The Regiostars are Europe’s award to EU-funded projects that demonstrate excellence and new approaches in regional development.
This year the REGIOSTARS received a record 206 submissions and Blue Circular Economy is among the 25 finalists. This three-year programme is an international partnership between our team at the Western Development Commission, Technical University of Denmark, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the Centre for Sustainable Design® at UCA, and the Environmental Research Institute Scotland.
The partnership is working on concrete solutions that will make it more efficient for small and medium enterprises in the NPA coastal communities to run sustainable businesses based on reusing and recycling fishing nets and ropes, one of the main plastic pollutants in the ocean.
CEO of The Western Development Commission Tomás Ó Síocháin commented; “the Blue Circular Economy is an excellent example of how the circular economy can facilitate the shift to sustainable use of limited resources, and creating opportunities for business at a local level.’
BCE is one of five projects selected by an independent jury of high-level academics in the category “Circular Economy for a Green Europe”. The same jury will crown the winners during the EU Regions Week, on 14th October.
Besides being a finalist in the Circular Economy category, BCE is also running for the Public Choice award, a recognition from the general public voting online for their favourite REGIOSTARS project.
You can show your support for Blue Circular Economy by clicking on the heart next to the project on this webpage:
About the REGIOSTARS awards
The European Commission started the REGIOSTARS Award in 2008, with the goal of inspiring other regions and project managers across Europe.
Five categories and a public choice award are open every year. In 2020, the REGIOSTARS focus on five areas that are crucial for the future of EU regional policy: industrial transition for a smart Europe, circular economy for a green Europe, skills & education for a digital Europe, citizens engagement for cohesive European cities and youth empowerment for cooperation across borders – 30 years of Interreg.
In 2016, the forerunner to the Blue Circular Economy project, Circular Ocean, won the Regiostars public choice award. Let’s keep the good traditions.
Follow the awards on social media with the hashtag #regiostars.
