Responsible Industry Leads the Sustainable Development – Industry Clusters Connecting Circular Economy

Submitted by Alina Danielescu Chirlomez on 07 January 2020

11-12 February 2020

Industrial Clusters and Circular Economy 

Responsible Industry Leads the Sustainable Development –

Snow-castle seminar hall, Kemi, Finland

“To learn, experience, observe, adapt, network and to match-make”

Regional Council of Lapland in cooperation with European Commission, Digipolis Oy and City of Kemi, Finland is organising a conference dedicated to “Responsible Industry Leading the Sustainable Development on the example of Industry Clusters Connecting Circular Economy".

Around 130 representatives of local, regional, national and European public authorities together with industry and civil society stakeholders will share their experiences and provide insights into future cluster policies related to circular economy, with a focus on trends, interregional and cross-sectoral collaboration as well as funding opportunities. The first day will evolve around high-level discussions on cluster policy and Joint Cluster Initiatives in the context of circular economy. There will also be time for reflections by practitioners among the participants. The participants will also have a chance to experience the value chain of the mining industry (“from the mine to the harbour”) during study visits to the Arctic Industry Ecosystem on the second day.

The conference aims to display how clusters have already been used to push for regional ecosystems transition to the circular economy and what can be done even more in the future. Notably, the main objective is to demonstrate how green –tech clusters in Europe (more than 250 already registered under the European Cluster Collaboration platform) can support the implementation of the New European Green Deal. In addition, the event will discuss how the future Joint Cluster Initiatives proposed under the Single Market programme (2021-2027) will support the strategic connection of European ecosystems and SMEs’ uptake of resource efficient solutions. In this context, the outcomes of the Circular Economy and Cluster Conference will feed into the discussion at the EU Cluster Conference 2020 planned to take place in Berlin 9-12 November 2020 under German EU Presidency.

“Shift to the future - industry clusters facilitating change towards the circular economy”

Conference will take place in the home city of the Arctic Industry Ecosystem

In the Finnish Lapland, at the Northern bottom of the Gulf of Bothnia in the city of Kemi is home to a centre for circular economy, whose employees want to break out of the small scale. Their goals and tasks are fearless: they want to change the world. During the last 7 years of systematic development has led to a full-scale industrial symbiosis and circular economy between various industries sectors in Northern Finland with the active involvement of industry clusters.

Currently the Kemi-Tornio industrial area is globally one of the most modern industrial ecosystem and home of the Arctic Industry and Circular Economy Cluster led by Digipolis Oy. The cluster is global frontrunner in a sustainable utilisation of natural resources and industrial circular economy activities. The cluster connects process- and mining industry companies, SMEs serving industry, universities, research institutions, funding and regional authorities. Cluster operates through its core partners and stakeholders. In the core of the operations is the centre for circular economy where systematic work is done to support business in developing their operations.

Watch the Euronews Business Planet episode about clusters in Lapland, here. 

The registration link is available here.

For more information, please visit: https://elmoenf.eu/conference-industry-clusters-connecting-circular-economy/

More information Kristiina.Jokelainen [at] lapinliitto.fi (Kristiina[dot]Jokelainen[at]lapinliitto[dot]fi)

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