In the framework of the European Week for Cities and Regions, ACR+ member the Clean Tech Region and the Arnhem Nijmegen City Region co-organised a workshop “Circular economy: stimulating and making way for circular business models” which will take place on 10 October 2017, Brussels.

The workshop focused on three subthemes:

1. Circular economy and regulation
2. The role of public authorities as launching customer
3. CE skills for the future 

A key-note speech was delivered by professor Jan Jonker from the Radboud which focused on presenting ‘new business models for the circular economy’ with some icon initiatives from the Clean Tech Region and the Arnhem Nijmegen City Region relating to regulation, public authorities as launching customer and skills needed.

Furthermore, the workshop offered three parallel roundtable discussions on: Circular Economy and Regulation; Public authorities as launching customers; Skills needed in Circular Economy. The first discussion  shared experiences on concrete legislative obstacles like for example the EURAL-codes or cross border cooperation. The second one focused on the role public authorities can take on the field of public procurement of innovation, the view of businesses and public authorities on the matter, followed by an overview of the best practices of different European regions. The third roundtable concentrate on perspectives from different European stakeholders (government, education, business) on the skills that are needed in a future Circular Economy.

ACR+ moderated a discussion on “Circular Economy and Regulation”.