Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Danube

Date of latest update: 2025-12-17

Description

Description (EN):

Plastics are a versatile material omnipresent in modern life, but by far not sufficiently recirculated after first use. The goal of the EU circular economy action plan, i.e. a recycling quote of plastics packaging of 50% until 2025, remains challenging, for the Western countries and even more for the South/Eastern Danube region that shows severe deficits in waste management systems and a lack of industrial processing knowledge for the recirculation of secondary plastics materials. The Plan-C project consortium of 14 partners from DE, AT, CZ, SK, HU, RS, BiH, RO, and MD aims to boost the transformation of the plastics value chain in the Danube Region towards circularity through the transnational cooperation of plastics processors/producers and the machine industry. Close cooperation among partners across the Danube Region countries is required to introduce a fundamental change in this complex plastics value chain, implying a radical shift of mindsets, behaviour, and business paradigms. As a result, the main actors in the value chain - plastics producers and machine firms - increase their competitiveness, which contributes to the achievement of the EUSDR PA8 goals. Based on a transnational technology transfer and utilizing a design thinking process, the PPs + plastics producers co-create and immediately demonstrate circular plastics prototypes. The resulting Circular Plastics Guideline aims at building up knowledge and capacities for its practical implementation in regional companies. The Associated Strategic Partners ASPs together with further involved policy stakeholders ensure the transfer of the related Strategy for enhancing circularity in the plastics industry to RIS 3. Similarly, PPs + machine firms analyze, ideate, and prototype circular solutions for each machine life cycle phase and create related digital business models along the whole machine life cycle, summarized in a Guideline for circularity in the machine industry. The related Strategy for boosting circularity in the machine industry ensures transfer to the RIS3 of the partner countries, with strong support from ASPs. Both actor groups - PPs and at least 140 enterprises from the plastics + machine industry in the Danube region - are joining forces to develop a vision for a transformed plastics value chain designed for circularity, demonstrating the benefits of reuse/recycling of plastics and maintenance, redistribution, refurbishing/remanufacturing and recycling of machines. The final Transnational Action Plan to anchor circular economy in the holistic plastics value chain addresses SMEs, large enterprises, BSOs, sectoral agencies, and public authorities. At least 70 organizations will increase their capacities to implement circular concepts along the plastics value chain.

Actual Achievements (EN):

The Plan-C project consortium consists of 14 partners from DE, AT, CZ, SK, HU, RS, BiH, RO, and MD. The project seeks to transform the plastics value chain in the Danube Region towards circularity by fostering transnational cooperation among plastics processors, producers, and the machine industry. The first highlight of this period was the kick-off meeting in Linz, Austria, where the consortium discussed the project objectives, and in detail the activities planned for the first reporting period. As a methodology introduction and at the same time as consortium familiarization activity, the Lead Partner Biz-Up facilitated a condensed design thinking workshop with all partners, several associated partners, and representatives from the EUSDR Priority Area 8 and the DR Joint Secretariat. In order to know the common starting point, the project partners mapped the plastics industry's current status and its level of circularity across partner regions/countries. Partners gathered information on regulations, policies, strategies, business support, funding schemes, and technology providers. The results showed that while some regions have established up-to-date recycling and waste management practices, others are just beginning to adopt circular approaches. Continued investment in technology and mindset shifts are crucial for progress. To understand the challenges and opportunities of the plastics industry better, partners interviewed key stakeholders and shared their insights on social media to raise awareness of the importance of a circular economy. More than 30 examples of good practices of the transition to circular economy principles that were collected from local companies demonstrate that circularity offers economic advantages as well. Finally, the activity leader TZ Horb aggregated all collected data and insights and summarized the key challenges and questions that need to be addressed when designing plastics products for circularity. The thematic application fields, that the partnership is going to focus on in the piloting phase with designing/creating circular plastics products, were defined at the SC-Meeting in Horb, Germany. Packaging emerged as the most common field selected, alongside others like plastic applications in construction, agriculture, and automotive. As examples of innovative circular plastics products, the activity leaders Plastr and Omnipack showed prototypes of biodegradable packaging and roofing and technical floor coverings made from recycled post-consumer waste. In the same way as for the plastics industry, the activities related to the machine industry started in the first period. The initial task of mapping the machine industry's status quo included also specific data on the machine industry's life cycle phases - from raw material supply to re-use of products and materials. It turned out that this industry is less mature in the context of a circular economy than the plastics industry. However, the partnership has already collected best practices from forerunner companies, such as refurbishing used machines and replacing worn parts with more efficient or long-lasting ones, or remanufacturing used machines with extending their purpose and recycling of broken parts. These examples will be used for awareness raising and should lead to a mindset change within companies and society as a whole, in the future periods of the project. The Plan-C project consortium consists of 14 partners from DE, AT, CZ, SK, HU, RS, BiH, RO, and MD. The project seeks to transform the plastics value chain in the Danube Region towards circularity by fostering transnational cooperation among plastics processors, producers, and the machine industry. 1. highlight was the kick-off meeting in Linz/AT. As a methodology introduction and at the same time as consortium familiarization activity, LP Biz-Up facilitated a condensed design thinking workshop (DTW) with all partners and representatives from the EUSDR Priority Area 8 & the DR Joint Secretariat. Project partners mapped the plastics industry's current status and its level of circularity across partner regions/countries. The results showed that while some regions have established up-to-date recycling and waste management practices, others are just beginning to adopt circular approaches. Continued investment in technology and mindset shifts are crucial for progress. Interviews were taken to understand the challenges and opportunities of the plastics industry better. More than 30 good practices of the transition to circular economy principles from local companies demonstrate that circularity offers economic advantages as well. All collected data and insights were aggregated, key challenges summarized and questions that need to be addressed when designing plastics products for circularity. Packaging emerged as the most common field selected, amongst plastic applications in construction, agriculture and automotive which are going to be focused on in the piloting phase with designing/creating circular plastics solutions. The initial task regarding the machine industry was mapping its status quo including specific data on the machine industry's life cycle phases - from raw material supply to re-use of products and materials. It turned out that this industry is less mature in the context of a circular economy than the plastics industry. However, best practices from forerunner companies, such as refurbishing used machines and replacing worn parts, or remanufacturing used machines with extending their purpose and recycling of broken parts were collected for awareness raising that should lead to a mindset change. P2 started with a special highlight: July 2024, Plan-C was awarded as Danube Strategy Flagship project by the EUSDR PA8 Coordinators, the Croatian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism Baden-Württemberg (DE). Identification of the machine industry's current status and its level of circularity across partner regions/countries continued. A comprehensive analysis of EU legislation & regulations, policies, strategies (incl. EU Green Deal), business support, funding schemes, and technology providers was conducted, covering the entire plastics processing machinery value chain. It was identified that Germany and Austria are strong players in the field of machinery for the plastics industry and well ahead of the others on the path towards circular economy. Both countries are especially strong in terms of core processing equipment and large process units, whereas other regions are dependent on import of such equipment. This time good practices from local machine engineering companies which are already using circular economy methods and technologies were collected. The vast majority are focused on refurbishment, rebuilds and upgrades of used machines, with an emphasis on energy savings, saving of primary resources, optimization of the production cycle. Renting has also been mentioned as a great method. As a highlight of period 2 the DTWs were implemented in both thematic strands. The goal is to drive innovation and support the plastics industry’s transition to a circular economy, therefore key objectives were to develop prototypes, facilitate cross-regional knowledge sharing, and strengthen industry collaboration. Workshops followed a structured methodology, allowing stakeholders to co-develop circular plastic prototypes and business models, which were later documented for further refinement. DTWs engaged business leaders, researchers and policymakers from sectors like packaging, automotive and bioeconomy, exploring biodegradable materials, modular systems and automation in recycling. In these DTWs challenges across the machine life cycle—from material sourcing to sustainable end-of-life solutions—were addressed. Peer-level capacity-building sessions were held to exchange knowledge between highly and less developed regions on challenges and lessons learned with focus on key points such as legal and policy frameworks, societal challenges, and technological advancements, as well as differences and similarities in their DTWs. The circular pilot solutions generated during these sessions were compiled for further evaluation, with the most promising options set for development in future project phases. SO1 “Transformation of the PLASTICS INDUSTRY into circular economy, using a design thinking methodology” is reached. O.1.1 comprises the transnational mapping & analysis of the maturity level in the circular plastics industry across the partner regions/countries and a collection of more than 30 good practices demonstrating that circularity offers economic advantages. For the assessment of challenges additional key stakeholders were interviewed to understand the challenges & opportunities of the plastics industry. Key challenges were summarized (problem space) and questions that need to be addressed when designing plastics products for circularity. Packaging, plastic applications in construction, agriculture and automotive were focused when piloting the regional DTWs for designing/creating circular plastics solutions (solution space). O.1.2 builds upon the previous DTWs followed by transnational peer-level capacity building sessions and the development of prototypes in each partner region which delivered input to the practical guideline for the plastics industry. The established guideline provides SMEs with step-by-step instructions for implementing circular business models, including material selection, testing, and product design strategies. O.1.3 comprises the promotional material established to transfer the results, e.g. Design Thinking Method brochure, and the Plan-C midterm conference in frame of the 10th Intern. Conference on Polymeric Materials in Automotive (PMA 2025) in Slovakia. The conference gathered project partners with industry and research experts to share insights and project outputs. Further the detailed handbook for a circular plastic industry offers structured guidance for industry-wide adoption of circular practices and finally the transnational strategy regarding circularity in plastics industry is elaborated. SO2 “Transformation of the MACHINE INDUSTRY into a circular economy, using a design thinking methodology”: O.2.1 comprises the mapping of machine industry status quo including specific data on the machine industry's life cycle phases, a comprehensive analysis of framework conditions in the Danube regions - covering the entire plastics processing machinery value chain. Collected practices, such as refurbishing used machines and replacing worn parts, or remanufacturing used machines with extending their purpose and recycling of broken parts, cares for raising awareness. It showed that this industry is less mature in the context of a circular economy than the plastics industry. Key factors and cornerstones of the plastics processing machine industry were defined (problem space) and definition of machine applications and circular life cycle phases elaborated, and regional DTWs to create innovative, circular machine life cycle phases with companies (solution phase) implemented. The vast majority in the machine industry is focused on refurbishment, rebuilding and upgrades of used machines, with an emphasis on energy savings, saving of primary resources but also renting was mentioned as circular method. O.2.2 “Guideline for circularity in machine industry and factsheets of life cycle phases” is reached and builds upon the previous DTWs and transnational peer-level capacity building sessions which delivered insights for drafting the practical guide on how companies in the machine industry can enter the circular economy and factsheets of life cycle phases. O.2.3 is in progress. The business model development for circularity in the machine industry implemented so far includes different types of business models in the machine industry developed by the project partners and by companies that adopt circular concepts. For implementation of Design Thinking Workshops (DTWs) in SO1 (plastics industry) and SO2 (machine industry) a condensed DTW with all partners, representatives from the EUSDR Priority Area 8 & the DR Joint Secretariat was facilitated as preparation for the regional DTWs. DTWs followed a structured methodology, allowing stakeholders to co-develop circular plastic prototypes and business models. SO3 “Circular transformation roadmaps of the whole plastics value chain” has been started with the scenario analyses and visioning. The 10th International Conference “PMA 2025” brought together project partners, industry experts, and external participants which contributed to the Plan-C workshop session to jointly create visions for the future of circular plastics value chain. The event featured scenario analyses and strategic discussions. The plastics industry benefits from innovative material applications, product redesigns, and scalable circular practices, while the machine industry gains methods to optimize processes, extend equipment lifecycles, and support sustainable material flows. Promotional materials and project findings were widely disseminated, enhancing knowledge exchange and fostering international visibility for circular initiatives.

Project outputs: Piloting co-creative design thinking workshops to transform plastics industry towards circularity(EN)
Guideline on how to develop a circular plastics prototype including Demo case factsheets reflecting technology know-how(EN)
Transnational strategy regarding circularity in plastics industry(EN)
Piloting co-creative design thinking workshops to transform machine industry towards circularity(EN)
Guideline for circularity in machine industry and Factsheets of life cycle phases (EN)
Transnational strategy regarding circularity in machine industry(EN)
Joint Vision for transnational collaboration of plastics processors and machine producers(EN)
Transnational Action Plan for integrating circularity in the entire plastics value chain in the Danube Regio(EN)

Thematic information

Waste and pollution

Priority: (VI-B_D_1) Priority 1 - A more competitive and smarter Danube Region

Priority specific objective: RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 026 Support for innovation clusters including between businesses, research organisations and public authorities and business networks primarily benefiting SMEs

Partners (14)

Lead Partner: Business Upper Austria – OÖ Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU37311609

Department: Mechatronics Cluster & Plastics Cluster

Address: Hafenstrasse, 4020 Linz, Austria

Department address: Hafenstrasse, 4020 Linz, Austria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://www.biz-up.at

Total budget: EUR 308 500.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 246 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 61 700.00

Asociatia Intreprinderilor din Industria Usoara - Sorintex

Name: Asociatia Intreprinderilor din Industria Usoara - Sorintex

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 1018620004633

Address: Independentei, MD3006 Soroca, Moldova

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Total budget: EUR 92 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 73 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 18 400.00

Fondacija za inovacije, tehnologiju i transfer znanja

Name: Fondacija za inovacije, tehnologiju i transfer znanja

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4210290250004

Address: Bosne Srebrene, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.f4itt.org

Total budget: EUR 98 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 78 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 19 600.00

Innoskart Vállalkozásfejlesztési Nomprofit Kft.

Name: Innoskart Vállalkozásfejlesztési Nomprofit Kft.

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HU 14507098

Address: Móricz Zs. u. , 8000 Székesfehérvár, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://innoskart.digital

Total budget: EUR 151 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 120 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 30 200.00

Contractors:

Name: Absurd Kft
VAT registration or tax identification number: 14066618-2-07
Name: Adobe Systems Software Ltd
VAT registration or tax identification number: IE6364992H
Name: VINOX Stúdió Kft
VAT registration or tax identification number: 32167131-2-42
Name: Gelencsér Nándor Ferenc
VAT registration or tax identification number: 68377386-2-43

Institutul de Chimie Macromoleculara “Petru Poni"

Name: Institutul de Chimie Macromoleculara “Petru Poni"

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4541750

Address: Aleea “Gr. Ghica Voda”, 700487 Iasi, Romania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.icmpp.ro

Total budget: EUR 120 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 96 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 24 000.00

Asociatia Clusterelor din Romania

Name: Asociatia Clusterelor din Romania

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 29572060

Address: Bd Ion Ionescu de la Brad , 013813 Bucharest, Romania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://CLUSTERO.EU

Total budget: EUR 128 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 102 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 25 600.00

Contractors:

Name: S.C. GEMASC FOOD SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: RO45111289

Inovacioni centar Mašinskog fakulteta u Beogradu doo

Name: Inovacioni centar Mašinskog fakulteta u Beogradu doo

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 104274412

Address: Kraljice Marije , 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.inovacionicentar.rs

Total budget: EUR 158 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 126 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 31 600.00

Omnipack Első Magyar Csomagolástechnikai Klaszter, legally represented by DBH InnoHub Kft.

Name: Omnipack Első Magyar Csomagolástechnikai Klaszter, legally represented by DBH InnoHub Kft.

Department: Budapest office

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 17783611-5-09

Address: Arany János u., 4025 Debrecen, Hungary

Department address: Kacsa u. , 1027 Budapest, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.omnipack.hu

Total budget: EUR 130 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 104 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 26 000.00

Technická univerzita v Košiciach, Fakulta výrobných technológií so sídlom v Prešove

Name: Technická univerzita v Košiciach, Fakulta výrobných technológií so sídlom v Prešove

Department: Department of Industrial Engineering and Informatics

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SK2020486710

Address: Letná, 04200 Košice, Slovakia

Department address: Bayerova, 08001 Prešov, Slovakia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.fvt.tuke.sk/en/

Total budget: EUR 153 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 122 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 30 600.00

Slovenský plastikársky klaster

Name: Slovenský plastikársky klaster

Department: Cluster office

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SK2022795456

Address: Novozámocká , 949 05 Nitra- Dolné Krškany, Slovakia

Department address: Radlinského, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.spklaster.sk

Total budget: EUR 149 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 119 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 29 800.00

Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně

Name: Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně

Department: Centre of Polymer Systems

Partner’s ID if not PIC: CZ70883521

Address: Nam. T.G.Masaryka, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic

Department address: Nam. T.G.Masaryka, 76001 Zlin, Czech Republic

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://cps.utb.cz/en/

Total budget: EUR 142 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 113 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 28 400.00

Plastikářský klastr z.s.

Name: Plastikářský klastr z.s.

Partner’s ID if not PIC: CZ75074141

Address: Vavreckova, 76001 Zlin, Czech Republic

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.plastr.cz

Total budget: EUR 146 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 116 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 29 200.00

Technolgiezentrum Horb GmbH &Co. KG

Name: Technolgiezentrum Horb GmbH &Co. KG

Department: Innonet Kunststoff

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE144254239

Address: Geschwister-Scholl-Str., 72160 Horb a. N., Germany

Department address: Geschwister-Scholl-Str., 72160 Horb a. N., Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Total budget: EUR 209 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 167 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 41 800.00

Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH

Name: Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU55681202

Address: Walcherstrasse , 1020 Wien, Austria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.aws.at

Total budget: EUR 185 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 148 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 37 000.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Association of Light industry enterprises

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Foundation for Innovation, Technology and Transfer of Knowledge

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Innoskart Business Development Nomprofit Kft.

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Romanian Cluster Association

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Innovation Center, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Omnipack First Hungarian Packaging Technology Cluster

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Technická univerzita v Košiciach, Fakulta výrobných technológií so sídlom v Prešove

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Slovak Plastic Cluster

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Tomas Bata University in Zlín

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Czech Plastics Cluster z.s.

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Technology Center Horb

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Austria Business Service

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Partners and Projects info

Business Upper Austria

Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

Project acronym: Plan-C

Project ID: DRP0200194

Project start date: 2024-01-01

Project end date: 2026-06-30

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Interreg Alpine Space: Cradle Alp (EN) | Cradle-ALP is an Interreg Alpine Space project which aims at the transition of Cradle to Cradle products in the following industries: Chemical, plastic, wood, textile, and agriculture. Within the project partners together with companies will develop a transformation roadmap to show the future path towards a cradle-to-cradle-friendly industry, developing nature-friendly and eco-friendly products focusing on technologies, business models, and policymakers.
Plan-C benefits from the transformation roadmap results as it can be used in SO1 when developing the strategy for the plastics industry into their circular transition and in SO3 when developing a vision and joint picture of the circular plastics industry in 2030+. Results of the Cradle-ALP project therefore can be capitalised and further used and translated into the context of the Danube Region´s plastics industry and serve as a lessons learned and best practice example. (EN), Interreg Danube Region (2021-2027) (EN) | In the start phase of the Plan-C project, the partnership will screen thematically related projects that will have been granted in the same call, and jointly analyze which synergies can be taken from e.g. joint project events, promotion, mutual exchange, or similar. (EN), Interreg Central Europe: SMERF, VReduMED and future Call2 projects (EN) | The project SMERF (LP Biz-Up) has started in April 2023 with the main objective of making SME ready for the future. The project tackles the four pillars:
- Innovation culture
- Digital Manufacturing
- Open Innovation 2.0 & Sharing economy
- Green & circular economy and sustainability
Possible synergies are:
- sharing experience and lessons learnt related to developing strategies and implementing pilots in Interreg projects related to a greener economy
- jointly increasing visibility and awareness raising for the green transition
The Interreg-CE project VReduMED aims at the introduction of Virtual Reality as a people-centered MedTech innovation in the education for care professions. Innoskart acts as communication lead in that project, too and therefore we can join forces in promoting both projects jointly. (EN), EDIH (EN) | Austrian EDIH AI5production (2023-2025)
The Hub offers Austrian manufacturing companies comprehensive services in the field of digitization, incl. free access to research infrastructure and know-how to drive the digital transformation of companies. The Hub addresses the 4 fields *digital design, *digital manufacturing, *cyber security and *AI for Industry 5.0.
Austrian EDIH Cyber-Physical Systems (2023-2025)
The technological range and complexity of cyber-physical systems (CPS) are immense and represent a significant burden for many companies in order to remain state-of-the-art. The European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) Applied Cyber Physical Systems supports small and medium-sized companies in particular in changing this situation and, as a central point of contact, offers free services in the field of CPS.
The Plan-C partners AWS and Biz-Up are in close contact with several Hub-members and will use this opportunity to exchange with them a.o. how digital transformation can be exploited as enabler for the green transition.
Further PP will also exploit synergies in collaboration with their local EDIHs or DIHs. (EN), Interreg Europe (EN) | Accelerate Green Digital Transition (2023-2026)
The purpose of this project is to reinvent national and regional cluster policies to support the twin green and digital transitions and SMEs' competitiveness. The ultimate goal is to help firms to improve their competitiveness and enhance their sustainability through collaboration. AWS is partner in this project and can transfer gained experiences, know-how, lessons learnt, etc. to the Plan-C project. (EN), Cluster associations (EN) | ECCP - European Cluster Collaboration Platform
Most Clusters are part of the ECCP and can use this platform for promoting the Plan-C project.
Several Clusters, e.g. Plastr, and Innoskart are members in the National Cluster Community/Association and can thus address a large number of companies beyond their region, and involve them in project activities.
(EN), DEREMCO (Funded project by the competence center WoodKplus, AT) (EN) | Fiber-reinforced plastics are the structural components of a wide range of consumer and industrial goods, but managing composite products after their use in accordance with circular economy principles is a major challenge. The DeremCo project aims to create a systemic, cross-sectoral, demand-driven circular economy solution that enables the cost-effective reuse of composite materials and components after their use in new value-added products. This solution will be based on the interaction between the technical and social ecosystems at local and interregional level and will benefit the environment, industry, consumers and European society. LP Biz-up is a project partner in DEREMCO.
Plan-C can benefit from the Demo Case results which will show new implemented technologies and innovations in order to create circularity in the fiber-reinforced plastics industry. The Demo Cases can be used as best practice examples in SO1 for the development of the first status anaylsis of the plastics maturity level of circularity in the Danube Regiona and additionally serves as a lessons learned to be considered in the strategy development in SO1. (EN), Green IP (current funding program of PP2 AWS) (EN) | The aim is to increase the value of their environmental technologies, e.g. for projects, products, services from the subject areas such as e-mobility or the generation of renewable energies and to secure them in the long term. Companies that can benefit are those interested in the development and implementation of an innovation protection strategy tailored to the business model through coaching from aws experts, combined with grants.
The Plan-C partnership will include learnings and outcomes of this funding program and consider the protection of innovations in the strategies in SO1 and SO2, and the Action Plan in SO3. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 169 500.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 735 600.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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Deliverables:

Transnational mapping and analysis of the maturity level in the circular plastics industry
Collection of good practice examples from the project region + selected EU-wide use cases
Assessment of challenges and collection of inputs from key actors and stakeholder involvement
Definition of key factors and cornerstones of the plastics industry
Definition of relevant plastics application fields for prototyping
Creation of innovative, circular plastics solutions
Transnational peer-level capacity building
Development of a prototype concept and demonstration case in each partner region
Drafting documents about circularity in plastics industry, incl. dissemination
Promotional material for specific target groups to transfer results A.1.1+A.1.2 to a wide audience.
Handbook for a circular plastics industry
Promotion of circularity in plastics industry; Mid-term conference
Drafting a joint plan to boost circularity in the plastics industry
Transnational mapping of status quo in machine industry
Framework conditions in the Danube region
Best practice examples for awareness raising
Definition of key factors and cornerstones of the plastics processing machine industry
Definition of machine applications and circular life cycle phases to be elaborated
Creation of innovative, circular machine life cycle phases.
Transnational peer-level capacity building
Drafting documents about circularity in machine industry, incl. dissemination
Business model development for circularity in the machine industry
Handbook for circular machine industry
Promotion of Circularity in machine industry
Drafting a joint plan to boost circularity in the machine industry
Creation of scenarios of the future of the plastics value chain
Creating a joint picture of the future
Creation of a vision for transnational collaboration of plastics processer and machine producer
Strategy development with transformation roadmaps with plastics processers
Strategy development with transformation roadmaps with machine producers
Strategy development for the circular transformation of the entire value chain on a holistic level
Transfer of the strategies from SO1/SO2 into an integrated framework for the entire value chain
Development of measures for the uptake of the 2 strategies from SO1/SO2 at policy level
Promotion activities to foster the uptake of the transnational Action Plan

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyDanubeRegion With circular economy being a cross-cutting topic with multiple constituting dimensions and impacts, the PLAN-C project is tangent with several priority areas of the EUSDR.
The main focus of the Plan-C project lies on PA8 “Competitiveness of enterprises” which forms the basis for addressing two main actor groups within the transnational plastics value chain, i.e. plastics processing companies, on one hand, and the sector of plastics machinery suppliers as a sub-sector of the machine industry, on the other hand.
As circularity is an urgent issue but also a quite new topic for most of these target groups the project sets strong interventions in the field of target-group wise and integrated strategy definition, followed by the development of a transnational Action Plan which reflects the transformation demand of all involved value chain participants in the Danube partner countries. The related analyses and strategic outputs of Plan-C which will be prepared in a cooperation between industry experts, BSOs and academic project partners therefore can be considered as a contribution to PA7 Knowledge society.
Addressing mainly PA8 and partly PA7, the Plan-C project has a clear focus on the EUSDR pillar of building prosperity and increasing the readiness for future challenges in the plastics value chain of the Danube region. At the same time, the envisaged durable transfer of the project outcomes to practice will result in major contributions of Plan-C to the EUSDR pillar of protecting the environment. Striving for the uptake of solutions for the transformation of the transnational plastics value chain towards circularity, the project aims at decreasing the carbon footprint of this key value chain across the partner countries and beyond, thus contributing to a cleaner environment in the Danube region.
EuropeanGreenDeal The project Plan-C is mostly targeting the mobilization of the plastics and plastics processing machine industry for a clean and circular economy and follows the goal of leaving no one behind and understanding the economic challenges and financial opportunities of the transition into a greener industry.
It is a fact, that technological solutions and approaches are available in any case, but many companies, and SMEs in particular, are currently failing to exploit many opportunities in both circular economy and sustainability. The main reason for this is the lack of knowledge and strategies in the Danube Region for exploitation.
Therefore, this project aims to enable companies to recognize the potential of a green and circular economy in the Danube Region. The project Plan-C combines both, a wide deployment of its results and objectives but also close support and assisting activities for specific SMEs + small midcaps that will then be part of a greener and more sustainable industry and strategic development of an Action Plan. The project results, therefore, fall on a small and big scale into the overall European Green Deal strategy and more precisely into the European Circular Economy Action which is deriving from the European Green Deal.
Other Plan-C is aiming in contributing significantly to the ongoing of the SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS defined by the UNITED NATIONS. A circular economy is promoting equal chances and fair labor conditions (SDG 1 and 5) around the globe. Classic mass production and mass consumption are neither possible nor required within a circular economy. Even though the project is aiming at sustainable product development, the human workforce is essential to the recovery of unpredictable used products and materials. With this, Plan-C promotes the adequate education of workers to be able to reuse/repair/remanufacture/refurbish/recycle used products and materials. (SDG 4). Plan-C contributes to SDG goal 9 by developing circular and sustainable process and product development supporting SMEs and small mid-caps to transform from an unsustainable and linear manufacturing process into circular ones. Plan-C promotes SDG goal 12 - responsible consumption and production with shifting from linear production to circular, resource-efficient closed-loop products and processes. Within Plan-C product development will be optimized for sustainability, which includes SDG goal 7 affordable and clean energy, good health and well-being of the workers, and decent work and economic growth within a circular economy. The measures and outputs developed in the project are addressed to all companies and policymakers in the Danube Region, which show potential in changing their strategies, business models, and products from linear to circular systems. The overall goal is the support of the Danube Region´s transition into a circular and sustainable economy.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO84) Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects : 2.0
(RCO116) Jointly developed solutions: 2.0
(RCO83) Strategies and action plans jointly developed: 1.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

ISI - Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across the borders, Measurement unit: No. of organisations

Delivered result indicator(s):

Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across the borders: 15.0

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Danube

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-12-17

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

138 / 138 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 413 / 1 413 (100%)

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Moving PLastics and mAchine iNdustry towards Circularity

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Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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