In partnership with leading European innovation valleys, Helsinki-Uusimaa is carrying out the project European Circular Innovation Valley, the ECIV. 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.
Over the next five years, the project will significantly advance the transition towards a circular economy of the regions (and of Europe) generating sustainable growth and development in the participating regions. Via the ECIV, regional companies in Helsinki-Uusimaa have the possibility to take part in innovational ecosystems.
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.
The nearly 16 million euros of project funding 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.
Partners from nine different countries
The ECIV brings together 19 entities from 9 countries, led by the Government of Navarra, Spain. The key regional project partners include 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 European Commission has identified 72 regions as Regional Innovation Valleys (RIV). All regions participating in the ECIV project are regional innovation valleys. The innovation valleys promote European strategic priorities, like green transition and digital transformation.
Find out more
Innovative Helsinki-Uusimaa
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is one of the most innovative regions in Europe and the most dynamic region in Finland.
For more information, please contact:
Christine Chang
Senior Adviser, EU Affairs
christine.chang@uudenmaanliitto.fi
Strategic international partnerships, research, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem development
Hanna Mattila
Senior Adviser
hanna.mattila@uudenmaanliitto.fi
Support for transition to nature positivity and circular economy, Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub, European Circular Innovation Valley Project (ECIV), Nature Credit Markets.
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This page was last updated: 30.9.2025