, disassembly, recovery and Objective 3
reuse of valuable materials, especially for complex, composite and hazardous
assemblies
Optimising value per kg of raw material use

5 Systemic organisational solutions maximising the material usage value, based on Objective 3
product servicing, sharing and operational lifetime optimisation
Efficiently aggregating valuable materials in waste collection

6 Waste circuits ensuring an efficient aggregation of valuable material flows, Objective 4
especially with regards to energy technologies, transport and WEEE
Efficient and effective material detection & separation

7 Cost-efficient, robust and low-environmental impact detection and extractive Objective 4
processes, delivering secondary feedstocks, including for multi-material recovery
Safe and efficient product dismantling and sorting

8 Safe and efficient processes for depolluting and disassembling complex products, Objective 4
aiming at concentrating material rates and enable highly selective recycling
4.2.7 Waste
Waste is the central term of a circular economy. According to the EC, the circular economy aims to maintain the
value of products, materials and resources for as long as possible by returning them into the product cycle at the
end of their use, while minimising the generation of waste.
The overall goal of the circular economy is to close material cycles and avoid waste, as well as reuse and recycle
materials to the strongest possible extent. However, only certain materials and shares of natural resources can be
fully circulated in loops and resources are also needed for the technical recovery of raw materials from waste. In
this respect, waste prevention is a further important aspect of the theme.
The Waste theme shall contribute to a more sustainable, healthy and efficient production and consumption system
in the EU that closes material cycles and minimises waste and pollution.
The Waste theme is a cross-cutting theme, first, since there is practically no sector without any waste (not even
the service sector) and, second, because it is highly relevant in all contexts addressed here like raw materials,
water, plastics, chemicals, and biomass and biotechnologies. It is addressed more specifically in the themes like
Food theme and Construction & Demolition.
114
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Waste theme are:
Objective 1. To extend product life cycles of normal and high-tech products to reduce waste quantities
To improve the level of information and awareness for industry, trade, consumers and
Objective 2.
younger generations to reduce waste volumes
To advance (digital) waste management technologies for collection and sorting to reduce
Objective 3.
landfill and incineration
Objective 4. To promote low-waste product design to reduce waste quantities
To support consumers to make choices towards low-waste products to reduce waste

Objective 5.
quantities
To further improve recycling rates and recycling quality to ensure a higher quality of
Objective 6. materials from sorting processes, including chemical recycling and recycling of organic
waste
Objective 7. To improve policies for waste management & waste prevention
INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field
objective(s)
Setting up circular business models to extend product lifespan.
Based on pay per use (or sharing model) rather than paying for the product will enable
1 to reduce waste quantities and extend lifetime. Setting up circular business models for Objective 1 and 4

remanufacturing and reuse can strengthen the reuse and remanufacturing of used
products.
Improve product robustness and reliability (with limited resource use)
2 Innovative approaches for modularity, circular design, eco-design (e.g., modular Objective 1 and 4
smartphones, eco-design kit). Improve material design to facilitate separation,
disassembly, recycling, reuse, refurbishment and repair.
Reducing packaging, strengthening waste prevention and reducing returns
This IF consists of multiple aspects as follows:
▪ Reducing packaging (innovation in distribution, unpackaged shops, packaging

reduction in supermarkets through expansion of the range of unpackaged food Objective 2, 5 and
3
products, introduction of reusable packaging). 7
▪ Strengthening waste prevention initiatives by establishing dialogues and

networking between political and social actors
▪ Building reflexes for the younger generation using the levers "learning by doing"
115
▪ Reducing returns (raising consumer and trade awareness for the negative effects
of returns and provide alternatives) – Introduction of reusable trade packaging
schemes for special product groups and conversion from cardboard boxes to
returnable boxes for transporting fruit and vegetables)
Advanced and safe waste treatment, sorting and collection for circularity
▪ Develop new sorting technologies and new technologies for treatment of multi-
material products and composite materials. Quick and affordable methods to
detect SVHC in waste stream. Develop laser assisted sorting technologies for
sorting of mixed metal alloy. Improve sorting for better recycling (detectors for
black plastics, fluorescent markers).
▪ Develop treatment technologies for new products arising in the collection streams
Objective 3, 6 and
4 (e.g. photovoltaic panels, batteries from ELV). Flexible waste treatment
7
technologies and systems that can relatively easily be adapted to changing waste
streams. Application of chemical markers as a solution coupling complex product
development with better materials sorting, with strong focus on non-metallic
fractions. The marking systems should be linked to the sorting methods. High
environment and health protection in treatment plants.
▪ Exploring smart waste bins and platforms for monitoring, route optimisation. The
development of the innovative intelligent bins for different types of wastes which
enable efficient collection of waste and facilitate efficient use of the material
according to the CE principles.
▪ Testing sensor-supported waste collection with weight measurement or electronic

sensors in containers to manage remotely collection systems.
Innovations to accelerate recycling and secondary markets
▪ Innovative systems that improve the traceability of materials and chemicals in the
supply chain to stimulate re-use and recycling.

Objective 3 and 6
5 ▪ Improving secondary resources distribution for industrial symbiosis.
▪ Build system, technology and policy design to facilitate and accelerate the
development of a competitive market and economy for recycled materials.
▪ Stimulating the demand for secondary raw materials through quality requirements
and harmonised end-of waste criteria.
116
4.2.8 Water
Water is an extremely limited resource, the use of which must be made more efficient in industrial systems,
agriculture and also by consumers in urban areas. It is monitored by legislation, imposing controls either on
distributed water and on collected water, to check its quality, prevent contamination and encourage its use in
closed circuits.
This theme focuses on to the sustainable and efficient use of water in both industrial, commercial and household
consumption.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Water theme are:
To achieve a water-wise and bio-based economy that closes the water cycle gap, enables
efficient water treatment technologies and smart water systems, improves urban water system
Objective 1.
safety and quality (especially risks associated with emerging pollutants and water infrastructural
accidents), and ensures adequate water access without single-use plastic bottles.
Objective 2. To enhance regulatory frameworks for efficient water use and management.
INNOVATION FIELDS
Corresponding
Innovation Field
objective(s)
Advanced wastewater treatment for material recovery and safety
Advanced, cost-effective industrial and urban wastewater treatment technologies

1 characterised by the recovery of valuable products and pollutants (e.g. metals, Objective 1
minerals, nutrients and chemicals), microplastic filtration/treatment and water
capture and reuse from agricultural liquid and solid wastes. This may also involve
increasing operational efficiency of wastewater treatment facilities.
Integrated water network systems for resilience and securing supply

2 Integrated water network systems with improved resilience and capacity, that boost Objective 1
the performance of rainwater drainage networks (preferably using nature-based
solutions) and increase supply for potable water and irrigation.
Holistic water management integrating technology, socioeconomics and

policy
3 Objective 1 and 2
Integration between technological innovations, socioeconomic research and policy/
financial incentives to facilitate sustainable water management
117
Guidance
Programme
5 Owners to
Use the SRIA
5. Guidance for
Programme Owners to
Use the SRIA
This guidance applies to programme owners of the SRIA (i.e. those working in government and funding agencies
coordinating research and innovation programmes) as members of the programme owners’ platform.
As described in the previous sections, the SRIA consists of four joint programmes, which are the basis for
programme owners to co-create, co-fund and work together towards systemic circular economy. The joint
programmes were developed by identifying and strategically linking areas of research and innovation (innovation
fields) across eight themes within four high-level challenges. The existing eight themes are Biomass and
Biotechnologies, Chemicals, Construction and Demolition, Food, Plastic, Raw Materials, Waste and Water. The
existing four challenges are urban areas, industrial systems, value chain and territory and sea. This is illustrated
in the diagram below.
WATER
INNOVATION FIELDS JOINT

WASTE OF THEMES PROGRAMMES
CHEMICALS

VALUE CHAIN CLOSING THE LOOP
BIOMASS & BIO TERRITORY AND SEA RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
TECHNOLOGIES ON TERRITORY & SEA
FOOD
CONSTRUCTION
& DEMOLITION
RAW
MATERIALS Identification of new innovation
fields, ongoing strategic development Co-implementation
of SRIA, co-development of new of joint programmes.
PLASTIC
joint programmes.
PROGRAMME OWNER PLATFORM
119
The CE SRIA was developed by identifying innovation fields across eight themes and four societal
challenge areas, out of which four joint programs were formed. Members of the programme owner platform
are expected to use both the joint programmes and innovation fields to collaborate on circular economy
programming. These aspects of the SRIA can also be tailored to their needs.
There are two main ways for programme owners to use this SRIA;
1. The first is the co-implementation of joint programmes and
2. The second is to use the SRIA as a framework to identify new areas of research and innovation (i.e.
innovation fields) and develop new joint programmes for further collaboration. These two ways of using the
SRIA is further described below.
5.1 Co-implementation of Joint Programmes (i.e. Joint Programming)

The SRIA serves as a framework for cooperation through joint programming, when programmes and subprogrammes
could be used for identification of the needs for joint programming and evaluation of experience levels. This allows
matching POs for two types of cooperation:
1. POs with needs and POs with experience. The POs with needs on certain R&I priorities could be matched with
the POs with experiences in these fields. The POs with experiences should share their best practices and
challenges, monitoring practices etc., that allows POs with needs to implement joint programming in the most
efficient way to save time and resources.
2. POs with similar needs and advancements. The POs with similar needs, advancements and ambitions in
innovations could be matched together to jointly tackle the circular economy transition needed to achieve their
respective sustainability targets (including shared targets such as those set in the Paris Agreement, EU Green
Deal and EU Circular Economy Action Plan).
1. POs with need POs with experience
IF
Subprogramme Joint Programmes IF

IF
2. POs with similar TRLs

and ambitions
POs with similar TRLs
and ambitions
Two ways of matching POs within the SRIA
Joint programmes are structured and strategic R&I programmes that define, in further detail, the specific activities,
necessary disciplines and actors that could be involved in R&I actions. The examples serving as guidance for
drafting the joint calls can be found in the SRIA’s example joint calls the sections below:
▪ 3.1.1 Pilot Joint Call – Circular Cities
▪ 3.2.1, Pilot Joint Call – Circular Industries
▪ 3.3.1 Pilot Joint Call - Closing the Loop
▪ 3.4.1 Pilot Joint Call - Resource Efficiency on Territory and Sea.
120
5.2 Using the SRIA framework for future joint programming work
The joint programmes of the SRIA focus on cross-cutting and transdisciplinary aspects to bring about systemic
changes and represent examples and templates of how systemic programmes can be built. However, key priorities,
issues, targets and strategies are changing on an ongoing basis, thus over time it will be necessary to update/
develop new SRIA elements in order to ensure its continual relevance and value for programme owners.
There are three main ways that programme owners can use the SRIA as a framework for future joint programming
work:
1. Developing new subprogrammes and activities within the four existing joint programmes in the SRIA;
2. Developing new joint programmes using the pre-identified areas of priority research and innovation fields in
Section 4. Research and Innovation Priority Areas (Innovation Fields);
3. Identifying new themes, challenges and the respective priority research and innovation areas (i.e. innovation
fields) and adding or revising them to the framework of the SRIA. These can then form new joint programmes as
well.
This is also illustrated in the figure below.
HIGH LEVEL
THEMES JOINT PROGRAMMES
CHALLENGES
Existing subprogrammes
EXISTING and activities
THEMES EXISTING
INNOVATION
EXISTING
INNOVATION
EXISTING JOINT
PROGRAMMES 1
FIELDS FIELDS New subprogrammes
and activities
EXISTING
CHALLENGES
EXISTING
3 INNOVATION
FIELDS
NEW
THEMES
2 2
NEW NEW JOINT New subprogrammes
INNOVATION PROGRAMMES and activities
FIELDS

NEW
INNOVATION
3 FIELDS
3 3
NEW JOINT New subprogrammes
PROGRAMMES and activities
Three main ways for programme owners to update and keep use of the SRIA in the future: 1) developing
new subprogrammes and activities in existing joint programmes, 2) developing new joint programmes
from existing innovation fields, and 3) adding new themes, challenges and innovation fields to form new
joint programmes.
The joint programming platform will support POs to use and update the SRIA as one of its core services, including
the identification of those responsible on coordinating the revisions of the SRIA and how often such revisions
should be made. The methodology used for developing this SRIA (see ANNEX I: SRIA Methodology) can be used
as a reference for developing the process to update the SRIA in the future.
121
Alignment of
6 SRIA to Major
EU Initiatives
6. Alignment of SRIA to
Major EU Initiatives
6.1 The European Green Deal
The European Green Deal was formed to face the climate and environmental challenges threatening the EU and
its citizens. The Green Deal is a growth strategy that aims for economic growth to be decoupled from resource use
and with no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050. The Green Deal includes several actions in a roadmap
and was launched in 2019.
In general, the European Green Deal covers a broader scope and includes actions on a higher level compared to
the SRIA, which is more detailed and more operational with the joint programmes, innovation fields and the
objectives. Nonetheless, the SRIA aligns well in contributing to the goals set out in the Green Deal, especially
when it comes to the industrial strategy and the Circular Economy Action Plan that is part of the Green Deal. For
example, the Circular Cities joint programme and its activities related to construction and demolition aligns well
with the Renovation Wave in the building sector described in the Green Deal. Activities related to food and territory
and sea also aligns with the Green Deal’s “Farm to Fork Strategy”. The SRIA even goes further by considering the
citizen perspective in achieving the high-level objectives set out in the Green Deal.
6.2 The Circular Economy Action Plan

In December 2015 the European Commission introduced the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, a package of
different initiatives to encourage the transformation into a circular economy. As of March 2019, the 54 actions of
the Plan have been implemented.
The SRIA aligns well and builds on the Action Plan, especially on the areas of Chemicals, Biomass and
Biotechnologies, Plastics, Raw Materials and Waste. In some cases, the SRIA even goes beyond the Action Plan
in, for example, activities on water to consider the household perspective, as well as within the Circular Industries
joint programme where industrial symbiosis and industrial ecology are highlighted.
A new Circular Economy Action Plan was published in 2020, in which electronics and electrical products, some
plastic products and textiles are especially challenging from a circular economy standpoint. Electronics and textiles

were not prioritised themes in the CICERONE project, but linkages have been made between these sectors and
the joint programme activities of the SRIA.
The SRIA align well with the ambitions of the new Action Plan to boost the transformation towards a circular
economy. It is necessary to promote sustainable products in the market and encourage consumers to be active in
the circular economy. The SRIA and the new Action Plan are aligned on this as well as prioritising the reduction of
waste generation and developing a robust market for secondary raw materials.
123
The alignment between the SRIA’s subprogrammes and the priority areas of the new CEAP is summarised in the table
below.
Relevant EU CEAP Priority Areas
SRIA Subprogrammes Food, Batteries Construction

Electronics
Plastics water and and and Packaging Textiles
and ICT
nutrients vehicles buildings
CIRCULAR CITIES
1.1: Infrastructure to
enable circular material X X X X X X X
and product flows
1.2: Citizen participation in

circular materials and X X X X X X X
products flows
1.3: Slowing down

materials and product flows X X X
(various sectors)
1.4: Decreasing the size of

material flows in the food
retail sector while X X
increasing material
efficiency
2.1: Circular economy

considerations of water X
and soil in food systems

considerations for land and

X X X
soils in construction and
urban planning

considerations in water
X
supply and treatment
systems
2.4: Shifting towards

circular water systems in X
buildings
CIRCULAR INDUSTRIES
1.1: To develop new

technologies for new X
materials production
124
1.2: To develop quality
standards and analytic
methods for materials X X X X
production and
characterisation
1.3: To develop new

technologies for resource X X X X
and waste characterisation
2.1: Smart Factories -

Building SME partnerships,
“alliances of interests” and X X
industrial symbiosis
networks
3.1: Promote eco-design

X X X
and eco-processes
3.2: Promote re-use, repair

X X X X X X X
and remanufacturing
4.1: GHG accounting and

management system X X X X X
(individual company*)
4.2: Promoting secondary

raw materials market and X X X X X X X
industry
4.3: Reduce the carbon/

GHG emissions in X X X X X X X
industrial systems
CLOSING THE LOOP
1.1: Circular complex

X X X X
product design
1.2: Circular business

model strategies for X X X X
complex products
2.1: Circular design and

technical development for
X X X
human and environmental
health
125
2.2: Circular business
model for human and X X X X X X X
3.1: Traceability and

management of raw X X X X X
materials
3.2: Promoting market

viable solutions for circular
X X X X
economy Rationale for the
programme
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY ON TERRITORY AND SEA
1.1: Transition to a circular

and sustainable shipping X X
industry
2.1: Transition to integrated

resource management
approaches working at the
X X
territorial level with a
holistic and circular
perspective
2.2: Transition to a
sustainable fishing and X
circular aquaculture sector
126
6.3 Horizon Europe
The new €100 billion research and innovation programme is called Horizon Europe. This programme will succeed
Horizon 2020 during 2021-2027 and is divided into five mission areas;
1 Adaptation to climate change including societal transformation
2 Cancer
3 Climate-neutral and smart cities
4 Healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters
5 Soil health and food
Most of the SRIA’s joint programmes are aligned with the missions. For example, the Circular Cities joint programme
of the SRIA aligns with the mission on Climate-neutral and smart cities, and the Resource Efficiency at Territory
and Sea joint programme aligns with the Healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters mission. The only
mission that is not so relevant for the SRIA is the Cancer mission.
The programme is also divided into three different pillars where number two, Global Challenges and European
Industrial Competitiveness have six different clusters. The SRIA’s activities on food and biomass and biotechnologies
align well with one cluster called Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment.
The SRIA helps to identify the research direction for Horizon programme development particularly as the programme
develops in the future. The Closing the Loop joint programme, for example, has an objective that directly feeds into
the Horizon Europe Programme.
127
7 Conclusion
7. Conclusion
Public funding is an important source of financing for Circular Economy (CE) oriented research and innovation
(R&I) programmes at both national, regional and European levels. In many cases, CE is often not well defined nor
directly addressed in all funding programmes. Sometimes the focus lies on specific sectors or CE is not always
considered in a systemic way leaving behind some aspects of the value chain.
This SRIA is developed within the CICERONE project, as a strategic guidance document that specifically focuses
on the topic of CE in the European Union. The SRIA targets national, regional and local funding agencies
(programme owners) coordinating research and innovation programmes in order to identify joint priorities in
research and innovation, co-implement joint programmes and serve as a framework for further cooperation.
Collaboration will be based on the SRIA’s joint programmes, which provide a framework for a more systemic
innovation aiming to create holistic, cross-cutting and systemic programmes with greater impacts.
The SRIA is developed on eight priority themes (Biomass and Biotechnologies, Chemicals, Construction and
Demolition, Food, Plastic, Raw Materials, Waste and Water). The themes build on four societal areas that face
sustainability challenges (urban areas, industrial systems, value chains and territory and sea) to identify priority
areas (Innovation fields) for CE research and innovation that tackle EU region-wide issues and facilitate the CE
transition. Based on the Innovation fields, four joint programmes were developed in this SRIA: Circular Cities,
Circular Industries, Closing the Loop and Resource Efficiency on Territory & Sea.
The SRIA provides an overview of four joint programmes, which could be implemented throughout several
corresponding subprogrammes. Within each of the subprogrammes, the predicted activities and relevant actors
are listed, that could serve as an inspiration/examples for joint programming and/or joint funding by project owners.
The SRIA aligns with the main EUs strategic documents, such as the European Green Deal and the Circular
Economy Action Plan. The four SRIA joint programmes tend to contribute, rather than duplicate, the ambitions and
the efforts of the European strategies and initiatives. In this way, the SRIA provides a deeper added value not only
by providing a basis for programme owners to join forces working on CE research and innovation, but also in
contributing to sustainable socio-economic development in the EU.

As key priorities, issues, targets and strategies are changing on an ongoing basis, the SRIA’s elements are
intended to be updated or the new ones to be developed when the SRIA is used for future cooperation. A detailed
methodology on how the joint programmes were developed is presented in the SRIA and might serve as a basis
for the future updating and development of the SRIA.
The SRIA will be used by programmes owners on the PO platform to collaborate and implement research and
innovation actions. Such collaboration can contribute significantly to the acceleration of the EU’s systemic transition
to the circular economy.
129
LIST OF ANNEXES
ANNEX I: SRIA Methodology
Meeting societal, environmental and economic needs programmes in the EU to identify gaps and lessons
and creating system change are the foundation of learned that can be useful for the SRIA. Further, a set of
developing the SRIA. This was achieved in a three- relevant strategic research and innovation agendas
stage approach: (SRIAs) were compiled and analysed as background
input to this task. Finally, stakeholder inputs were
1. Mapping circular economy objectives and deriving
collected during the first CICERONE stakeholder
fields where innovation is to be supported, i.e. innovation
consultation workshop in Feb 2019 in Antwerp. The
fields
findings of these activities served as inputs to the first
2. Prioritising the innovation fields based on feasibility building blocks of the SRIA.
and potential impact
The objectives were identified and synthesised under
3. Developing the joint programmes each of the four societal challenge areas and eight
themes. For each objective, the innovation fields were
Stakeholder engagement was a critical component
defined. They formed areas of research and innovation
throughout the SRIA development process. Stakeholder
that are oriented towards functionality and usage value
engagement and consultation activities targeted
and were formulated as to address clear requirements
programme owners at the national, subnational
and encompass technical and scientific solutions. The
(regional) and local levels. They also included experts,
outcome were raw lists of circular economy objectives
academia, government/policymakers, SMEs and
and innovation fields for each theme and challenge.
businesses, industry, NGOs and civil society groups.
The SRIA was developed by a task group in the The raw list of circular economy objectives and
CICERONE project consisting of over ten expert innovation fields were used as the basis of online
organisations from November 2019 to June 2020. consultation (May to Aug 2019) on the Assembl platform
for programme owners and key stakeholders to critique,
This annex provides a summary of the methodology
discuss and return feedback.
used to develop the SRIA. The full methodology can be
found in the CICERONE deliverable D1.4: Framework
for a Circular Economy Strategic Planning (Witomski, Stage 2. Prioritising the innovation fields
2020)25. based on feasibility and potential impact
This stage of the task consisted of several steps: 1)
synthesis of the objectives and IFs compiled as a result
Stage 1. Mapping circular economy
of the online consultation, 2) engaging all CICERONE
objectives and deriving fields where
partners to evaluate and prioritise the synthesised IFs,
innovation is to be supported, i.e.
and 3) final compilation of the objectives and IFs.

innovation fields
Before the SRIA, European strategies and initiatives on In the first step, a method was developed for all theme
circular economy research and innovation (e.g. eco- and challenge leaders to review the objectives and IFs
design, repair, industrial symbiosis) were, in general, separately and integrate relevant comments as
fragmented. The first step of this task was to appropriate. Then, overlapping objectives were collated,
comprehensively map out objectives related to aspects grouped, and reformulated (if necessary) to produce a
of the circular economy. This was mainly based on the synthesised list of objectives. The same was done for
key findings of earlier tasks in the CICERONE project. the IFs. The result was a refined, synthesised list of
This includes T1.1 Benchmarking of CE programs in the objectives and IFs for each theme and challenge.
EU, and T1.2 benchmarking of international CE
programs which mapped out the major circular economy
research and innovation programmes in the EU and
internationally, identified key trends in the scope and
advancement of CE-related activities. A case study was
conducted of existing joint research and innovation
25
This is a deliverable under the CICERONE project, to be published by the European Commission.
131
Example of the IF synthesis process for the FOOD theme. This consisted of collating and grouping
overlapping IFs and reformulating them where necessary.
Next, the synthesised lists of objectives and IFs were shared with the rest of the CICERONE partners in an internal
evaluation. The aim was to determine the circular impact and innovation readiness of each IF, identify the relevance
between the theme-based IFs with the challenges, and to collect input on joint programming-related aspects of the
IFs. A numerical score was calculated for each impact and feasibility category. The evaluation was conducted in
Sep 2019.
Criteria used for evaluating potential impacts.
The SRIA team further reviewed the results and critically examined the IFs against the innovation focus of the
future SRIA. It was decided that the SRIA should focus on technological and socioeconomic disciplines to promote
circular economy innovation, and that IFs generally pointing towards policy development, capacity building and
education would be more suitable as services on the programme owner platform. They were thus transferred to
the team responsible for the platform in the CICERONE project.
The identification of priority IFs was based on a calculation of the median of the impact and feasibility scores from
all respondents to produce an equal product curve, which formed a threshold to determine which IFs would be
prioritised for inclusion in the SRIA and which would be excluded.
132
Example of a prioritisation graph for IFs in the FOOD theme. Each coordinate represents input from one
partner who participated in the evaluation of the theme. In general, IFs that had the majority of coordinates
on the right side of the equal product curve (i.e. the threshold for determining prioritisation) was prioritised
for inclusion in the SRIA.
Finally, the SRIA team reviewed the list of prioritised innovation fields for each theme and categorised and allocated
them to the four societal challenge areas based on relevance. For example, certain IFs from the food and waste
themes were categorised into the challenge area Urban Areas, while others were categorised into Industrial Areas.
At times the theme-based IFs would be allocated in multiple challenge areas if they were deemed relevant.
The outcome of this stage is a list of prioritised innovation fields for each societal challenge area: Urban Areas,
Industrial Systems, Value Chains and Territory and Sea. Each challenge area consists of prioritised IFs for relevant
themes and the challenge area itself.
Stage 3. Developing the joint programmes

Each joint programme was developed based on the prioritised IFs of each challenge area (consisting of IFs from

both the themes and the challenge area itself). This is illustrated in the table below.
IFs from Themes IFs from the Challenge Areas Joint Programmes
1. Biomass and
biotechnologies
2. Chemicals
3. Construction and
+ Urban Areas = Circular Cities
Industrial Systems Circular Industries

demolition
Value Chains Closing the Loop
4. Food
Territory and Sea Resource Efficiency on Territory and Sea
5. Plastic
6. Raw materials
7. Waste
8. Water
133
The objectives for each joint programme are taken from the objectives of the respective societal challenge area.
For each objective, the innovation fields were strategically combined to develop subprogrammes and activities.
This allowed for the joint programmes to be transdisciplinary and trans-sectoral, by linking together synergetic
innovation fields between the themes. This is illustrated in the diagram below.
Overview of the joint programme development method. Each joint programme is split further into
subprogrammes, which is formed by a cluster of innovation fields that are tied together with a common
theme/topic, addressing innovations across multiple sectors to achieve the same objective.
The joint programmes were developed based on a joint programme prototyping exercise in collaboration with
programme owners and other stakeholders at the second CICERONE workshop in Nov 2019 in Berlin, and further
elaborated added by the SRIA team.
The joint programmes were then drafted into the overall SRIA report and reviewed again, first by all CICERONE
partners and experts followed by a targeted online consultation with programme owners and the CICERONE
advisory board. The feedback and inputs were compiled and integrated to produce the final SRIA, first published
in June 2020.
134
ANNEX II: Innovation fields and relevant EU CEAP priority areas for
each subprogramme
The activities developed in the SRIA’s subprogrammes are based on pre-identified relevant innovation fields (i.e.
broad areas of research and innovation). This annex lists the innovation fields for each subprogramme as well as
relevant priority areas of the New EU Circular Economy Action Plan that the subprogramme aligns with.
1. Circular Cities
Objective 1: Enabling urban circularity and increasing citizen engagement in circular solutions
Subprogramme 1.1: Infrastructure to enable circular material and product flows
The innovation fields listed below form the basis of this subprogramme. The subprogramme also aligns with priority
areas of the New EU Circular Economy Action Plan as listed below.
Challenge or Innovation Relevant EU CEAP

Innovation Field Name
Theme Field No. Priority Area(s)
Citizen involvement for circular and sharing

1
economy
2 Circular systems for used products
Urban Areas
Advanced water treatment systems to promote Plastics
4
circularity Food, water and nutrients
Batteries and vehicles

Advanced waste management systems for
5
circularity Construction and buildings
Packaging
Construction &
1 Planning and design for reuse and recycling Textiles
Demolition
Electronics and ICT
Efficiently aggregating valuable materials in

Raw Materials 6
waste collection
Advanced and safe waste treatment, sorting

Waste 4
and collection for circularity
135
Subprogramme 1.2: Citizen participation in circular materials and products flows

Citizen involvement for circular and sharing

1 Plastics
economy
Urban Areas Food, water and nutrients
Advanced water treatment systems to promote Batteries and vehicles
4
circularity
Construction and
buildings
Packaging
Efficiently aggregating valuable materials in
Raw Materials 6 Textiles
waste collection
Electronics and ICT
Subprogramme 1.3: Slowing down materials and product flows (various sectors)

1 Citizen involvement for circular and sharing economy

Urban Areas
2 Circular systems for used products
Setting up circular business models to extend product

1
lifespan. Plastics
Waste
Textiles
Reducing packaging, strengthening waste prevention
3 Electronics and ICT
and reducing returns
Introduce traceability for chemicals of concern in

Chemicals 1
products
Raw Materials 5 Optimising value per kg of raw material use
136
Subprogramme 1.4: Decreasing the size of material flows in the food retail sector while increasing material
efficiency

Urban Areas 1 Citizen involvement for circular and sharing economy
Introduce traceability for chemicals of concern in

Chemicals 1
products
Re-commercialisation of commercial and agricultural Plastics

3
food waste Food, water and
Food nutrients
General upscaling of market-friendly circular economy
4
innovations in the food sector

Waste 3
and reducing returns
Objective 2: To improve resource management (water and soils) in urban and suburban areas, and areas
with industrial agriculture
Subprogramme 2.1: Circular economy considerations of water and soil in food systems


Lifecycle mapping and scenario modelling of EU food
2
systems
Re-commercialisation of commercial and agricultural food

Food 3
waste
Food, water and

4 nutrients
5 Optimising value per kg of raw material use
Raw Materials
Efficiently aggregating valuable materials in waste
6
collection
137
Subprogramme 2.2: Circular economy considerations for land and soils in construction and urban planning

Urban Areas 4 Advanced waste management systems for circularity
1 Planning and design for re-use and recycling

Construction Food, water and
and Demolition nutrients
4 Technical solutions, regulations, tools for policy makers
Construction and
Efficiently aggregating valuable materials in waste buildings
Raw Materials 6
collection Electronics and ICT
Advanced and safe waste treatment, sorting and

Waste 4
collection for circularity
Subprogramme 2.3: Circular economy considerations in water supply and treatment systems

4 Advanced water treatment systems to promote circularity

Urban Areas
5 Advanced waste management systems for circularity
5 Optimising value per kg of raw material use

Raw Materials
6 Food, water and
collection
nutrients
Advanced wastewater treatment for material recovery

1
and safety
Integrated water network systems for resilience and

Water 2
securing supply
Holistic water management integrating technology,

3
socioeconomics and policy
138
Subprogramme 2.4: Shifting towards circular water systems in buildings

Urban Areas 1 Citizen involvement for circular and sharing economy
Integrated water network systems for resilience and Construction and

2 buildings
securing supply
Water
3
139
2. Circular Industries
Objective 1: To develop new technologies, quality standards and analytic methods for new materials
production and resource and waste characterisation
Subprogramme 1.1: To develop new technologies for new materials production

Industrial
3 Biorefineries support
Systems
Biomass and Biorefinery process optimisation and integration

3
Biotechnologies towards circularity
2 Prioritise chemical footprinting in product innovations
Plastics
4 Extended producer responsibility
Chemicals
Promoting innovative biochemical production
5
processes
3 Hazardous chemicals substitution
Plastics 4 Biobased plastics in a circular system
Subprogramme 1.2: To develop quality standards and analytic methods for materials production and
characterisation

Industrial Digitalisation and circular economy research and

2
Systems projects

Plastics
Chemicals 3 Hazardous chemicals substitution
Food, water and
nutrients
Textiles
Plastics 2 Traceability and information in the plastic value chain Electronics and ICT
2 Efficient and effective material detection & separation

Raw Materials
8 Safe and efficient product dismantling and sorting
140
Subprogramme 1.3: To develop new technologies for resource and waste characterisation
Relevant EU
Challenge or Innovation
Innovation Field Name CEAP Priority
Theme Field No.
Area(s)

2
Systems projects
Biomass and Sustainable management of biomass feedstocks from

1
Biotechnologies co-products, side streams and residualstreams
2 Traceability and information in the plastic value chain
Plastics
Improve recycling technologies including chemical
3 Plastics
recycling
Food, water and
1 Mapping & valorisation of secondary feedstock nutrients
Textiles
2 Efficient primary mining & resource assessment
Electronics and
ICT
Raw Materials 6
collection

Water 1
and safety
141
Objective 2: To enable industrial symbiosis networks and foster digitalisation to master the complexity of
products, processes and systems
Subprogramme 2.1: Smart Factories - Building SME partnerships, “alliances of interests” and industrial
symbiosis networks
Relevant EU
Theme Field No.
Area(s)
1 High value manufacturing integrating eco- design

Industrial
Systems Digitalisation and circular economy research and
2
projects
Food, water and

Biomass and Sustainable management of biomass feedstocks from nutrients
1
Biotechnologies co-products, side streams and residual stream
Electronics and
ICT
Lifecycle mapping and scenario modelling of EU food
2
systems
Food
Re-commercialisation of commercial and agricultural
3
food waste
1 Mapping & valorisation of secondary feedstock

Raw Materials 6
collection

Innovations to accelerate recycling and secondary

Waste 5
markets

4
and safety
Water
3
142
Objective 3: To raise awareness of industrial ecology by promoting new/ better design and use of products
and better re-use of materials already in circulation
Subprogramme 3.1: Promote eco-design and eco-processes
Relevant EU
Theme Field No.
Area(s)
Industrial
1 High value manufacturing integrating eco- design
Systems
Biomass and Biorefinery process optimisation and integration towards

3
Biotechnologies circularity
Hazardous chemicals substitution especially in the fields of

Chemicals 3 waterproof and oil-proof materials, preservatives and
antimicrobials, plasticisers, protective surface treatments

Plastics
Design for sustainable plastic consumption and smarter Textiles

1
use Electronics and
Plastics
ICT
4 Biobased plastics in a circular system
Eco-design & eco-processes in product design and

3
material use
Raw Materials

Advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and efficient
4
material recovery

Waste 1
lifespan
143
Subprogramme 3.2: Promote re-use, repair and remanufacturing
Challenge or Innovation Innovation Field Name Relevant EU

Theme Field No. CEAP Priority
Area(s)
Biomass and 1 Sustainable management of biomass feedstocks from Plastics

Biotechnologies co-products, side streams and residual streams
Food, water and
nutrients
Food Waste 3 Re-commercialisation of commercial and agricultural
food waste Batteries and
vehicles
Plastics 1 Design for sustainable plastic consumption and smarter Construction and
use buildings
Packaging
Textiles
Raw Materials
4 Advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and Electronics
efficient material recovery and ICT
Waste 2 Improve product design to extend product's lifespan and

to enable reuse and remanufacturing
Improve product robustness and reliability (with limited

resource use).
144
Objective 4: To reduce the carbon emissions of companies
Subprogramme 4.1: GHG accounting and management system (individual company*)
Challenge or Innovation Innovation Field Name Relevant EU CEAP

Industrial 2 Digitalisation and circular economy research and Plastics

Systems projects
Food, water and
nutrients
Plastics 2 Traceability and information in the plastic value chain
Batteries and
vehicles
Construction and
buildings
4 Advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and
Raw Materials efficient material recovery Packaging
6 Efficiently aggregating valuable materials in waste

collection
Waste 5 Innovations to accelerate recycling and secondary

markets
Subprogramme 4.2: Promoting secondary raw materials market and industry


2
Systems projects
Plastics 2 Traceability and information in the plastic value chain Plastics
Food, water and

nutrients
Advanced remanufacturing processes for safe and Batteries and
4
efficient material recovery vehicles
Raw Materials Efficiently aggregating valuable materials in waste Construction and

6 buildings
collection
Packaging
Textiles
Electronics and ICT

Waste 5
markets
145
Subprogramme 4.3: Reduce the carbon/GHG emissions in industrial systems

Resource efficient biomass pre-treatments and

2 conversion into competitive products and
Biomass and applications
Biotechnologies Plastics
Biorefinery process optimisation and integration
3 Food, water and
towards circularity
nutrients
Prioritise chemical footprinting in product Batteries and

Chemicals 2 vehicles
innovations
Construction and
Industrial Systems 3 Biorefineries support buildings
Packaging
2 Efficient primary mining & resource assessment
Textiles
1 Mapping & valorisation of secondary feedstock Electronics and ICT

Raw Materials
3 Eco-design & eco-processes

146
3. Closing the Loop
Objective 1: To ensure that the manufacturing partnerships in Horizon Europe focus on key priorities in
circular economy
Subprogramme 1.1: Circular complex product design

Biomass and Resource efficient biomass pre-treatments and

2
Biotechnologies conversion into competitive products and applications
1 Planning and design for re-use and recycling

Construction and
Demoliton Effective material recovery and decontamination
2 Plastics
techniques
Food, water and
Raw Materials 8 Safe and efficient product dismantling and sorting nutrients
Construction and
Setting up circular business models to extend product buildings
1
lifespan
Textiles

3
Waste and reducing returns
Advanced and safe waste treatment, sorting and

4
Subprogramme 1.2: Circular business model strategies for complex products


Value Chains 1 Product lifetime extension

Plastics
Food 1 Smart, sustainable and productive farming systems
Food, water and
nutrients
Raw Materials 8 Safe and efficient product dismantling and sorting
Textiles
Setting up circular business models to extend product Electronics and ICT

Waste 1
lifespan
147
Objective 2: To address toxic/hazardous substances to human and environmental health in the context of
circular economy
Subprogramme 2.1: Circular design and technical development for human and environmental health
Challenge or Innovation Innovation Field Name Relevant EU CEAP

Construction 2 Effective material recovery and decontamination

and Demoliton techniques
Plastics
3 Methodologies for assessment of (environmental) life Textiles

cycle costs Electronics and ICT
Food 1 Product lifetime extension
Plastic 1 Smart, sustainable and productive farming systems
2 Traceability and information in the plastic value chain
3 Improve recycling technologies including chemical

recycling
Raw Materials 8 Safe and efficient product dismantling and sorting
Waste 4 Advanced and safe waste treatment, sorting and

Subprogramme 2.2: Circular business model for human and environmental health

Value Chain 3 Sustainable sourcing

Plastics
Chemicals Food, water and
4 Extended producer responsibility nutrients
Batteries and
Design for sustainable plastic consumption and smarter
1 vehicles
use
Construction and
buildings
Plastic Packaging
2 Traceability and information in the plastic value chain Textiles
Electronics and ICT
148
Objective 3: To elaborate and stimulate the adoption of new policies, standard and protocols for governance
resource management systems, fostering inter-stakeholder collaboration and integrated management in
the entire value chain
Subprogramme 3.1: Traceability and management of raw materials

Value Chain 2 Sustainable public procurement

Plastics
Plastic 2 Traceability and information in the plastic value chain Batteries and
vehicles
Raw Materials 2 Construction and
collection
buildings
Textiles
Waste 5 Electronics and ICT
markets
Subprogramme 3.2: Promoting market viable solutions for circular economy rationale for the programme


Food 4

Plastic 2 Traceability and information in the plastic value chain
Plastics
Food, water and
Raw Materials nutrients
3
collection Textiles
Electronics and ICT

1
lifespan
Waste
5
markets
149
4. Resource Efficiency on Territory and Sea
Objective 1: To design and promote sustainable maritime transport
Subprogramme 1.1: Transition to a circular and sustainable shipping industry

Territory and Plastics

1 Remanufacturing for the shipping industry
Sea Electronics and ICT
Objective 2: To promote efficient resource use in ports and coastal areas with a long-term perspective
Subprogramme 2.1: Transition to integrated resource management approaches working at the territorial
level with a holistic and circular perspective

Plastics
Territory and Integrated resource management approaches working at
2
Sea the territorial level with a holistic and circular perspective Food, water and
nutrients
Subprogramme 2.2: Transition to a sustainable fishing and circular aquaculture sector


Territory and Food, water and

3 Optimal fishing and aquaculture strategies
Sea nutrients
150
ANNEX III: Innovation fields excluded from the SRIA (on policy
development and capacity building)
During the IF prioritisation stage, the SRIA team further reviewed the results and critically examined the IFs against
the innovation focus of the future SRIA. It was decided that the SRIA should focus on technological and
socioeconomic disciplines to promote circular economy innovation, and that IFs generally pointing towards policy
development, capacity building and education would be more suitable as services on the programme owner
platform. They were thus transferred to the team responsible for the platform in the CICERONE project.
1. IFs related to policy development

The IFs listed below are recommended for consideration by programme owners of the platform, in services and
activities related to circular economy policy development and knowledge sharing.
Challenge or Theme Innovation Field
Challenge Areas
Education and communication on circular services

Urban Areas Develop educational programs for awareness and communication on circular
economy
Developing funding programs integrating CE concepts
Developing funding programs which stronger focus on a systems integration by

again integrating CE concepts into the funding programs of other strategic fields,
such as Digitisation. Further support academic programmes related to industrial
ecology, by funding and promoting them. Adjusting state aid rules to enable
Member States to give state resources, where necessary, to EU companies in using
new circular technologies and services.
Industrial Systems
Legislative initiatives and actions
Implement a new product policy framework with legislative initiatives and actions

Producer Responsibility
Further extend Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Policy and organisational/process research
To promote policy research to support policy makers, paying attention to influence

from regional/local networking
Value Chains
Support to policy makers with tools and guidelines for encouraging

circularity, i.e. end of waste criteria
Themes
Policy development to promote circular principles in bioeconomy
Biomass and Incentives are needed to increase the cascading use of biomass, valorisation of
Biotechnologies biomass, and capturing and utilisation of CO2 to produce value added materials
and products. Policy (and instruments) mixes should be studied and developed
which encourage investments in sustainable technologies.
151
Policy reform to promote circular economy practices in the agricultural sector
Food A redesign is required of the Common Agricultural Policy with mandatory eco/
circular-economy schemes and financial targets for climate and environment
spending.
Public awareness and support to policy makers
Chemicals Increasing public awareness, also on the relationship between chemicals of

concern and climate change to consumers, economists, politicians and policy
makers.
Theme or
Innovation Field
Challenge
Construction Standardised processes and procedures for disassembly and selective demolition
and Establishment of standards and procedures for disassembly and selective demolition, aiming to
Demolition maximise the reuse of building elements and the recycling of construction materials
Political instruments to change behaviour
▪ Improve the labelling (dynamic best-before date (e.g. fresh index) so that consumers do not
throw away food before it is spoiled, App for determining the shelf life of foodstuffs)
▪ Developing criteria for circularity (eco-labels) and establish a uniform method e.g., for
governments in sustainable public procurement
▪ Enabling the sharing economy, servitisation (the changing face of service and manufacturing
in fashion), and proof on concepts of new, performance-based business models even in the
absence of new technologies
Research on financial incentives

▪ Calculate financial incentives: based on external impacts, calculate financial incentives

needed to induce behavioural change. I.e. create standard calculation schemes for levies,
fees, taxes or premiums for a specific product or service based on its external impact.
Waste ▪ Research on calculating the external impacts along multiple lifecycles for all end products and
developing a user-friendly tool to do this as part of the design process, ideally using existing
tools where available, such as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Index for textiles.
▪ For impacts that cannot be quantified by a life cycle assessment or similar method, such as
microplastics release, levies triggered by political action should accelerate change, such as
the €0.15 plastic bag levy.
Political instruments to reduce waste
▪ Political incentives to extend product's lifespan. Explore strategies against obsolescence

(Consumer Sales Directive, Ecodesign Directive).
▪ Development of political regulations and mandatory standards for waste treatment (WEEE,
ELV) to avoid wrong management and environmental damages.
▪ Develop clear definition of end-of-waste criteria and related update of permits for waste
treatment operators to enable recycling of recyclable output fractions.
152
Regulatory reform to support integrated water management
Water Development of regulatory framework to support the use of alternative water sources, elaborate
policies and protocols for water management and improve efficiency in administrative procedures
for reusing water in industry and agriculture.
2. IFs related to education and capacity building

The IFs listed below are recommended for consideration by programme owners of the platform, in services and
activities related to capacity building and knowledge sharing on circular economy.
Challenge or
Innovation Field
Theme
Challenge Areas
CE dedicated training programmes
Integrate ecological themes such as the circular economy into vocational training
Industrial Systems programmes for digitisation and digital innovation Understanding the role of digitisation/ICT
(particularly digital innovation hubs) for accelerating shared learning and implementation of
circular strategies in different sectors. Offering vocational training programs on this topic for
experienced professionals in decision-making positions.
Education
Value Chains Creation of awareness campaigns and educational program at various level, as well as
dedicated incentives mechanism
Themes
Sharing platform and education
To foster sharing platform for increasing network building as objective or condition in funded

Chemicals projects and scoping phase with stakeholders before technical research and improve
education through extracurricular activities, challenges and competitions, bootcamps,
educational networks as start of a process of internalising safe-by-design in education and
skills development
Education & training

Construction and
Demolition Dedicated training on sustainable buildings and building materials at universities and
companies
Capacity building and education on agriculture
Food Short term and long-term training on sustainable and circular food production and waste
reduction to rural and urban farmers and in schools, extending to gardening activities in
schools to raise awareness and knowledge amongst children and youth.
Information & education in waste prevention
Strengthening waste prevention initiatives by establishing dialogues and networking

Waste between political and social actors. Building reflexes for the younger generation using levers
"learning by doing". Reducing returns (raising consumer and trade awareness for the
negative effects of returns and provide alternatives). Innovation in design education towards
waste prevention.
153
Version September 2020
ISBN: 978-2-919313-25-9
This is a living document, any revisions will be

published online.
You can redistribute this publication under the
terms of GNU General Public License as
published by the Free Software foundation
(version 3).
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cicerone-h2020.eu
CICERONE aims to bring national, regional and

local governments together to jointly tackle the
circular economy transition needed to reach
net-zero carbon emissions and meet the targets
set in the Paris Agreement and EU Green Deal.
This document represents one of the key
outcomes of the project: a Strategic Research &
Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for Europe, to support
owners and funders of circular economy
programmes in aligning priorities and
approaching the circular economy transition in a
systemic way.
This project has received funding from the

European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and
Innovation Program under Grant Agreement
820707.
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STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND

CIRCULAR ECONOMY SRIA

CIRCULAR ECONOMY SRIA

OBJECTIVE A: TO ENABLE URBAN CIRCULARITY AND INCREASING CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT

Subprogrammes Activity name and description

A1 Infrastructure to A1.1 Technical development and digitalisation of waste systems

A2.2 Coordination and implementation of citizen engagement in waste sorting and

A2.6 Development of innovative inclusive governance approaches on citizen

A3.1 Review of packaging-free and reduced packaging businesses and good

Subprogrammes Activity name and description

B2.1 Overcoming barriers to scale up brownfield development and land

B2.5 Historical cultural heritage and natural capital enhancement

B3.1 Market introduction of existing pilots and demonstration initiatives on

B4.1 Review of integrated water resource management (IWRM) and

CIRCULAR ECONOMY SRIA

B4.3 Engagement of citizens in integrated water resources management in

OBJECTIVE A: TO DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGIES, QUALITY STANDARDS AND ANALYTIC

Subprogrammes Activity name and description

A1.2 Pilot, demonstration and upscaling of innovative biotechnological processes

A1 Developing new A1.3 Development of innovative biotechnological processes for plastics

A1.5 Developing processes and eco-design to substitute hazardous substances

A1.6 Pilot, demonstration and upscaling of hazardous substance management

A2.1 Promotion of traceability

A2.2 Chemical footprint considerations at the front end of business innovation

A2.5 Expansion of extended producer responsibility systems to other sectors

A3.1 Upscaling systems for widescale secondary raw material use

A3.2 R&D in analytical chemistry and in electronics focused on instrumental

Subprogrammes Activity name and description

OBJECTIVE C: TO RAISE AWARENESS OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY BY PROMOTING NEW/

Subprogrammes Activity name and description

C1.1 Eco-design and processes that minimise product environmental impact

C1 Promoting eco-design C1.2 Upscaling of production based on renewable sources

C2.1 Development of reverse logistics systems

C2 Promoting re-use, repair C2.2 Standardisation of components

OBJECTIVE D: TO REDUCE THE CARBON EMISSIONS OF COMPANIES

Subprogrammes Activity name and description

CIRCULAR ECONOMY SRIA

D2.1 Technologies for e-waste dismantling, separation and recycling

D2.2 Establishment of secondary market platforms for product reuse

D2.5 Establishment of secondary market platforms for raw materials

D3 Reducing the carbon D3.2 Upscaling energy use efficiency measures

D3.5 Promotion of CO2 utilisation technologies

OBJECTIVE A: TO ENSURE THAT THE MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIPS IN HORIZON EUROPE

Subprogrammes Activity name and description

A1.4 Building and testing of pilot plants

A2 Circular A2.1 Downgrade materials analysis

OBJECTIVE B: TO ADDRESS TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES TO HUMAN AND

Subprogrammes Activity name and description

B1.1 Improvement of existing technologies for detecting and separating hazardous

B1.6 Circular business models for human and environmental health

Subprogrammes Activity name and description

C2 Promoting C2.1 Materials and sectors analysis

CIRCULAR ECONOMY SRIA

OBJECTIVE A: TO DESIGN AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE MARITIME TRANSPORT

Subprogrammes Activity name and description

A1.1 Development of eco-design approaches for the watercraft production industry

OBJECTIVE B: TO PROMOTE EFFICIENT RESOURCE USE IN PORTS AND COASTAL AREAS

Subprogrammes Activity name and description

B2.1 Valorisation of fish species with commercialisation and sustainable extraction