Unleashing the power of collaboration to advance the digital circular economy
By Eleni Natsi (CORE)
In the realm of research and innovation projects, the concept of clustering initiatives has emerged as a game-changer. Since its beginning the DaCapo project has established an extrovert approach to maximise its impact and explore synergies with research European projects with the same topic.
And now, an exciting opportunity is on the horizon - the exploration of a clustering/multiplier initiative uniting 20 projects, including DaCapo, all dedicated to advancing the digital circular economy.
The 20 projects have one or more use cases involving critical raw materials (e.g., lithium, cobalt, beryllium, germanium, etc.) or products containing critical raw materials (e.g., electrical products/appliances, electronic products/devices, windmills, batteries, aerospace engines, etc.) and are the following: CircThread, CIRPASS, Maditrace, CE-RISE, AUTO-TWIN, DaCapo, PLOOTO, DiCiM, Onto-Deside, FutuRaM, CsysAres, KEEP, REFRESH, FREE4LIB, BATRAW, TILKAL, MARS, UrbanSymbiosis, CE-PASS and TRACE4EU.
Benefits and indicative activities of the cluster
A clustering/multiplier initiative brings numerous advantages to the table. It improves awareness by showcasing ongoing works, enhances understanding through knowledge exchange, expands outreach efforts, and boosts the efficiency and effectiveness of each individual project.
Indicative activities of the proposed cluster around circular economy are the following:
Mapping workshop to identify overlaps and differences in the project’s innovations.
Joint interactive workshops with internal project members and/or external stakeholders to discuss and discover gaps and solutions for specific topics.
Result presentations across projects for specific horizontal topics/experts.
By embracing this collaborative approach, research and innovation endeavors in the digital circular economy can thrive, paving the way for a sustainable future.
Unveiling more project synergies
In addition to the suggested cluster, the consortium meeting held in Oulu, Finland during month-6 saw the coordinators of Cirpass and CircThread being invited to present their respective projects. The main focus of their presentations was to explore potential synergies and exchange valuable insights.
Additionally, as part of the EU Data Space 4.0 week, a workshop titled "Data Spaces for Manufacturing and Digital Product Passports for Circularity: synergies, opportunities, and challenges" was held on June 16th. The workshop aimed to investigate the relationship between Digital Product Passports and Data spaces and foster synergies among the four projects dedicated to this topic: DaCapo, CIRPASS, Circular TwAIn, and Re4dy.
These initiatives reflect the dedication of multiple stakeholders in driving innovation and advancing the concept of circularity in manufacturing and digital domains. It is through this collaborative approach that innovation is accelerated and projects are propelled towards effective solutions. The DaCapo project couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of this transformative journey!
