About the project

EDU-CIRC promotes the circular economy and decarbonisation in production companies, aiming to qualify young people, students, teachers and employees through training on the principles, methods and best practices of the circular economy.

The project focuses on the sectors: woodworking, construction and automotive.

It involves the analysis and mapping of existing materials, the creation of training tools made available on the EDU-CIRC portal, study visits to circular companies and cross-border hackathons.

01.10.2023 – 01. 31. 2026
Project duration
930,120.24
Total cost
744,096.18
EU funding

Partners

Virtual Learning Space

EDU-CIRC E-learning Platform

The EDU-CIRC E-learning platform is a virtual learning space that promotes circular economy and decarbonisation. It offers training for young people, students, teachers and employees on the principles, methods and best practices of the circular economy, with a focus on the wood processing, construction and automotive industries.

The platform provides educational resources developed through the analysis of existing materials, study visits to circular economy companies and cross-border hackathons. The content is tailored to different target groups and supports skills development and sustainable innovation.

Access the Platform

Edu-Circ: Guidelines for Circular Economy

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GUIDELINES AND BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Booklet

Download booklet (.pdf)

Other dowloads

Discover the project Hackathon at NOI Techpark Bruneck, 8-10 May 2025

(.pdf)

Innovation in Motion: Young Talents Take the Lead at the Third Edition of the IN MOTION Idea Contest and Tech Festival in Brunico.

Discover our Circular Factory Tour in ABS Group

(.pdf)

The Circular Factory Tour offered participants a unique opportunity to witness circular economy and sustainability practices embedded in real industrial processes.

Link to Scientific Articles

Determining Training Needs to Promote Circular Economy and Decarbonization in Production

To scope the actual problems regarding climatic changes and the corresponding regulations, sustainable strategies and actions become increasingly important for companies, especially in production. The industry is facing a deficit in well-trained professionals that meet these criteria. This paper attempts to determine the relevant skills and the associated training needs for: pupils, teachers, students, and professionals. For this purpose, a literature and job offer analysis on required skills and on existing regional trainings were first carried out. The results were discussed and revised at workshops with interested stakeholders. It was found that there is still a big need in trainings for basic sustainability topics, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, topics like digitalization, life cycle assessment, legislation, reporting and sustainable management systems are particularly important. To implement these topics in training courses, it became clear that practical approaches are to be preferred. Soft skills, like communication skills, should be taught alongside.

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Exploring the Current Status of Circular Economy and Best Practices in South Tyrol

Circular Economy (CE) has become a widely discussed and promising concept for improving resource efficiency across industries. By minimizing raw material exploitation, it therefore serves as a key driver towards sustainability. However, the level of CE implementation varies across regions and industries depending on various factors such as regulatory frameworks, economic structures, or sector-specific challenges. In this context, the extent to which CE is implemented in South Tyrol remains insufficiently explored. Therefore, this explorative study provides an overview of CE implementation in the region and identifies best practice examples. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a structured survey with semi-structured interviews conducted with 17 companies across the woodworking, automotive, and construction sectors. The findings reveal significant variations in the adoption and prioritization of the different 9R strategies. Key barriers include technological and financial constraints, while collaboration and innovation emerge as key enablers. These findings serve as a foundation for regional companies and policymakers to better understand and address the practical realities of transitioning toward a more sustainable industrial landscape.

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Sustainability through Education: A Competency Development Framework

This paper presents an educational framework developed by the Interreg SIAT H2GreenFuture and Interreg ITAT EDU-CIRC projects to promote sustainable technologies and address competency gaps. The Competence Development Framework (CDF) focuses on sustainability, decarbonization, hydrogen, and fuel cell technology across basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. Utilizing the ADDIE model, the training emphasizes remote and problem-based learning with practical applications in learning factories and laboratories. Innovative teaching methods like experiential learning and simulations enhance engagement. Pilot modules at the bachelor's level highlight education's critical role in the energy transition.

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Territorial mapping of the network partners

Last update: 30/06/2024

Science & Energy Labs T10 Campus Villach-FHK

Smart Lab Carinthia

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Circular economy in manufacturing - UNIBZ

Sustainable Manufacturing Lab - Brunico (Bruneck)

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