The CCRI community is open to every city, region or territorial cluster who wants to progress in the field of circular economy. The community can benefit from mutual learning and gain insights on different knowledge domains within the field of circular economy implementation. Knowledge and lessons learned from CCRI activities are shared through different channels (including the website and the newsletter) and many events. We therefore invite all interested stakeholders to keep an eye out for further opportunities to get involved via our newsletter and our social media accounts. 

The CCRI Coordination and Support Office also provides more tailor-made support to Pilots and Fellows.

Join the CCRI community by subscribing to the CCRI newsletter through the CCRI website.  

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The CCRI targets cities, regions and territorial clusters because they operate at the governance level closest to Europe’s citizens and are therefore the most promising laboratories for territorial innovation and socio-economic transformation. They have an excellent overview of their local or regional ecosystem, gathering various circular economy stakeholders and representing industry, research and technology organisations and civil society in their territory.  

This makes cities, regions and territorial clusters exceptional stakeholders to drive change towards a sustainable, regenerative, inclusive and just circular economy. These stakeholders therefore make up the main target group of the CCRI to speed up the circular economy transition in Europe.  

Cities, regions and territorial clusters from the 27 EU Member States and the Horizon 2020 Associated Countries can become part of the CCRI community in many ways. 

In general, every city, region or territorial cluster can be part of the CCRI community by taking part in the CCRI’s activities, regularly checking out the CCRI website and subscribing to the CCRI newsletter.  

The newsletter informs subscribers about relevant CCRI activities, including events, and shares the expertise, know-how, good practices, and relevant knowledge collected by the CCRI Coordination and Support Office, Pilots, Fellows, CCRI Projects, and Associated Partners.  

Another good way to keep up to date is via the CCRI website, the dedicated LinkedIn page or the EU Science and Innovation Facebook and Twitter accounts. 

Furthermore, cities, regions and territorial clusters who have been selected as Pilots have direct access to the CCRI-CSO’s support.  

Cities, regions and territorial clusters who have been selected as Fellows engage in the multi-stakeholder learning process of the CCRI. Fellows do not receive direct support from the CCRI-CSO but cooperate and exchange with the Pilots and other stakeholder groups. The CCRI-CSO collects relevant knowledge and lessons learned from their activities for further dissemination, communication and awareness-raising activities.  

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Find out more about the support provided to CCRI Pilots and Fellows under the relevant FAQ.

The CCRI Coordination and Support Office launched an open call for expression of interest in March 2022. Cities, regions and territorial clusters who complied with the eligibility criteria were able to apply for the call until 13 May 2022. The evaluation of the submitted applications was based on the following set of criteria: 
 

1. Level of understanding of circular economy: This criterion covered a mix of the demonstrated level of impact, the demonstrated level of involvement or leadership in circular economy activities, and the focus and potentiality of the proposed Circular Systemic Solutions. 

2. Capability of collaborative learning: This criterion covered both the demonstrated level of ability to work in close cooperation with local or regional stakeholders to define and implement the proposed Circular Systemic Solutions, and the demonstrated level of interest in mutual policy learning.  

3. Ambition: The level of ambition demonstrated by the advancement of planning, ideas and activities on how to increase circularity as well as the demonstrated commitment in implementing Circular Systemic Solutions with high potential and impact.  

Besides these criteria, diversity and inclusiveness, including territorial typology and geographical balance, were also taken into account for the group composition of both Pilots and Fellows. 

The CCRI Pilots are a selection of 12 cities and regions with high circularity potential. They receive tailored support from the CCRI Coordination and Support Office for the development of their Circular Economy Action Plans and Circular Economy Investment Plans, and the implementation of their Circular Systemic Solutions.  

Find out more about Pilots & Fellows.

The CCRI Fellows are a selection of 25 circular cities, regions and territorial clusters at different levels of implementation of the circular economy transition, but with a strong interest in sharing and expanding their knowledge. They cooperate and exchange with the Pilots and other stakeholder groups and participate in dedicated capacity-building and peer-learning activities, including thematic working groups and webinars. The CCRI Coordination and Support Office collects relevant knowledge and lessons learned from their activities for further dissemination, communication, and awareness-raising activities.

Find out more about Pilots & Fellows.

CCRI Projects are research and innovation projects, funded by the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, which are generating innovative knowledge, creating specific skills and demonstrating systemic solutions that contribute to providing support to cities and regions for implementing their Circular Systemic Solutions on a local and regional scale. They support knowledge sharing and help link the CCRI to relevant circular economy initiatives and stakeholders. 

CCRI Projects are programmes and include, for example: 

1. Demonstration projects supporting the demonstration and deployment of innovative Circular Systemic Solutions at local and regional level, such as: EcoeFISHent, Agro2Circular, FRONTSH1P, CIRCULAR FOAM, TREASoURcE and SYSCHEMIQ.  

2. Project development assistance projects which provide project promoters with the technical, economic and legal expertise needed for developing circular economy investments, such as: HOOP, BIOBOOST, RESOURCE, InvestCEC, DEFINITE-CCRI, DECISO and CircularInvest.  

3. Other cross-cutting projects, such as BIOMODEL4REGIONS, ROBIN and P2GreeN, focusing on broader themes, for instance governance models.  

CCRI Projects contribute to the Pilots and Fellows’ implementation of Circular Systemic Solutions in different ways, for instance by sharing analyses of their research results and demonstrated solutions, as well as through project development assistance and dissemination of relevant knowledge in this policy area. 

The CCRI works with a limited number of Associated Partners, including: 

• initiatives implemented, supported and/or managed by the European Commission (or other EU institutions); 

• organisations, foundations and institutions (different from the EU institutions) implementing projects, services and initiatives.  

Their activities are relevant for the implementation of the CCRI’s activities, complementing the role of the CCRI Coordination and Support Office (CCRI-CSO) and bringing added value to the CCRI scheme by providing valuable input about circular economy that can be transferred to Pilots and Fellows.  

The CCRI-CSO cooperates with the Associated Partners in communicating and spreading relevant knowledge for circular cities and regions. Together, they foster synergies between organisations and various initiatives, especially when supporting Pilots and Fellows. The Associated Partners also provide additional networking channels for the initiative. 

A territorial cluster is a socio‑economic, geographical and environmental system composed of all relevant actors and including at least one public authority. This cluster is ready to implement, demonstrate and facilitate the replication of at least one Circular Systemic Solution in a specific territory.