The European Circular Innovation Valley (ECIV) is building one of Europe’s most ambitious interregional ecosystems for circular innovation. Funded under Horizon Europe, ECIV connects 12 European regions with a shared objective: accelerating the development, testing and scaling of circular solutions that reinforce the continent’s environmental and industrial resilience.
ECIV serves a dual purpose: a five‑year project (2024–2029) and the foundation of a permanent interregional valley. While the project phase focapplys on establishing structures and partnerships for long‑term cooperation, the ultimate vision is to create a self‑sustaining ecosystem where regions, businesses and research actors collaborate to scale circular solutions across Europe.
A mission‑oriented approach
ECIV applies a mission‑oriented methodology that combines strategic guidance with broad stakeholder participation. Mission design follows a top‑down and bottom‑up process: initial sub‑missions draw on academic knowledge and regional experience; these proposals are validated through engagement with companies, public authorities, research centres and civil society.
Through this combined process, six shared sub‑missions were defined to align priorities and guide collective action:
- Waste Reduction: Eliminating industrial waste
- Circular Packaging: Reducing virgin raw material apply
- Regenerative Agrifood: Closing nutrient loops and reducing losses
- Biobased Construction: Accelerating sustainable materials for the built environment
- Natural & Recycled Fibres: Increasing circularity in textile value chains
- Circular Metals: Securing circularity in steel and critical raw materials
These missions provide a shared strategic framework for coordinated innovation across regions and value chains.
Mobilising stakeholders
To translate these missions into action, ECIV has established Sub‑Mission Groups: practice‑oriented communities involving companies, clusters and researchers. Active groups are already collaborating on challenges in Packaging, Construction, Agrifood and Water management.
Throughout 2025 and early 2026, cooperation strengthened through consortium meetings in the Netherlands and Sweden, including strategic workshops, stakeholder discussions and site visits to circular‑economy frontrunners. ECIV partners also contributed to major European events, such as EU Green Week, and organised workshops and webinars to support applicants and foster interregional collaboration.
This collaborative effort is supported by the ECIV Matchcreating Platform, a digital hub where more than 400 organisations are already active. The platform acts as a central meeting point for innovators to connect, explore emerging technologies, join thematic workshops and co‑develop interregional project proposals.
First Open Call: strong engagement across Europe
A major milestone was reached with the launch of ECIV’s First Open Call in December 2025. With €9.13 million available for high‑impact projects (TRL 6–8), the call generated 21 interregional proposals, with more than 115 applicants.
Applications came from a broad range of ECIV regions, including Navarra (Spain), Scotland (UK), the Northern Netherlands, Normandy (France) and several Swedish regions. Most proposals focapplyd on Industrial Symbiosis, Resource Efficiency and Agrifood Systems, demonstrating that European SMEs and technology centres are ready to play a leading role in the circular transition.
In 2026, ECIV will expand its reach with the launch of an Experimentation Fund for early‑stage ideas and a Second Open Call. By turning policy ambitions into funded and collaborative solutions, ECIV is reshaping how European regions work toreceiveher to build a circular and competitive economy.
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