Financing the Circular Future: From Regional Pilots to European Solutions

This final conference of the Horizon Europe DECISO project will showcase how European cities and regions overcome financing barriers for circular economy initiatives. Four pilot projects will demonstrate their circular solutions: Hamburg's innovative cooperative business models mobilizing local funding and private investors; Northwest Germany's rainwater solutions; West Macedonia's post-lignite biomass valorization projects; and Alentejo's circular agrifood models. The event brings together policymakers, investors and solution providers, including representatives from CCRI and Regional Innovation Valleys, to explore replication of these financing models across Europe.

The conference is divided into three main sessions:

• How to boost circular economy solutions? lessons from Horizon Europe & CCRI
• DECISO Project Development Assistance models in action and interregional cooperation agreements
• Building bridges: interregional partnerships for circular economy solutions

A wide range of circular economy professionals, from local policymakers to technicians or representatives of the European Commission, will share their expertise and insight on how to finance circular economy solutions. In addition to the DECISO project partners presenting the four pilots, you will hear:

• Lucie Blondel, DG Research & Innovation at the European Commission
• Vessela Stoyanova-Monteleone, REA
• Ilaria Corsi, LazioInnova
• Rudi Lizzi, Mayor of Gerace
• Astrid Hannes, European Regions Research and Innovation Network
• Giulietta d' Ugo, Service public de Wallonie