Circular Economy

Observatory for Circular and Sustainable Economy

Why we deal with Circular Economy:

The Circular Economy is an industrial production model based on the use of renewable materials and energy, which avoids the removal of virgin raw materials as well as the production of waste and polluting emissions. The transition from a linear to a circular economy requires a profound transformation in the ways of managing raw materials and energy sources, designing products, innovating production processes and logistics and changing consumer expectations and habits, with new business models.
Area Science Park has contributed to the transition to a circular economy by launching the Observatory for Circular and Sustainable Economy, which will produce studies and research to support innovation and industrial investments, integrated in the ARGO system.

​Value Propo​sition

Int​​ernal:

The Observatory is the team that supports the Argo System, specialising in Circular Economy-related issues. It participates in national and international trade fairs and maintains contacts with external research groups.
The OCSE regularly produces internal documentation on the main issues surrounding the Circular Economy concept, with particular reference to the development of the Trieste hinterland.
The OCSE also intends to conduct research on questions from colleagues and collaborate in the drafting and participation of funded projects.

Towards the academic world:

Universities and other research centres are natural interlocutors because they look at the world and study it, documenting their research in scientific publications. One of the objectives of the OCSE is to be an active part of the research community on these issues and to make a credible contribution to the national and international debate. In this dialogue, the OCSE intends to act as a gateway for businesses by deploying the expertise of Area Science Park and its tools, such as European design and business services.

Towards the business world:

Industry and the business world in general are the main beneficiaries of the observatory’s activities. Thanks to the ARGO​ system, they have a tangible network of skills and laboratories at their disposal. The OCSE accompanies them in this system by developing joint research on opportunities and addressing the solution of technical, economic and legislative themes related to the world of the Circular Economy.
The main themes will be:
Policy: European regulatory framework, national action plans, standards and decrees
Research: state of the art research (industrial and academic) at international level
Industry: reports on technologies and markets to support industrial investments in the sector
Impact: statistical data, indicators, case studies and best practices.

The Observatory will collaborate with institutions, research centres, universities and industries, and will produce various types of publications (technical reports, specialist studies, informative documents) with which to participate in the public and scientific debate at national and international levels. A particular concern of the Observatory will be Strategic Materials (Critical Raw Materials, CRMs) and the industrial processes for the recovery of CRMs from WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), aimed at the development of applied research and industrialisation projects that may also involve Technological Platforms.