The EU co-funded call for proposals will support the project for the establishment and operation of the Slovenian Circular Economy Centre – for Green, Creative and Smart Development. The centre will provide a supportive environment with the main point supporting the systemic transition to a circular economy and society. This call for proposals aims to bring together the activities of all relevant organisations, individuals and existing or emerging hubs and centres operating in areas related to the transition to a low-carbon circular economy, such as bioeconomy, technological material loops, low-carbon technologies, social innovation and creative industries.

The call for proposals will thus contribute to:

• establishing a climate-neutral circular economy in which the development of a society is disassociated from the use of resources,
• to strengthen business models and operational practices where the value of products, materials and other resources is preserved for as long as possible, increasing their efficient use in production and consumption, thereby reducing their environmental impact by also reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and hazardous substances, taking into account the waste hierarchy; and
• improve resource-efficient management from the design of products, services and processes and throughout the life cycle and value chain, supported by digitalisation, and to increase the resilience, competitiveness and productivity of the economy.

The call for proposals for the establishment and operation of the Slovenian Circular Economy Centre – for Green, Creative and Smart Development (JR CKG) is implemented under Slovenia’s EU Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027, under the priority Green transformation for climate neutrality and pursues the specific objective Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy.

The call for proposals is worth EUR 3.5 million, with the European Regional Development Fund contribution standing at a good EUR 2.2 million, i.e., EUR 2,224,985.00.

The Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport will publish the call for proposals, which contributes to meeting the objectives set out in Slovenia’s Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027, in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenian on Friday 26 April 2024.