On 21–23 April 2026, representatives from thirteen European regions convened in Caen, Normandy, France for the fourth in-person consortium meeting of the European Circular Innovation Valley (ECIV) — a five-year, EU co-funded project bringing together stakeholders across Europe to accelerate the shift to a circular economy.
Consortium meetings take place every six months in a different participating country. They serve as a space to evaluate project progress, exchange ideas, address challenges, and set priorities for the period ahead, while also offering an opportunity to engage with the host region's circular economy landscape.
The Caen meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on what ECIV has achieved so far — consolidating research on circular economy transition, reviewing the results of the First Open Call, and aligning on the work still needed to deepen collaboration across European regions. Over three days, partners presented updates on each of the project's main work areas, held discussions, and networked with one another and with representatives from the Région Normandie — a region that has placed circularity at the heart of its development strategy, and which shared how it is advancing that agenda in practice.
Two site visits brought the region's circular economy ambitions to life. The first was a visit to ReGNR, a logistics company working to make supply chains more circular and environmentally sustainable, with a particular focus on sports equipment and retail. The second was a presentation at the iconic Le Dôme in Caen by Low-Tech Normandie, a collaborative network connecting companies, associations, public institutions, and researchers to promote and scale low-tech approaches across the region.
A highlight of the meeting was a workshop applying the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) to the circular economy transition. Facilitated by the project coordination team, the session explored the systemic changes needed to shift from a linear to a circular economy in Europe, and examined how ECIV can contribute to driving that transformation — from regional action plans through to interregional collaboration and European-level impact.
The meeting also marked a significant milestone for the project's First Open Call: the Call Steering Committee, with participation from the European Commission, formally approved funding for five transnational circular economy projects selected through a rigorous evaluation process.
Looking ahead, the Caen meeting reinforced a central message: the time has come to move from planning and design to concrete implementation. By connecting stakeholders from across Europe and linking regional strengths, ECIV is building the foundations for long-term interregional collaboration.
The next consortium meeting is confirmed to take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from 21–25 September 2026.
Photos by Julien Helie Photographe
