DECIDE - Digital Services for Circular Economy - a Toolbox for Regional Developers & SME

DECIDE is a flagship project of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region and supports SMEs, start-ups and business development organizations in the implementation of projects in the circular economy. The project offers practical methods, cross-border knowledge exchange and pilot projects to promote innovative business models. With targeted training and policy recommendations, DECIDE promotes sustainable growth and helps companies in the Danube region to take a leading role in the circular economy.

The EU is meeting the challenges of the future with programs such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Fit for 55 and the Circular Economy Action Plan. The latter aims to make sustainable products the norm, focus on resource-intensive sectors such as batteries, vehicles, packaging, textiles, plastics, construction and food, reduce waste and make the circular economy accessible to people, regions and cities.

Circular economy business models (CEBMs) have a special role to play here.  However, the development and implementation of CEBM in the Danube region faces frequent obstacles, such as local regulations that contradict the circular concept, a lack of infrastructure for waste treatment, a lack of recycling technology and, above all, a lack of adequately planned business models.

This is where the project aims to intervene by providing SMEs, start-ups and business developers with methods and tools for developing successful CEBMs. Therefore, existing best-practice business models in the areas of batteries, food, textiles, packaging and smart city are modeled and simulations on ecological and social aspects are carried out.

The focus of Reutlingen University and the HHZ is on modeling the business models and developing a toolbox that makes the findings of individual pilot projects available to interested stakeholders.