Interreg BayAut_Circular Foresight Initiative: Establishment of a Bavarian-Austrian Circularity Forum

Project background

The Bavarian-Austrian region faces major economic and environmental challenges. Companies must make their production and value-added processes more sustainable while also becoming more resilient to raw material shortages and geopolitical crises. However, small and medium-sized enterprises in particular often lack the resources to independently develop and implement circular economy business models.

This is precisely where the Circular Foresight Initiative (CFI) comes in. The project’s goal is to systematically document and evaluate the existing experiences and innovation potential of pioneering companies in the circular economy and make them available to other companies. To this end, companies from material-intensive industries are actively involved, and their experiences, challenges, and successful strategies are analyzed.

The focus is on the newly developed Circular Foresight methodology, which combines scenario analyses and corporate foresight approaches with a focus on the circular economy. In workshops with companies, research institutions, and cluster organizations, practical future pathways and strategies for a successful circular transformation are developed.

Project objective

The project aims to establish a cross-border innovation network for the circular economy in the Bavarian-Austrian region. The goal is to support companies in developing and implementing circular business models while simultaneously gaining new insights into success factors, barriers, and future requirements of the circular economy.

In addition, the Circular Foresight methodology will be further developed and tested in practice. Companies will be empowered to independently develop long-term strategies for sustainable and resilient value creation processes.

The project results are also intended to help policymakers and support organizations tailor future funding and support measures more specifically to the needs of companies.

Project procedure

The project is based on a bottom-up approach. The first step involves collecting and analyzing existing experiences and best practices from companies in the field of the circular economy.

Subsequently, workshops will be held with so-called circular economy pioneers. During these workshops, challenges, needs, and successful solutions will be identified and systematically organized into future pathways.

The foundation is the Circular Foresight methodology developed at Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences. This methodology combines futures studies, scenario analyses, and practice-oriented corporate workshops.

The workshops are specifically integrated into existing events such as trade shows, industry meetings, and networking forums to reach as many relevant companies as possible.

The insights gained are then validated, documented, and prepared for companies as well as other stakeholders in the regional innovation system.

Innovation

What makes the Circular Foresight Initiative innovative is its consistent bottom-up approach. Unlike traditional projects, it does not develop ready-made solutions but instead focuses on the real needs, experiences, and challenges of companies.

The specially developed Circular Foresight methodology creates a novel approach that not only supports companies in the short term but also empowers them in the long term to independently develop circular business models and innovation strategies.

Furthermore, the project connects existing networks and stakeholders from Bavaria and Austria into a shared cross-border innovation ecosystem. This fosters new collaborations, knowledge transfer, and synergies along circular value chains.

The economy and society benefit in particular through:

• greater resource efficiency,
• more resilient supply and value chains,
• reduced dependence on raw materials,
• new Innovation and market potential, as well as
• practical recommendations for action for businesses and policymakers