The Interplatform Group for Circular Economy (GIEC), made up of 28 Technological Platforms, organized this online event, which had nearly 400 attendees.
On May 13, the event “Opportunities for R&D&i in the new European context” was held, organized by GIEC with the invaluable collaboration of the State Agency for Research (AEI) from the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI).
During the event, attended by almost 400 experts, the opportunities for innovation in Circular Economy offered by the new calls for R&D&i at the European level for the development of collaborations and R&D projects were analyzed.
The opening was led by Enrique Playán, Director of the AEI, and Javier Ponce, General Director of the Center for Industrial Technological Development, who welcomed the attendees and emphasized in their speech the importance of continuing activities like this event that highlight the necessity of ongoing work in Circular Economy. Following that, Marisa Fernández, Coordinator of the Control and Management area of the CETMAR Foundation and Coordinator of the Technological Platform for Coastal and Marine Environment Protection (PROTECMA), representing GIEC and as the master of ceremonies, commented on the structure of the event and introduced the presentations.
Firstly, Cristina González and Roberto Castelo, from the Spanish Technological Platform for Sustainable Chemistry and Steel, respectively representing GIEC, briefly presented the activities and objectives of the organization, highlighting their mission to harness the potential of innovation and collaboration among strategic industrial sectors in Spain to progress towards a circular economy and efficient resource use. They also discussed the tool that the Group provides for interested parties, aimed at facilitating identification and contact between agents of various value chains, “Connecting for a Circular Economy”.
Next, Carmen Durán, Technical Advisor at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, informed attendees about funding opportunities for projects related to the Circular Economy, highlighting the first call for funds from Next Generation EU.
Subsequently, Nieves González and Lydia González from the EU Programs and Territorial Cooperation Department of CDTI explained the various funding opportunities available under Horizon Europe, focusing on Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space and Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment, which are the most closely related to the Circular Economy.
Finally, there were interventions from Angels Orduña, Executive Director of SPIRE 2030, and Nelo Emerencia, BIC Program Director, who informed attendees about the European initiative for training Partnerships, including public and private partners, through which they can support the development and implementation of research programs and innovation activities in specific areas, highlighting the Partnerships Proccesses4Planet and Circular Bio-based Industries respectively.
After the presentations, there was a Q&A session, during which attendees’ questions were addressed.
The closing remarks were made by María Ángeles Ferre, Head of the Thematic Scientific-Technical Programs Subdivision of the AEI, who thanked all the organizing Technology Platforms for their great coordination demonstrated for this event; and by Belén García, Director of the Spanish Technological Platform for Packaging (PACKNET) and representative of GIEC, who, after thanking the speakers and attendees again, concluded the day.