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CE-PRINCE

Project overview

Central Europe Green PRocurement and Innovation Network for Circular Economy

Circular procurement considers the whole life cycle of goods and services and can help to avoid negative environmental impacts. However, no common standards exist so far and requirements for incorporating circular criteria into public tenders vary from country to country. The CE-PRINCE project steps in to standardise circular procurement approaches across central European countries and industries. The partners improve capacities of public authorities to draft and assess circular tenders and of companies to participate in them through training, the development of toolkits, and a joint strategy.

2,09m â‚¬

Project Budget

80%

of the Budget is funded by ERDF

Layer 1

7

Countries

9

Regions

10

Partners

2

Pilots

Duration

Start date

End date

Project progress

21%

About the project

CE-PRINCE - green PRocurement and Innovation Network for Circular Economy Interreg Central Europe project is a unique initiative for a green PRocurement and Innovation Network for Circular Economy, co-funded by the European Union. It is a collaborative effort of 10 Central European partners and 14 associated partners. The transnational partnership aims to support the transition to a Circular Economy in Central Europe (CE) by leveraging Green Public Procurement (GPP) as a means to improve companies' circularity while reinforcing the public sector's capacity to publish tenders containing more and more elements of circularity. Circular Procurement considers the whole lifecycle of goods and services to avoid negative environmental impacts and waste creation and achieve an overall reduction in the amount of energy and materials consumed. Circular/Green Public Procurement (C/GPP), a significant contributor to the EU GDP at 14%, is a powerful tool for the green transition. It not only enhances market competitiveness but also stimulates eco-innovation. However, the varying implementation rates and levels of obligation across countries pose a challenge. To maintain a level playing field and reduce administrative costs, standardisation of techniques and environmental standards is essential. Recognising the pivotal role of public authorities, business support organisations, and industry agencies in driving the private sector, the project calls upon them to face the challenge of Circular/Green Public Procurement. The project focuses on strengthening businesses' ecological transition and raising awareness in the public sector about its crucial role. This will foster a shared approach to C/GPP in CE. Including circular principles in GPP criteria accelerates the transition of supply chains to a more circular economy, leveraging the matching between public demand and supply. Implementing circular business models for companies is an essential step in terms of circular sustainability and improving competitiveness in Central Europe. However, it is necessary to investigate the initial barriers deeply before focusing on case studies to provide sector-specific guidelines that support the process towards circularity. Therefore, Prince starts by conducting an in-depth survey of the dynamics on the demand and supply sides to define a transnational strategy (WP1) that, by meeting the needs of the different countries, can be translated into action plans and pilot actions (WP2 and WP3). The set of tools that will be defined by the project for the public side (strengthening of C/GPP) and the market side will support the transformation and enhancement of the circular economy in Central Europe.

Project partnership

Project partners

Italia (IT)

Lead partner

Liguria Region

Economic Development Department - Strategic Development of Production and the Ligurian Economy
Address
Via Fieschi 15
16121 Genova
Country
Italy (IT)
Web
https://www.regione.liguria.it/

Project partner

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Genoa
Address
via Garibaldi 4
16121 Genova
Country
Italy (IT)
Web
www.ge.camcom.it
Total partner budget
185,130 €
Institute of Management
Address
Piazza Martiri della LibertĂ  33
56127 Pisa
Country
Italy (IT)
Web
www.santanna.it
Total partner budget
192,550 €
South-Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency
Address
Mária utca 3
7621 PĂ©cs
Country
Hungary (HU)
Web
https://ddriu.hu/en/home/
Total partner budget
172,778 €
Innovation
Address
Nikolaiplatz 2
8020 Graz
Country
Austria (AT)
Web
https://www.sfg.at/
Total partner budget
191,324 €
Chamber of Construction and Building Materials Industry of Slovenia
Address
DimiÄŤeva ulica 21
SI-1504 Ljubljana
Country
Slovenia (SI)
Web
www.gzs.si
Total partner budget
240,344 €
DUBROVNIK DEVELOPMENT AGENCY DURA LTD
Address
BRANITELJA DUBROVNIKA 15
20000 Dubrovnik
Country
Croatia (HR)
Web
www.dura.hr
Total partner budget
183,725 €
Department of Urban Policy and Innovation
Address
Swietojerska 9
00-263 Warsaw
Country
Poland (PL)
Web
www.mcwm.armsa.pl
Total partner budget
207,080 €
ERI Hungary – European Research Institute Nonprofit Ltd Co
Address
Kuruclesi Ăşt 51/b
1021 Budapest
Country
Hungary (HU)
Web
europeanresearchinstitute.eu
Total partner budget
165,650 €
Aufbauwerk Region Leipzig GmbH
Address
Otto-Schill-Strasse 1
04109 Leipzig
Country
Germany (DE)
Web
https://aufbauwerk-leipzig.com/
Total partner budget
198,060 €

Roadmap

1

CE-PRINCE has started to make public procurements greener and more circular in Central Europe

The kick-off meeting of the CE-PRINCE Interreg Central Europe project, a pivotal event in our project timeline, was successfully held in Genova from June 12 to 13. Ten partners and 14 associated partners from 7 Central European countries form the green PRocurement and Innovation Network for Circular Economy. Our project initiative was warmly greeted by Mr Francesco Caso, Head of the Strategic Development Sector for the Ligurian economy, Ms Paola Carnevale, Head of the Environment Sector, and Mr Marco Rolandi, Regional Coordinator for Territorial Cooperation Programmes. Following a comprehensive briefing on The project implementation by Angelika van Es, Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme Officer, the CE-PRINCE partnership engaged in a fruitful discussion on the Project Monitoring Plan, technical and operational project activities, administrative tasks, reporting, and monitoring activities, and the Project Communication Strategy. Circular/Green Public Procurement (C/GPP) accounts for 14% of EU GDP and is a key factor in achieving the green transition and improving market competitiveness while stimulating eco-innovation. The transnational partnership will support the transition to a Circular Economy in Central Europe, leveraging on Circular/Green Public Procurement to improve companies' circularity while reinforcing the public sector's capacity to publish tenders containing more and more elements of circularity.

2

Initial Assessment on Public Sector Circular Green Public Procurement (C/GPP)

CE-PRINCE starts with assessments in Central Europe to provide an overview of the level of awareness about C/GPP in the public sector and the degree of implementation. The results will stress the different levels and methods of GPP adoption, focusing on weaknesses.

3

Private Sector C/GPP Initial Assessment

The assessment provides an overview of the companies' circularity levels in each region of the CE-PRINCE transnational partnership. It takes into account GPP criteria to identify the to-be-improved aspects and to enhance their circularity and capacity to apply to green public tenders.

4

Central European Circular Public Procurement Network

Relevant public and private stakeholders from Central Europe will create a network to connect the project to regional, national, and European stakeholder groups. Members will share knowledge, data, solutions, and best practices to enhance Circular/GPP. The network will act as an advisory board orienting project activities and assuring cooperation.

5

Circular Green Public Procurement Interactive Heat Map

The Interactive Heat Map uses the data derived from the initial assessments and serves as a tool to understand the degree of implementations of C/GPP across Central Europe at a glance.

6

Transnational Strategy for Circular Green Public Procurement in Central Europe

This strategic document defines the path to accelerate the spread of C/GPP across Central Europe at policy and operational level, facilitating the circular market and enhancing the matching between public demand and the supply side in the sectors of manufacturing, agrifood, construction and tourism related economic activities.

7

Transnational Action Plan for Public Sector C/GPP in Central Europe

The TAP for PA C/GPP translates the Transnational Strategy to actions, enhances PAs capability to apply GPP as a leverage to promote circular economy and encourages the matching with companies as suppliers with attention to the specific economic sectors, taking into account region-specific features with a mutual learning approach.

8

TAP to improve enterprises circularity and compliance with C/GPP criteria

The Transnational Action Plan for the private sector will be the roadmap for enterprises to reach an upgraded level of circularity in compliance with GPP criteria required by public tenders. It will contain concrete actions for entrepreneurial practices for Circularity.

9

Pilot Action: Assessment and improvement of C/GPP tenders

The Pilot will strengthen public procurers' C/GPP knowledge and skills, focusing on the process of public tender drafting and tender assessments in the awarding phase. Central European procurers will draft tenders in transnational cooperation to test them in public procurement procedures in the key economic sectors.

10

C/GPP Capacity Building

Webinar recordings, training materials and an educational game to support public procurers in the elaboration of circular public tenders.

11

Jointly developed solutions: C/GPP criteria and guidelines

The sets of circular criteria for manufacturing, agrifood, constructions and tourism related goods/services with practical will facilitate procurers for application in public tenders to push the market toward circular economy.

12

Pilot Action: Assessment and improvement of C/GPP skills in the key economic sectors

The Pilots will test sectoral targeted circular business models to support the transformative process and improve their capacity to respond to circular public tenders, monitor and evaluate the achievements of companies’ circularity and compliance to GGP criteria.

13

Circular/GPP Business Models and Guidelines

The sectoral circular business models and guidelines will improve enterprises practices in terms of recycling input, product as a service, sharing economy, product use extension and resource recovery, oriented to green public procurement tenders in the key sectors. Solutions will support the circularity transformative process of companies in Central Europe.

Events

No events found

Outputs

1.1: Transnational Strategy for Circular Green Public Procurement in Central Europe

The jointly developed strategy facilitates the circular market. It enhances the matching between public demand and supply in Central Europe's manufacturing, agrifood, construction, and tourism-related economic activities.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development

1.2: Circular Public Procurement Network on Central Europe

Central European organisations are cooperating across borders to create a bridge between the CE-PRINCE project and stakeholder groups at regional, national, and European levels and share knowledge, data, solutions, and best practices to enhance Circular/GPP.
Type of output: Solutions
In development

2.1: Transnational Action Plan to improve C/GPP practices in Central Europe

The jointly developed action plan translates the Transnational Strategy to operationalise C/GPP actions with a common approach by public authorities, considering region-specific features and mutual learning of the demand and supply sides. It improves the capability of public bodies to apply GPP as a leverage to promote circular economy.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development

3.1: TAP to improve enterprises circularity and compliance with C/GPP criteria

The jointly developed Transnational Action Plan creates a roadmap for enterprises in the selected sectors to reach an upgraded level of circularity in compliance with GPP criteria required by public tenders. It translates the Transnational Strategy into concrete actions for circular and green entrepreneurial practices.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development

2.2: Pilot Action: Assessment and improvement of C/GPP tenders

The jointly developed and implemented pilot actions across Central Europe strengthen public procurers' C/GPP knowledge, skills, and practices in drafting and assessing public tenders and testing circular and green public procurement procedures in key economic sectors (manufacturing, agrifood, construction, and tourism).
Type of output: Solutions
In development

3.2: Circularity and GPP skills assessment and improvement in the key economic sectors

The jointly developed and implemented pilot actions test circular business models to support the transformative process of companies, understand market dynamics, establish business goals, prioritise data and technologies. It develops partnerships, improving their capacity to respond to circular public tenders and evaluates achievements in circularity and compliance to GGP criteria.
Type of output: Solutions
In development

2.3: Circular Green Criteria and Guidelines for procuring goods/services in key sectors

Four sets of circular criteria (for manufacturing, agrifood, construction and tourism-related goods/services) per EU environmental criteria for GPP with practical guidelines to facilitate their application by procurers in public tenders to push the market toward a circular economy.
Type of output: Solutions
In development

3.3: Circular/Green Public Procurement Business Models and Guidelines

The jointly developed Business Models and Guidelines improve enterprises practices oriented to green public procurement tenders in agrifood, construction, manufacturing and tourism-related goods and services and support the transformative process of Central European companies toward circularity.
Type of output: Solutions
In development

CE-PRINCE

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Project Contacts

Project Manager

Sara Piana
Phone: 010 5484765

Finance Manager

Simona Buccheri
Phone: 010 5488294

Communication Manager

Emoke Takacs
Phone: +36306475475