
CIRC-2-ZERO Kick-off at HAMK: Launching Circular Innovation for SMEs
01 April 2025
On 1–2 April 2025, the CIRC-2-ZERO project had an official kick-off meeting at Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The event brought together project partners across seven countries: Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany.
The meeting marked the beginning of a joint effort to support SMEs in the electronics and wood sectors in adopting circular economy principles and digital manufacturing tools. With a total budget of €3.3 million, funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme, the CIRC-2-ZERO project aims to reduce emissions, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen regional collaboration.
The kick-off agenda included:
First day, Tuesday, April 1, 2025
- 9:30 Kick-off Meeting Opening & Project Presentation
- 9:45 Team Introductions
- 10:40 Lead Partner’s Organisation Management Greetings & Presentation: Annukka Pakarinen & Jukka Pulkkinen
- 10:50 Greeting from Finnish Associated Partner: The Regional Council of Häme, Jyri Sarkkinen
- 11:15 Reporting on Project Activities and General Programme Requirements: Greetings from Interreg BSR Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat (MA/JS), Mateusz Ropiak, Project Officer
- 13:30 Project Management & Communication: Marina Weck & Catalin Ilie & Heidi Kerkola
- 15:30 Closing & End of Meeting
Second day, Wednesday, April 2, 2025
- 9:00 WP1 Preparing Solutions: Work Plans & Management presentations
- 10:00 WP2 Piloting and Evaluating Solutions: Work Plans & Management presentations
- 11:00 WP3 Transferring Solutions: Work Plans & Management presentations
- 11:30 General Project Management
- 14:00 Closing Remarks & End of kick-off Meeting