ICLEI EUROPEAN SECRETARIAT GMBH (ICLEI EUROPASEKRETARIAT GMBH)

Gent 

DEFINITE-CCRI is an innovative project funded by the European Union to support the transition towards a circular economy in European cities and regions. Launched in 2022, the project provides project development assistance and guidance to circular economy project developers to increase the likelihood of success in attracting investment.

By selecting and assisting projects with a high potential for success, DEFINITE-CCRI will achieve transformational impacts for Europe's cities and regions, making them more circular and sustainable.

Report on Investor Base and Financial Instruments (October 2023). This deliverable summarises the investors and their financial instruments as a basis of the work carried out under WP3 (Financial and Legal Project Development Assistance) & WP5 (Project Bankability Appraisal and Deal Brokerage).

Methodology for the FIB and financial due diligence (August 2023). This deliverable reports on the financial and legal assessment related components of the DEFINITE-CCRI methodology related to financial and legal assessment, covering methodology, assessment criteria, guidance document, excel sheets, etc.

Methodology for the TIP and technical due diligence (October 2023). This deliverable reports on the technological and impact assessment related components of the CCRI Deal Brokerage methodology, covering the methodology, assessment criteria, guidance document, excel sheets, etc.

Bankable project profiles and business plans ready for investment (December 2024). Report which summarises and describes all four projects reaching the stage of investor sign-off, including focus and scope, business plans, process of ‘how and why they got there’, as well as the investors’ rationale for financing them.

Project evaluation tool and guidebook (October 2024). This deliverable is a guidebook on the project evaluation tool, aimed at providing guidance to users on how to use the tool via the web portal.

DEFINITE-CCRI web portal (May 2024). The project’s website, including all collaborative elements needed for stakeholder engagement, capacity building and exploitation.

Capacity building materials (October 2024). This deliverable summarises contents developed for capacity building webinars, and the delivery of 20 educational videos in four languages.

Project spin-off plan (April 2025). This report outlines the co-developed plan for a DEFINITE-CCRI spin-off that continues to provide related financing and PDA services and builds on the project’s results.

Policy Brief 1 (October 2023). First policy brief summarising the preliminary lessons learned from engaging with investors and project owners, drawing from engagements with project owners and financiers for publication on the web portal, and providing recommendations for policy makers on how to better facilitate access to investment for local and regional circular economy projects.

Policy Brief 2 (April 2025). Final policy brief summarising final lessons learned from implementing the deal engine, including barriers for project development assistance for publication on the web portal, and providing recommendations for policy makers on how to better facilitate access to investment for local and regional circular economy projects.

• Share information and knowledge of the project with CCRI-CSO;
• take an active part in CCRI support activities of Pilot and Fellow cities and regions;
• participate in CCRI events.

• Report on Investor Base and Financial Instruments

Key outputs for cities and regions selected via the DEFINITE-CCRI onboarding process:

Technical & Impact Potential Assessment (TIP). This includes an assessment methodology designed to determine the impact potential of projects with regards to GHG reduction as well as socio-economic and environmental co-benefits. Furthermore, it contains a module on technology performance and readiness as well as a module on EU taxonomy compliance.

Financial Information Baseline Assessment (FIB). Based on a related methodology, the FIB includes a screening of financial and business model related information of projects and a mapping against suitable financing mechanisms and their due diligence requirements, resulting in a detailed gap report designed to help project owners to improve associated information to receive funding.

Technical and Financial Due Diligence Support. This involves dedicated bilateral working sessions on legal, financial and technical due diligence requirements between consortium partners, project owners and external experts that can be subcontracted upon need.

• DEFINITE-CCRI will provide PDA to CE projects that implement different R-strategies. The projects selected for PDA work in the following sectors: construction; plastic; waste industry; mining; agriculture; water treatment; information; and communication. By providing technical project development support to improve projects’ circularity impact potential as well as their financial and legal preparedness, they will, once implemented, contribute to reduce virgin material consumption, increase recycling and thus reduce GHG emissions and increase climate resilience and adaptation capacity.

• Through increasing the share of renewable and secondary raw materials in the overall material demand, increased self-sufficiency/self-reliance of urban systems, reducing waste generation as well as incineration and landfilling activities projects supported under the PDA mechanism are contributing to the EU Green Deal.

• Circular Economy is a transformative opportunity to change current production and consumption patterns, creating economic prosperity, social equity and promoting a regenerative and holistic model that contributes to numerous environmental, economic and social benefits. Projects with business models focusing on developing the sharing economy bear the potential to change the way people consume and live. Joint consumption of assets, sharing and reusing are likely to have an impact on social cohesion and participation. By supporting the uptake of CE projects, DEFINITE-CCRI will foster a fair and equitable circular economy transition, while strengthening social inclusivity.
• DEFINITE-CCRI developed a Gender Equality and Inclusivity Plan (GEIP) with the purpose to promote gender equality and social-cultural inclusivity as a transversal topic across all the activities implemented in the project.

• The core idea behind the circular economy is to decouple economic growth from the depletion of raw materials, ensuring a sustainable cycle of progress, economic growth, and prosperity. Focusing on aspects like end-of-life resource management, design-for-durability, and service-oriented approaches is pivotal in this economic model. By channelling efforts and investments into these areas, DEFINITE-CCRI actively nurtures local and regional economic growth.
• DEFINITE-CCRI is dedicated to fostering the development of economic ventures related to service provision, as well as the collection and processing of diverse materials. Moreover, it supports services associated with repair, reuse, and reconditioning. These initiatives not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also generate new employment opportunities.

• Local and regional governments interested in applying and/or developing circular solutions;
• small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interested in developing circular products or services;
• investors interested in funding circular projects;
• Project Development Assistance (PDA) providers;
• external service providers (financial and legal experts or technical consultancies);
• academia;
• incubator organisations.

• STICHTING CIRCLE ECONOMY 
• BWB CONNECT CLG 
• City of Gent 
• NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS