The SYMCRAFT project is implemented under the Interreg Central Europe program, aiming to address the challenges of advancing the circular economy in Central Europe. The Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovation and Investments (HAMAG-BICRO) participates as a project partner.

Project Description

The project covers the following three industrial sectors:

1. Textile industry
2. Wood processing and furniture manufacturing industry
3. Food industry–

The project promotes the role of the craft sector as a key component for achieving industrial symbiosis. It contributes to the development of the current situation by demonstrating how the creativity of crafts can enrich industry with a socially innovative approach to the circular economy. The main innovative element of the project is the expansion of the concept of symbiosis beyond the purely industrial dimension toward a broader understanding of social practices and economic processes that enable the realization of the circular economy.

The project benefits different groups, primarily:

1. Medium to large traditional industries that will discover creative ways to apply the circular economy,
2. Small crafts that will be offered additional and sustainable opportunities for business development.

Project Goal

The general goal of the project is to improve circularity in the industrial sectors of Central Europe by working on the reuse and recycling of waste. SYMCRAFT aims to design, promote, and test resource-efficient business ecosystems across Central European areas where crafts play a key role in implementing industrial symbiosis concepts as expressions of the circular economy.

Project Partners

1. t2i - Technology Transfer and Innovation (IT)
2. Ca'Foscari University Foundation (IT)
3. South Bohemian Chamber of Commerce (CZ)
4. Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SK)
5. West Pannon Regional and Economic Development Public Nonprofit Ltd. (HU)
6. Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovation and Investments (HR)
7. Technology Park Ljubljana (SL)
8. IAGF - Institute for Applied Research for Skilled Crafts and Trades (AT)
9. b&s Management Consulting and Training for Rural Areas GmbH (DE)
10. Leipzig Environmental Institute (DE)
11. Association Kultur in der Fabrik (AT)

Associated Partners

1. Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft (BMAW), Abteilung IV/4 KMU
2. Sächsisch-Gut eG
3. Bundesinnung der Kunsthandwerke
4. Štajerska gospodarska zbornica, SRIP – Circular Economy Manager
5. ETN – European Textile Network
6. Pannon Helyi Termék Nonprofit Kft.
7. Zala Vármegye Önkormányzata
8. Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia
9. Pannon Business Network
10. Bundessparte Gewerbe und Handwerk in der Wirtschaftskammer Österreich
11. Agentúra SOPK pre rozvoj Trenčianskeho regiónu, n.o.
12. Trenčiansky samosprávny kraj
13. GNS - Gesellschaft für Nachhaltige Stoffnutzung mbH
14. Sachsen!Textil e.V.
15. Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic
16. Croatian Chamber of Economy
17. Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts
18. Regione del Veneto - Industry, Crafts, Commerce, Services and Internationalization of Enterprises
19. Statutární město České Budějovice
20. Město Písek
21. Handwerkskammer zu Leipzig
22. Združenje delodajalcev obrti in podjetnikov Slovenije GIZ (ZDOPS)
23. Obrtno-podjetniška zbornica Slovenije (OZS)
24. Regional Development Agency of Ljubljana Urban Region (RRA LUR)
25. Regional Chamber of Crafts and Small Businesses Kamnik (OOZ Kamnik)

Project Value

The total project value amounts to €2,170,074.33, of which €1,736,059.44 is co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund.

Project Duration

01.06.2024 – 30.11.2026