Umeå strengthens its position as a circular economy frontrunner

Umeå is taking the next step towards becoming a leading European hub for the circular economy. Through an international exchange of experience with experts from across Europe, the municipality has received concrete recommendations on how a circular hub can be developed.

– Umeå striving to be aforerunner in the field of circular economy – an effort that aims both to achieve climate neutrality and drive growth. By developing a circular hub, we are strengthening collaboration between actors and building long-term capacity for sustainable innovation – locally, nationally, and internationally, says Janet Ågren (S), Chair of the Municipal Executive Committee’s Planning Committee.

International exchange to guide Umeå’s next steps

From 22–24 October, an international exchange – a so-called peer review – was conducted within the framework of the EU programme Interreg Europe. Over three intensive days, experts from the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, and Malta participated, together with representatives from business, academia, research institutes, and municipal companies.

The purpose of the exchange was to learn from European cities that have already established successful circular collaborations. Through comparisons, discussions, and joint analysis, Umeå has now received clear recommendations for how a future organisation and circular hub can be designed within industrial and urban symbiosis – covering roles and responsibilities, financing, collaboration models, and needs analysis.

Next step: from recommendations to implementation

The recommendations developed will now form the basis for the next phase of work – creating a clear organisation and structure for the circular hub. The goal is to establish a joint competence and collaboration environment that drives research, innovation, business development, and knowledge-building in circular economy throughout the region. The next step will be to translate the recommendations into concrete initiatives in the coming years.

– The exchange of experience with other circular hubs in Europe has given us valuable insights into how we can build capacity and continue developing successful collaboration between the municipality, businesses, and academia in Umeå. This will make us a stronger and more capable actor – both in the region and within European cooperation, says Nina Rismalm, Business Development Officer at Umeå Municipality, responsible for innovation and collaboration at Umeå Eco Industrial Park.

Facts: Umeå’s circular initiatives

The development of a circular hub is an important step in strengthening Umeå’s innovation capacity and attracting more actors to the Umeå Eco Industrial Park, which is currently under development just outside Umeå.
The park is intended to become a circular centre where different stakeholders collaborate to reduce resource use and create new value. By working with industrial and urban symbiosis – where residual flows from one business become a resource for another – solutions are developed that advance both climate goals and economic growth.

Organizer: Peer review hosted by the Municipality of Umeå in collaboration with Interreg Europe. Participants included:
The Municipality of Umeå, Umeå Energi, Vakin, Umeå University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, RISE Processum, Lindholmen Science Park, Region Västerbotten, as well as companies operating in or planning to establish themselves in Umeå Eco Industrial Park.

International experts:
Samir Halimanovic (Region Skåne, Sweden)
Pipsa Juulia Salolammi (Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Economy Hub, Finland)
Dirk Plees (Province of Limburg / Chemelot Circular Hub, the Netherlands)
Clyde Falzon Bouvett (Environment and Resources Authority, Malta)
Dr. Beata Kviatek (Hanze University Groningen, the Netherlands)

Interreg Europe representatives:
Jason Martinez (Joint Secretariat),
Marc Pattinson, Laura Varisco, and Thorsten Kohlisch (Policy Learning Platform, Interreg Europe).

Contact:

Janet Ågren (S)
Chair, Planning Committee of the Municipal Executive Board
Municipality of Umeå
+46 (0)70-610 47 85
janet.agren@umea.se

Nina Rismalm
Business Development Officer
Responsible for Innovation and Collaboration, Umeå Eco Industrial Park
+46 (0)70 256 82 84
nina.rismalm@umea.se