The buildings and construction sectors are among the largest producers of waste in the Danube region, making immediate and coordinated action essential to enhance their circularity. Digital technologies often help ease the effort required to shift away from wasteful practices in these sectors. The Circular DigiBuild project, co-funded by the Danube Region Programme, specifically focuses on leveraging digital technologies to promote circularity in the buildings and construction sectors.

On December 2nd and 3rd, 2024, our partner Vangavis, a consortium member of the Circular DigiBuild project, gathered with partners and stakeholders from 13 countries in Bucharest for an open hybrid transnational seminar titled “Reimagining construction in the Danube area through circular economy solutions.” The seminar was organized by the Institute for Research in Circular Economy and Environment “Ernest Lupan.”
Circular economy experts presented new approaches, measures, and case studies that connect innovations to the traditionally focused construction and building sectors.

IRCEM, Romania, provided a review of effective innovative strategies and the role of policy in fostering a circular economy. INCIEN, Czech Republic, demonstrated how Circular Economy principles help reduce waste in construction, offering inspiring case studies and practical examples from industry experts. ZWMNE, Montenegro, presented a list of municipal strategies and solutions from various circular cities across Europe for a sustainable future.
Following the presentations, the partners discussed opportunities for cross-sectoral collaboration and exchanged key insights on circular economy innovations in the construction and building sector.

They also deliberated on the project’s common assessment report, which evaluates the readiness for circularity and the level of digital transformation in the building industry across the Danube region.

As a result of the two days of intensive collaboration, the partners and stakeholders outlined initial plans for shared strategies and pilots to be implemented, marking the first tangible results of their interregional cooperation in response to the needs that inspired the project.

More information about the project and the partnership can be found at: https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/circular-digibuild

The project Circular DigiBuild, Boosting the uptake of emerging technologies in circular economy implementation in construction and buildings industry in Danube region to sustainably harness the twin transition for greener future, is co-funded by Interreg Danube program (80%) and has a budget of €2,801,950 EUR.