Technical University of Crete 

Greece (Region of Crete), Italy (Region of Marche), Germany (Region of North Black Forest), Portugal (Region of Lisbon) 

CSSBoost demonstrates its circular systemic solutions at regional level, involving the Region of Crete (Greece), Marche (Italy), North Black Forest (Germany), Lisbon (Portugal) 

Crete-Greece, Marche-Italy, North Black Forest-Germany, Lisbon-Portugal 

The CSSBoost project involves five territorial clusters, each one composed of diverse actors collaborating to implement and showcase the potential of Circular Systemic Solutions within their specific territories.  These clusters encompass a range of socio-economic, geographical, and environmental systems, each one includes at least one public authority committed to driving the implementation, demonstration, and replication of at least one CSS. 

The first one, located in the Region of Crete,  focuses on valorising agricultural, livestock, and food processing by-products. The working team of this territorial cluster includes research institutions, agricultural organizations, and local authorities, working together to establish sustainable value chains for biomass waste recovery and valorisation. The public authority in this cluster is the Region of Crete, in Greece, which is dedicated to achieving a zero-emission island by 2030 and views CE as pivotal in reaching this goal. 

The Region of Marche, in Italy, centers on  water reuse and nutrient recovery, aiming to address water scarcity challenges in the region. It comprises the Municipality of San Benedetto del Tronto, the water utility CIIP, and various agricultural and agro-industrial entities. The cluster's efforts are directed towards implementing nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment and recovering nutrients from organic waste for bio-fertilizer production. 

The Region of North Black Forest in Germany,  focuses on plastic and bioplastic recycling, aiming to establish a closed-loop system for plastic waste within the region. It involves the Technology Center Horb (TZHorb), the North Black Forest Region (WFG), research institutions, and a network of SMEs specializing in plastic materials. The cluster's efforts are geared towards enhancing plastic recycling infrastructure, promoting bioplastics,nand creating a regionally self-sufficient plastic supply chain. 

The Region of Lisbon in Portugal, concentrates on public transport vehicle recycling and valorization, aiming to establish a circular economy model in the transport sector. It involves CARRIS, the largest bus operator in Portugal, along with research and technology partners. The cluster's efforts are focused on reducing waste, promoting recycling and valorization of vehicle components, and transitioning towards eco-friendly vehicles and energy sources. 

Last but not least, CSSBoost applies an advanced approach in regional circular systemic solutions, by developing and operating a cluster at European Level, aiming to investigate synergies and interoperability between different CSS value chains and key sectors across regions and countries. It involves all the partners from the four regional pilots, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange to maximize the impact of CSSs and identify opportunities for cross-regional and cross-country circular economy initiatives. 

CSSBoost project aims to enhance the Circular Economy and Bioeconomy transitions within various EU regions, focusing on addressing the technological and non-technological barriers that hinder the widespread implementation of Circular Systemic Solutions (CSSs). The project’s main objectives are: 

• Development of a CSS Application Framework, that facilitates the  seamless application of CSSs, treating them as adaptable entities within a dynamic CE ecosystem. 
• Creation of a Virtual Regional CE/CSS Ecosystem and Market (VCEM), that enables the visualization, monitoring, analysis, and assessment of CE/CSS initiatives within a specific region. 
• Develop a comprehensive package of CSS lifecycle management services for monitoring, optimisation, adaptation and technical support, able to ensure CSS viability, sustainability and expansion. 
• Develop a CE/CSS-specific cognitive DT able to virtualise entire city, regional, or interregional CE markets and ecosystems, incl. CSSs and value chains, enabling their dynamic monitoring, analysis, assessment and diagnosis, and supporting their lifecycle management and provision of services to all stakeholders. 
• Apply the prototype CSS in multiple diverse pilots across EU, integrating them with the digital platform and services, under methodology and procedures specified by the application framework, and demonstrate, evaluate and validate the resulting CSSBoost integrated solutions. 
• Boost alliance and coalitions with relevant quintuple helix stakeholders to co-create regional CSS solutions, foster cross-border collaboration among diverse stakeholders and produce policy briefs. 

CSSBoost at its core, bring in the frontline the circular economy and bioeconomy by addressing the relevant challenges, maximising the circular transition, designing and implementing of CSSs in diverse regions. Critical objectives concerning the CE are:  

• Overcoming Barriers to Circular Economy Adoption, by identifying and addressing the technological and non-technological barriers that hinder the implementation of circular economy practices. 
• Minimising CSS Application and Operational Risks, by developing strategies and tools to mitigate the risks associated with the application and operation of Circular Systemic Solutions, ensuring their long-term viability and success. 
• Stimulating and Maximising the Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Transition, by actively promoting and accelerating the transition towards a circular economy and bioeconomy by developing and demonstrating innovative solutions and approaches. 
• Developing a Novel CSS Application Framework, that views the CSSs as adaptable and evolving entities within a dynamic circular economy ecosystem, facilitating their effective implementation and management. 
• Developing the Virtual Regional CE/CSS Ecosystem and Market (VCEM), that enables the visualization, monitoring, analysis, and assessment of regional circular economy initiatives, fostering informed decision-making and promoting collaboration among stakeholders. 
• Designing and Demonstrating Exemplary CSSs on a range of diverse CSSs in pilot regions, showcasing their potential to address specific circular economy challenges and inspire wider adoption. 
• Developing Education and Training Programs and Social Innovation Actions, to promote education and training, social innovation actions, to enhance awareness, understanding, and active participation in the circular economy transition. 

D2.5 CSSBoost Application Framework, reporting the Application Framework for the CSSBoost Integrated Solutions, including assessment guidelines. 

D3.3 Circular Value Chain Planning and Multi-Criteria Configuration Services, reporting the final version of the circular value chain planning and multi-criteria configuration services. 

D3.5 AI Inference for Operational Flows Forecasting Problem Detection and Response Services, reporting the final version of the artificial inteligence inference for operational flows forecasting Problem detection and response services. 

D3.6 Dynamic and On-demand LCA and Sustainability Balanced Scorecards of CSS Value Chains, reporting the version of the dynamic and on-demand LCA and sustainability balanced scorecards of CSS value chains services. 

D4.2 CE/CSS Ecosystem Knowledge Core, presenting the CSSBoost Knowledge Graph model representation of all relevant pieces of knowledge regarding the CE/CSS Ecosystem and Market. 

D4.4 Digital Twin Models of Regional CE Ecosystem and Market, presenting the development of the network of interconnected DT representations of the physical system. 

D4.7 Regional Information Sharing Platform, presenting the integrated CSSBoost digital platform with services, tools and interfaces. 

D5.8 Pilots Circularity and Sustainability Assessment and Validation, reporting the e-post holistic and systemic circularity and sustainability assessment and validation of the implemented CSSBost solutions in the pilot cases. 

D6.1 Upscale and Replication Plans and Guidelines, outlining the generic upscaling and replication strategies for the CSSBoost solutions. 

D6.3 Market Analysis and Business Plans for CSSBoost Solutions, reporting the market analysis and business planning including a generic and custom (for each pilot region) business plans for developing CE/CSS value chains potential of project solutions. 

D7.4 Second Policy Brief for Regional CE Transition, outlining the Second policy brief out of the CSSBoost activities/outcomes in collaboration with the CCRI-CSO and the stakeholders. 

D7.5 Training and Education Material and Curricula, reporting the training and educational platform with education material and curricula. 

D7.7 Social Innovation Activity Report, presenting the outcomes from the social innovation actions on the pilot areas during the duration of the project. 

CSSBoost focuses on stimulating the transition towards a circular economy and bioeconomy, involving key sectors for investigating their value chain and implementing CSSs;  Water, Food and Nutrients, Plastics, Batteries and Vehicles. To do so, CSSBoost leverages on the collaboration and knowledge-sharing, digital advancements, raising awareness and empower education and social innovation. CSSBoost embraces circularity to empower sustainability, fosters a culture of collaboration & knowledge-sharing, uses digitalisation as an enabler and technology as a tool, unlocks the regional potential to foster innovation, create jobs and drive the economy development while minimising the environmental impact.

In CSSBoost, the close collaboration and operation with the CCRI-CSO is critical throughout the project’s lifetime. Within the project workplan has been defined the importance of establishing a liaison with the CCRI-CSO to foster cooperation and ensure that the project's activities are in sync with the CCRI's guidelines and principles. As the coordinating team, we envisage a continuous, smooth, active and fruitful communication that will elaborate the project’s achievements and outpouts to the CCRI community and deyond, through the active involvement of the CCRI Office. More specifically, the CCRI can provide to the CSSBoost valuable contribution in the knowledge exchange and learning, collaboration on pilot use cases, replication and upscaling, police development, and of course dissemination and commucation. The insights of CCRI approach and methodology, the lessons learned, the best practices, the overall guidance that the CCRI Office could provide to the consortium of CSSBoost, would be a powerful asset for efficient deployment of the project, and to make a positive outcome in the circular economy across the EU territory.

CSSBoost, during its four-year journey, aims to generate several key publications, outputs and results that hold significant relevance for CCRI. The deliverables and results that can serve as key-elements for CCRI are: 

1. CSSBoost Application Framework – a structured framework that provides comprehensive approach in designing, implementation, and management of CSSs, offering valuable insidhts and guidance to cities and regions.  
2. CSSBoost Evidence Base – a web-based repository that provides a comprehensive pool of evidences, case studies, best practices, lessons learned related to CSSs implementation, serving as a valuable resource for cities and regions looking for successfully implemented circular initiatives to replicate them in their own contexts.  
3. Upscaling and Replication Plans and Guidelines – a strategic roadmap for scaling up successful CSSs.  
4. Market Analysis and Business Plans – a report that provides insights about the economic viability and market potential of CSSs focusing on key-sectors of circular economy: batteries and vehicles, water, food and nutrients, and plastics.  
5. Policy briefs for Regional CE Transition – policy briefs providing  vidence-based recommendations and insights to policymakers and stakeholders members of CCRI 
6. Social Innovation Activity Report – a report about the social innovation actions undertaken within the project, highlighting the importance of citizen engagement, behavioral change, and community participation in driving the circular economy transition

Moreover, CSSBoost puts a lot of effort in disseminating the achieved results and outcomes to the scientific community, aiming to deliver over 10 peer review publications underlining the most powerful and valuable results, which will be shared with the CCRI community to support the scientific background, exchange of knowledge and lessons learned.

CSSBoost has identified potential challenges and barriers that should be taken into consideration and addressed during the project implementation phase. More specifically, the existence of inconsistend and non-harmonised regulations, such as in the conventional plastics and bioplastics recycling CSS in the North Black Forest Region in Germany, creates an unstable landscapre of palstics waste management. Regulatory and policy barriers in supporting CE principles are also noted in the case of the Greek Region in Crete, under the framework of agricultural, livestock and food-processing by-products valorisation CSS.  This suggests that existing policies may not be sufficiently robust or comprehensive to create an enabling environment for the circular economy transition, potentially hindering progress. Moreover, CSSBoost highlights the need for regulatory and policy support to promote CE principles and practices, implying the appearance of bottlenecks during the implementation phase.

Being a CSS booster, the project has embraced the principles of circular economy at its core, being aligned with lighthouse EU policies and initiatives such as the European Green Deal, the EU Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), the EU Bioeconomy Strategy. Those policies act as drivers within CSSBoost environment and encouraging the adoption of circular solutions in the European regions. 

CSSBoost highlights the importance of financial viability and sustainability of the circular economy solutions at regional level. The project delivers five customised CEIPs – Circular Economy Investment Plans, with relevance on the investigated sectors;  Water, Food and Nutrients, Plastics, Batteries and Vehicles, and the fifth to be a compilation of all sectors at EU level. CEIPs will identify and assess concrete investment opportunities for implementing CSSs, including also relevant funding support: Horizon Europe, LIFE programs, Regional Policy support to CE, etc. The CEIPs will focus on ensuring the financial viability of circular business cases by conducting cost-benefit analyses, assessing cash flow characteristics, preparing financial budgets, and identifying suitable funding options. The project also explores the potential of attracting both public and private funding for circular initiatives.

The main environmental outputs/outcomes of the project include: 

• 4 key supply chains;  1. vehicles &cbatteries, 2. plastic & bioplastic, 3. Food & nutrients, 4. water, developed to increase circularity by 25% and improve by 20% their environmental impact 
• Reduced energy consumption by 15% on plastics and bioplastics value chains and single-use plastics in production processes by 20%. 
• Increased amount of reutilised wastewater by over 70% in water supply chains, and reduction of fossil-based fertilisers in agriculture by 20%. 

Reduction of generated waste in vehicles recycling supply chains of about 65%. Increase re-use and recycling of under-value assets by 90%. 

CSSBoost puts in the frontline the social innovation, citizen participation, and education inherently fosters positive social impacts. The primary social outputs/outcomes of the project include:  

• enhanced capacity building and skills development in societies by 20%. 
• Strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange by creating the EcoSphere, an open circular knowledge repository   that empowers replication and exploitation, creating knowledge transfer channels to all cities/regions. 

Social innovation and community empowerment by implementing  Social Innovation Actions and citizens enabling in CE practices.

The project's focus on promoting the circular economy and implementing circular systemic solutions has the potential to lead to positive economic impacts. The main economic outputs/outcomes of the project include: 

• Delivery of 5 custom-made Circular Economy Investment Plans-CEIPs, to ensure financial viability and valorise growth opportunities, encouraging both public and private investments.  
• Creation of new businesses, job opportunities, and improved social well-being in the communities involved, as a result of the social inncavation and community empowerment by supporting the development and implementation of impactful circular initiatives. 

Enhanced competitiveness and resource efficiency through the optimised resource utilization, reduced waste, and promotion of the renewable energy sources.