CIRCULAR ECONOMY RESPONDS TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES
By 2030, the global need for food will increase by 50%, the need for water by 30%, and the need for energy by 45%. Global solutions must be found for the problems created by climate change, and to replace unrenewable resources.
The Biovalley development team identifies needs, assesses opportunities, and compiles networks that facilitate more sustainable economic growth. According to the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, more effective and extensive recycling of resources could bring the Finnish economy an annual growth potential of 1.5–2.5 billion euros by 2030.
SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH BIOECONOMY AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY
In the Kouvola region, there are good foundations for developing the bioeconomy and circular economy:
- Excellent logistics opportunities
- Strong industrial infrastructure, long traditions, and competence in the use of forests
- Renewable natural resources
- Skilled entrepreneurs
- Willingness to cooperate and to network
The Biovalley development team builds networks in these fields, and as a representative of the City coordinates business cooperation between educational institutions and other experts. We bring together operators for each programme, project, and task based on the needs of the companies and the strategy, policies, and cooperation contracts of Kouvola, taking account of the changing legislation. We seek new solutions through cooperation to achieve sustainable competitiveness and identify new business opportunities taking account of skills needs.
We operate in close cooperation with local bioeconomy and circular economy companies and educational institutions (South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Xamk, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Aalto University, the University of Helsinki, Kouvola Region Vocational College, and the Vocational Adult Education Centre Kouvola).
KOUVOLA CIRCULAR ECONOMY'S MAIN BUSINESS AREAS
Our main subjects are:
1. Industrial symbiosis and resource efficiency
- Resource efficiency services
- energy and material efficiency
- identifying and utilizing side flows
- business networks, synergies, industrial symbiosis
- FISS coordination
- Gas renaissance
- the potential of hydrogen as a transport fuel
- the potential of hydrogen as a transport fuel
2. Development of circular economy competence
- New circular economy experts for companies
- new skills needs of companies and the offering of educational institutions
- Business operations based on consumer-oriented circular economy ideas
- new business ideas for companies based on ideas proposed by consumers
- Increasing the availability of skilled labour in wood construction through cooperation with educational institutions
- developing apprenticeship training
- developing wood construction sites and business operations at operating field and corporate levels
- Life cycle path of energy studies
- developing education and training
- developing education and training
3. Developing sustainable construction
- Innovation and operating network of low-carbon construction
- carbon and life cycle calculation of construction and use phases
- new wood construction sites and project studies
- NERO – Construction and life cycle of zero-energy houses in the Nordic climate conditions
4. Development of the packaging and food sectors
- Development of the packaging sector
- establishing a local cooperation network in the packaging sector
- new operating models for the packaging sector and companies
- Development of the food sector
- developing forms of cooperation, activating and assisting companies
- developing forms of cooperation, activating and assisting companies
5. Strategic and other cooperation
- Practical application of smart specialization in the Kymenlaakso region
- brainstorming and preparing of projects in cooperation with companies
- Kouvola Housing Fair 2019
- cooperation with the City of Kouvola to promote the bioeconomy and circular economy at the housing fair
- wood construction professorship funded by the City of Kouvola and Nordic Wooden Cities cooperation
Read more about local business cooperation in the CIRCULAR ECONOMY brochure, and contact our experts.
