SERDA Participated in the Final Partner Meeting and Public Conference of the DECIDE Project in Croatia

The event brought together project partners, members of the Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Study Group, representatives of development organisations, businesses, and other relevant stakeholders from across the Danube Region to present the project achievements and discuss opportunities for continued cooperation beyond the project lifetime.

On the first day, the final partner meeting and Steering Committee meeting were held, during which project partners presented the main project results, key achievements, and tools developed to support regional development organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting circular economy business models. Partners reviewed the achieved results, discussed the sustainability of project outcomes, and agreed on the final steps required for the formal closure of the project.

The meeting also included a World Café workshop focused on the sustainability of project results, lessons learned, and opportunities for further application of the developed tools and methodologies after project completion.

In parallel with the partner meeting, study visits were organised to companies applying circular economy principles and sustainable business practices, providing participants with first-hand insights into successful examples of resource reuse, sustainable production, and social entrepreneurship.

On the second day, participants visited Humana Nova in Čakovec, one of the most successful examples of circular economy and socially responsible business in the region. Participants learned about a business model that combines textile recycling, material reuse, and employment opportunities for people from vulnerable social groups.

Following the study visit, the DECIDE Public Conference was held, showcasing the main project results, digital tools, and methodologies developed to support the transition towards a circular economy. In addition to DECIDE, the conference featured presentations of several European projects addressing sustainable production, circular economy, and green transition, including TEX-DAN, SYMCRAFT, GREEN-TEX, and WE.CIRCULAR.

A dedicated workshop on future cooperation opportunities enabled participants to exchange experiences and discuss potential joint initiatives in the fields of digitalisation, circular economy, and sustainable development.

Through the DECIDE project, SERDA actively contributed to the development and promotion of innovative tools supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in their transition towards circular business models. During the project implementation, SERDA representatives successfully completed the DECIDE training programme and obtained the Master Badge certification, further strengthening the Agency’s capacity to support businesses in their green and digital transition processes.

The DECIDE project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Danube Region Programme and aims to develop practical digital tools and services that help regional development organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises implement circular economy principles and sustainable business practices.