Nordic Circular Hotspot

Project 2019 - 2024 Active

Coalition to accelerate Nordic circular economy.

Representatives from the Nordic region joined forces to accelerate Nordic circular economy at the WCEF2019 in Helsinki. The coalition aims to establish a new platform that will increase knowledge sharing about circular economy between the Nordic markets, while exploring needs and opportunities for specific circular economy projects in the Nordics. The coalition is modelled from the best practice from Holland Circular Hotspot.

The aim of Nordic Circular Hotspot

The aim of the Nordic Circular Hotspot is to be the go-to place for circular economy knowledge sharing and a source of new opportunities for businesses, civil society, research and public authorities – in the Nordics and beyond. The Hotspot will help brand the Nordics as a hub for innovation within the circular economy. It will give both a view into the Nordic circular economy landscape and ecosystem from the outside. It will also connect Nordic stakeholders to each other to create synergies and to explore new collaboration possibilities.

The coalition will align goals and targets for the circular economy in the Nordics, building on existing efforts from each market and experience from similar companies in different sectors. The coalition will invite governments, cities and regions, companies and knowledge institutions to collaborate closely to explore practical and scalable solutions, applicable for SMEs and core industry, as well as exploring necessary policy incentives.

As a part of Phase 1, the Nordic Circular Hotspot surveyed more than 250 Nordic stakeholders, their focus, needs and opportunities in the circular economy in the Nordics. This resulted in a map, showing 7 main interest clusters in the Nordics.

Read more about Nordic Circular Hotspot and stay up to date on the project website.

Nordic Circular Hotspot - Phase 2

The objective for Phase 2 in 2020 is to start building a knowledge bank for circular activities in the Nordic region, platform- and communication activities, establishing a steering group, and to create a roadmap for the third phase. Next steps towards Phase 3 will be to involve more partners and secure financing for the period 2021 - 2024.

In phase 2, Nordic Circular Hotspot aims to:

Secure long-term funding that will ensure the Nordic Circular Hotspot’s independence and make it a long-term, sustainable operation.
Establish a roadmap for the implementation of the strategy.
Secretariat hosted by Natural State in Oslo, Norway. The Nordic Circular Hotspot aims to have contact points spread across the five Nordic countries, representing each country in the Nordic Circular Hotspot and acting as local representatives in order to service, assist and inspire local stakeholders.

In phase 3, Nordic Circular Hotspot aims to:

Create circular transition groups
Establish a Nordic Circular Platform for the circular transition in the Nordics

Partners

The Nordic Circular Hotspot project brings together stakeholders from all over the Nordics. The partners have a wide array of circular economy knowledge, experience and interest areas.