Tech and creativity in the circular economy

Edited on 13/08/2024

LET'S GO CIRCULAR! site visit at CleanR in Riga

The well-protected LET'S GO CIRCULAR! network partners on the site visit at Clean R in Riga. 

The LET'S GO CIRCULAR! network partners on the site visit at Clean R in Riga.

The ten partner cities of LET'S GO CIRCULAR! are planning their actions and taking step by step - on their journey towards circularity, paving the way for further European cities. In spring and summer 2024 two more transnational  exchange meetings - in Riga and Oulu -  provided insights into urban strategies, digital tools, business models and examples.

Riga envisions itself as a city that is clean, circular, and climate-neutral, embodying resilience, innovation, and environmental stewardship. Eleven actions are included in Riga’s action plan on circular construction and deconstruction are the following, out of which the first two, are already implemented: An introductary ce course in higher education and the stimulation of efficient use of office space. In the TEX, Riga's team challenged the city partners to play some circular games - and possibly apply a similar gamification approach to boots circular understanding back home. The site visits included a stop at Clean R, an environmental services provider and industry leader in Latvia. They closed with an inspiring evening at Viskali, the former building of Riga Technical University and now social hub now, where people are creating their own city now, designing solutions for a better life. 

Oulu is known as tech city: 3 billion people daily use the tech developed in Oulu. 94% of power generation is already fossil-free. The environmental program is one of the implementation programs of the city strategy Oulu 2035. The goal of the program is to maintain a good environmental condition and ensure the vitality of the city. Circular economy is addressed in a dedicated ce roadmap. Also the Circular Cluster Oulu is worth a deeper look, offering services for companies such as skill development and networking.  A special feature of the Oulu region is a strong ICT sector, which offers excellent opportunities to find digital solution providers to support circular economy. Since the beginning of 2022, the Cluster activities have gathered over 400 people in business, R&D and public sectors to discuss questions of circularity. The network got the chance to see some examples, like Hauru Smart and Wastebook to make waste management
timely with cloud and sensors/IoT technology, a simulation platform for companies and the city's AI approach in its digital twin. 

See the report with overviews and the in thematic articles on the topics introduced above, all written by LET'S GO CIRCULAR! Lead Expert Eleni Feleki:

Submitted by Larissa Kiesel on 13/08/2024
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Larissa Kiesel

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