The current (Linear) Economy is: Produce-use-dispose. The future belongs to the Circular Economy: produce-use-recycle or reuse. The new EC Circular Economy Strategy aims at “closing the loop” of product lifecycles through greater recycling and reuse, to bring benefits for society, environment and economy. Closing the loop of material streams poses many challenges to research & innovation: increasing durability, reparability & recyclability of products (Extended Producer Responsibility), improving waste management and resource efficiency in industrial sectors, fostering industrial symbiosis and remanufacturing.

The concept of a Circular Economy is clearly not an unambiguous or simple process and this transition will be especially difficult for countries, already lagging behind in waste management and innovation, which concerns the majority of the Danube Region Countries.

Country and regional policies and strategies supporting a transition towards a Circular Economy have not yet been defined. MOVECO responds to this challenge and sets its objective to improve the framework conditions and policy instruments for eco- innovation and  the transition to a Circular Economy, fostering smart and sustainable growth and reducing disparities among the regions in the Danube Region(DR).

MOVECO results include a strong transnational partnership competent to implement the Circular Economy and meet its targets. Based on research on inefficiencies in innovation in current Extended Producer Responsibility schemes and related R&D services, the partnership will develop a transnational strategy for the transition to the Circular Economy (identification of possible materials streams for the DR) and roadmaps for their implementation in the different innovation regions. With new services and tools for eco-design and eco-innovation (Circular Economy Toolbox), MOVECO will support new business models and research business cooperation along new value chains.

MOVECO aims to improve the collaboration at the interface between science, business, policy and civil society to enforce the potentials for environmental technologies and sustainable growth. To turn waste into resource requires new technologies, new design strategies and new business models.