CSSBoost

CSSBoost (Boosting Circular Systemic Solutions through Virtual Regional Circular Economy Spaces) aims to overcome technological and non-technological CE barriers, minimise CSS application and operational risks and decisively stimulate and maximise the Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Transition in any EU city/region or group of regions.

To pursue this, CSSBoost develops a novel CSS Application Framework that views a CSS as a composite living entity that operates and evolves within a CE/CSS Ecosystem and Market, an open (physical) space of city, regional or multi-regional scope, encompassing an area’s existing CE market, its value chains and its entire external environment, even extra-regional entities and markets. It also introduces the methodological concept of the CSSBoost Integrated Solution that involves the integration of one or more CSS within a digital environment, enhanced by tailored methodology and procedures. This physical system is virtualised, monitored, analysed and assessed by developing the key CSSBoost innovation, the Virtual Regional CE/CSS Ecosystem and Market (VCEM).

CSSBoost designs a set of diverse Exemplary CSSs, both as transition tools and to validate and promote its ideas by applying and demonstrating them in five city, regional and interregional Pilot Cases. The exemplary CSSs respond to different challenges, barriers, needs and feasibilities across EU and target different product value chains, as delineated in the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan (Water, Food, and Nutrients; Plastics; Batteries & Vehicles).

Specifically, CSSBoost integrated solution will be demonstrated and validated by developing four city/regional-scope CSSs in pilot areas with very different conditions across Europe, as well as one multiregional pilot:

  • Pilot 1: Agricultural, Livestock and Food Processing By-Products Valorisation CSS. Region: Crete, Greece
  • Pilot 2: Water Reuse and Nutrients Recovery CSS. Region: Marche, Italy
  • Pilot 3: Conventional Plastics and Bioplastics Recycling CSS. Region: North Black Forest, Germany
  • Pilot 4: Public Transport Vehicle Recycling and Valorisation CSS. Region: Lisbon, Portugal
  • Pilot 5: Interregional Multi-National Value Chain CSS. Region: Pilot regions 1-4 in concert & EU

CSSBoost develops both its innovations and pilots by applying a rigorous SotA co-creation environment and instruments and SSH methods and procedures. It also develops replication, organisational, business and exploitation plans for the uptake, replication and upscaling of its solutions, as well as education and training programs and social innovation actions.

Project Facts

  • Duration: 3,5 Years / 42 months
  • Start Date: June 1st, 2024
  • Work Programme: Horizon Europe
  • Grant Agreement ID: 101135275
  • Total Project Budget: € 11.267.312,50
  • EU Contribution: € 9.190.318,75
  • Project Coordinator: Polytechneio Kritis (Technical University of Crete)
  • Webpage: https://cssboost-project.eu/

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PARTICLE Role in CSSBoost

PARTICLE brings its expertise in network-enabled systems and interoperable interfaces to develop strategic and operacional dashboards providing information related with circular economy, sustainability and the environment. PARTICLE will define and develop interoperable interfaces for the project, including a connection mechanism with the Data Space for Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities (DS4SSCC).

PARTICLE is partnering with CARRIS to lead Pilot 4 devoted to “Public Transport Vehicle Recycling and Valorisation CSS”. This pilot main strategic ambition is to implement a circular economy model in transportation:

  • To reinforce CARRIS’s CE practices, promoting the use of recyclable materials, more durable products and transition energy sources to reduce carbon footprint and waste (e.g., replacing diesel oil vehicles with vehicles using electricity and natural gas);
  • To explore the potential of increased material recovery at CARRIS’s vehicles end-of-life disposal (e.g., reutilising or recycling of batteries and automotive shredder residue, such as the plastics, rubber, textile and fibre materials);
  • To drive sustainable transportation practices and pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient mobility model in modern cities.

Importantly, during the pilot it will be observed the modernisation of CARRIS fleet in replacing their diesel-based vehicles towards electrification, as well as the resulting positive impact in sustainability.

Funded by the European Union.