Priority axis 1
Investment Priority 1b
SO 2: Broadening the basis of innovating enterprises in the programme area
Supporting TrAnsition from lineaR To CIRCuLar valuE chainS
The shift towards a circular economy (entailing a number of new demands from relevant directives) presents new challenges: Companies will need to increase the use of recycled materials, innovate and introduce new technologies to improve material recovery and recycling. There are, however strong regional differences in the capacity for innovation in the program area and SMEs, especially lack information, activities, strategies and innovation partners necessary to tackle them. The project area offers good conditions to address these issues together. The program area has internationally connected RTD institutions in materials (polymers, wood) with a clear (political) commitment to sustainability.
The project objective is to increase sustainable innovation and resource efficiency in the program area, especially for SMEs. START CIRCLES is designed to enable SMEs better access to information, activities, as well as innovation partners in order to strengthen and support their cooperation with RTD partners.
The main project outcome is to sustainably integrate SMEs in cross-border innovation networks and circular economy oriented value chains to increase innovation and develop new products / materials. START CIRCLES has been developed from the perspective and needs of SMEs and RTD organizations. The project will monitor SMEs from innovation initiation to the launch of the new products while delivering new and sustainable support services for each phase.
The following approaches in the project are new/innovative:
Investment Priority 1b
SO 2: Broadening the basis of innovating enterprises in the programme area
1 September 2018 – 31 August 2021
686.039,24 EUR
Gospodarska zbornica Slovenije (Lead Partner)
Wood Carinthian Competence Center
LIMNOS doo, Podjetje za aplikativno ekologijo
asteenergy – Ingenieurbüro für erneuerbare Energie, Forst- und Holzwirtschaft Christoph Aste Dipl.Ing, Msc.
Fakulteta za tehnologijo polimerov
Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
Forschung Burgenland GmbH
Government Office of the Republic of
Slovenia for Development and
European Cohesion Policy (GODC)
European Territorial Cooperation and
Financial Mechanism Office
Cross-border Programmes Management
Division
Joint Secretariat
Trubarjeva 11
SI-2000 Maribor
T: +386 (0)1 400 31 67
E: si-at.svrk@gov.si