CIRIS – Interregional Circularity in Central Scandinavia

What's the Project Aim?

The overarching goal of the project is to create long-term and sustainable solutions for circular industrial value chains through increased research, innovation, and collaboration. By combining academic expertise with industry needs and public sector initiatives, new business models and technologies will be developed to contribute to a more resource-efficient and competitive industry. The project's specific objectives are to:

• Map and develop a joint framework and knowledge-based “best practice” for structuring, visualizing, analyzing, and optimizing circular industrial value chains in sectors such as steel, aluminum, plastics, composites, and energy.
• Develop joint course concepts and working models for competence development and collaboration between academia, innovation environments, industrial actors, and the public sector.
• Create a strategy for external communication and positioning of the region's and industry’s environmental capabilities to enhance attractiveness, growth, and the establishment of industrial activities in the border region of Värmland and Innlandet.

Economic and Environmental Effects

Increased competitiveness through cost savings, new business models, and more efficient production.

Reduced environmental impact with lower CO₂ emissions, less waste, and more efficient resource utilization.

Capacity Development and Competence

• Enhanced research and innovation capacity in the region through more publications, doctoral projects, and joint initiatives.
• Skills development for companies and organisations through training and workshops on circular value chains.
• New educational programs in circular economy to strengthen the future workforce.

Regional Collaboration and Competitiveness

• Long-term partnerships between research institutions, industry, and the public sector in Värmland and Innlandet.
• New research and innovation collaborations leading to business opportunities and technological advancements.

Research and Innovation

• New models and methods for analyzing and optimizing circular value chains, developed by CREDS (Center for Research on Digitalization and Sustainability) and CTF (Centrum för Tjänsteforskning/Service Research Center).
• Development of circular technologies and processes that reduce resource consumption and waste, particularly in steel, aluminum, plastics, composites, and energy.
• Establishment of an innovation platform to strengthen collaboration between researchers, industry, and the public sector. 
  The project’s ambition is to create a real change in industrial practices, making circularity an integral part of business strategy. In doing so, we can reduce environmental impact, increase profitability, and strengthen the regions’ role in the global transition toward a more sustainable future.