University of Coimbra joins ground-breaking European initiative for circular economy
Circular Hubs serve as an engine for European regions to promote a circular economy based on sustainable values.
The University of Coimbra (UC) is taking part in the CHEERS4EU project, which focuses on creating "Circular Hubs" and promoting the circular economy through inter-regional cooperation and innovation, targeting different sectors of activity.
Circular Hubs serve as an engine for European regions to promote a circular economy based on sustainable values. CHEERS4EU, which will run until 2028, is the first INTERREG EUROPE project to focus on this theme, involving several European partners and associates from seven countries.
The consortium is coordinated by the Province of Limburg (NL), with partners Skive Municipality (DK), Standortagentur Tirol (AT), Pardubice Business Incubator (CZ), University of Coimbra (PT), SEKUENS - Science, Business Competitiveness and Innovation Agency of Asturias (ES), Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (FI), and, as associated partners, the Province of Tyrol (AT), the Pardubice region - Regional Authority of the Pardubice Region (CZ) and CCDRC - Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Centro (PT).
According to the UC team, the project's objective is to determine the essential factors for establishing and operating a 'Circular Hub' within a specific regional context, to influence policy instruments to garner regional support. The project will share best practices in multi-helix collaboration, circular value chains, business models and social impact. The researchers want to help establish the first Circular Hub in Portugal's centre region, focused on the agro-industrial sector.
The project is coordinated at the UC by Susana Garrido, from the Faculty of Economics (FEUC), with the participation of several professors and researchers, namely Alexandra Aragão, Faculty of Law (FDUC), António Alberto (Department of Civil Engineering - FCTUC), Carmina Nunes (FEUC), Dulce Lopes (FDUC), Luis Ferreira (Department of Mechanical Engineering - FCTUC) and Vanessa Romero (Department of Chemical Engineering - FCTUC), Luis Ferreira (Department of Mechanical Engineering - FCTUC), Margarida Quina (Department of Chemical Engineering - FCTUC), Paula Morais (Department of Life Sciences - FCTUC) and Vanessa Magalhães (Department of Mechanical Engineering - FCTUC).
The team is largely multidisciplinary, involving researchers from four research centres, namely the Centre for Business and Economics Research (CeBER), the University of Coimbra Institute for Legal Research (UCILeR), the Centre for Chemical Engineering and Renewable Resources for Sustainability (CERES) and the Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE).
For further information, visit the project website or contact cheers4eu@uc.pt.
