The European Circular Innovation Valley (ECIV) consortium recently convened in Sweden, bringing together representatives from thirteen European territories to define concrete priorities that will drive regional circular economy projects through 2029.
At the core of the gathering was a dynamic, co-creative missions’ workshop, where ECIV partners collaboratively mapped out the project’s shared vision and agreed on five mission areas. These include:
- Green steel and sustainable metallurgy
- Advanced recycling and waste valorisation systems
“This workshop showed the real power of collaboration between European regions. We’re not just setting goals—we’re building a shared roadmap for circular innovation that’s deeply rooted in local strengths and needs. These missions are the bridge between EU-level ambitions and regional action,” said Delia Sola Giménez, Head of Strategic Projects at Region of Navarra, and ECIV project coordinator.
Participants didn’t just brainstorm — they voted, ranked, and validated these missions based on local relevance, innovation potential, and alignment with EU climate goals. This hands-on approach ensures that each mission reflects both the specific needs of regions and the broader ambition to build a climate-resilient, circular Europe.
ECIV’s mission-oriented method moves away from generic policy design. Instead, it empowers public authorities, industries, research institutions, and communities to co-own challenges and co-create solutions—laying the groundwork for future investments, policy alignment, and local experimentation.
With the mission framework now in place, ECIV regions will begin integrating these focus areas into their regional innovation strategies, opening the door to upcoming EU funding opportunities and fostering interregional cooperation to turn circular economy goals into reality.
