Helsinki-Uusimaa speeding up circular economy innovations together with other European top regions
The European Commission has identified the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region as a Regional Innovation Valley (RIV). In cooperation with other top regions in circular economy, Helsinki-Uusimaa is carrying out the project European Circular Innovation Valley, the ECIV.
By bringing together a range of regions across Europe with different innovation levels and linking up their key innovation actors, RIVs aim to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems, bridge the innovation gap in Europe and improve Europe’s overall innovation performance. The project offers the possibility to strengthen the regional innovations in circular economy and make them more international.
– Our objective is to increase the regional research and development expenditure to 5 per cent of the region’s GDP by 2030. Being chosen a RIV and a ECIV cooperation partner are significant steps on our way to these targets, Mr Eero Venäläinen, Regional Development Director at the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, states.
The ECIV project, part of the Horizon Europe programme, aims to build Europe’s largest circular economy innovation ecosystem, driving sustainable development and collaboration across the continent. This project is set to turn European regions into dynamic circular economy hubs – so called European “dance floors” for circular solutions.
Proposing innovative circular solutions
–Our Region is one of the key regional partners in the ECIV. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council offers its extensive experience in circular economy projects, such as the Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Valley and the national Economy Green Deal, commented by Ms Christine Chang, Project Manager at the Council.
Over the next five years, the ECIV will significantly advance the transition towards a circular economy of the regions (and of Europe) generating sustainable growth and development in the participating regions.
–With the ECIV, we can share our expertise and build Europe’s largest circular economy ecosystem while providing opportunities for our businesses to join international innovation efforts, Ms Chang continues.
Sixty percent of the ECIV project will be allocated to open calls organised by the Normandy Region in France, encouraging startups and other companies to propose innovative circular solutions. Funding will be offered to international/transnational projects in value chains of various industrial sectors. During 2025, our regional actors in Helsinki-Uusimaa will be informed about their possibilities to apply for funding.
ECIV building and renewing co-innovation
The ECIV brings together 19 entities from 9 countries, led by the Government of Navarra, Spain. Key regional project partners are also the Northern Netherlands Alliance, North Middle Sweden Region, the Ministry of Innovation and Growth of Bulgaria, the Service Public de Wallonie Economie in Belgium, Scottish Enterprise, and Lithuania’s Innovation Agency in the Baltics. The Association of Cities and Regions for Sustainable Resource Management (ACR+) belongs to the ECIV, as well.
The project, starting on 1 September 2024 is going on until 30 August 2029, is funded with a total budget of 27 million euros; 13,6 millions of the funding comes from the EU programme Horizon Europe. The operational budget of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council is about 356,000 euros.
72 regions have been identified as Regional Innovation Valleys (RIV) by the European Commission. All regions participating in the ECIV project are Regional Innovation Valleys. The Innovation Valleys promote European strategic priorities, like green transition and digital transformation.
For more information, please contact:
Christine Chang
Senior Adviser, EU Affairs
christine.chang@uudenmaanliitto.fi
Strategic international partnerships, research, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem development
Venla Virkamäki
Innovation Manager
venla.virkamaki@uudenmaanliitto.fi
Development of R&I and international marketing, Strategy for smart specialisation, EU cooperation
Find Out More
Research, Development and Innovation
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is one of the most innovative regions in Europe and the most dynamic region in Finland.
Take also a look at these
News
8.1.2026
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Cultural Market created over 200 events and thousands of cultural encounters
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Cultural Market project, which is now coming to an end, brought culture to new audiences and created work opportunities for artists. This included supporting cultural purchases by municipalities and launching the popular Cultural Market networking event. All 26 municipalities in the Helsinki-Uusimaa region took part in the project, which was led by the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council.
News
16.12.2025
Policy change opens up EU funding for West Railway
Ministers responsible from the EU member states met on Monday, 15 December, to discuss, among other things, the Council’s position on the future CEF programme. As a result of the meeting, Finland saw a major positive development, as the Tallinn–Helsinki–Tampere and Helsinki–Turku–Stockholm connections were added to the list of CEF priorities. It is very important for transport projects to be included on the CEF list, as this gives them the opportunity to apply for EU funding.
News
8.12.2025
The EU’s new Bioeconomy Strategy offers strong prospects for Helsinki-Uusimaa
The European Commission published its new Bioeconomy Strategy today, setting the direction for the development of one of Europe’s fastest-growing sectors. The bioeconomy still holds considerable untapped potential, which the Commission now aims to unlock to drive sustainable economic growth, accelerate innovation and create new jobs. The strategy is also directly linked to Helsinki-Uusimaa’s goals for climate neutrality, the circular economy, biodiversity and sustainable food systems.
News
19.11.2025
Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council helps boost the region’s food innovation ecosystem
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme and the roadmap for a carbon neutral Helsinki-Uusimaa 2030 identify a need to transform the region’s food system to become more sustainable. Helsinki-Uusimaa aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, and making the region’s food system more sustainable and low-carbon plays a key role in achieving this climate target.