<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><ns2:project xmlns:ns1="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api" xmlns:ns2="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project" xmlns:ns3="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/fund" xmlns:ns4="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/person" xmlns:ns5="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project/outcome" xmlns:ns6="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/organisation" ns1:created="2026-07-08T08:44:08Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/projects/A979E0B4-FF48-4612-9ECC-D1A274F14A4D" ns1:id="A979E0B4-FF48-4612-9ECC-D1A274F14A4D"><ns1:links><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/persons/73E49EA2-2994-4C72-BA1C-90A339D413E6" ns1:rel="PM_PER"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/EC9326B5-50D8-459F-9932-1D39B5055FC9" ns1:rel="LEAD_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/EC9326B5-50D8-459F-9932-1D39B5055FC9" ns1:rel="PARTICIPANT_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:end="2027-11-30T00:00:00Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/funds/0BBEF295-43D5-4661-B3A3-AFBAC73AC256" ns1:rel="FUND" ns1:start="2024-05-31T23:00:00Z"/></ns1:links><ns2:identifiers><ns2:identifier ns2:type="RCUK">10128446</ns2:identifier></ns2:identifiers><ns2:title>Boosting Circular Systemic Solutions through Virtual Regional Circular Economy Spaces (CSSBoost)</ns2:title><ns2:status>Active</ns2:status><ns2:grantCategory>EU-Funded</ns2:grantCategory><ns2:leadFunder>Horizon Europe Guarantee</ns2:leadFunder><ns2:abstractText>CSSBoost aims to overcome technological and non-technological CE barriers, minimise CSS application and operational risks and
decisively stimulate and maximise the Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Transition in any EU city/region or group of regions. To
pursue this, CSSBoost develops a novel CSS Application Framework that views a CSS as a composite living entity that operates and
evolves within a CE/CSS Ecosystem and Market, an open (physical) space of city, regional or multi-regional scope, encompassing an
area’s existing CE market, its value chains and its entire external environment, even extra-regional entities and markets. It also introduces
the methodological concept of the CSSBoost Integrated Solution that involves the integration of one or more CSS within a digital
environment, enhanced by tailored methodology and procedures. This physical system is virtualised, monitored, analysed and assessed
by developing the key CSSBoost innovation, the Virtual Regional CE/CSS Ecosystem and Market (VCEM). CSSBoost designs a set
of diverse Exemplary CSSs, both as transition tools and to validate and promote its ideas by applying and demonstrating them in five
city, regional and interregional Pilot Cases. The exemplary CSSs respond to different challenges, barriers, needs and feasibilities across
EU and target different product value chains, as delineated in the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan (Water, Food, and Nutrients;
Plastics; Batteries &amp;amp; Vehicles). CSSBoost develops both its innovations and pilots by applying a rigorous SotA co-creation environment
and instruments and SSH methods and procedures. It also develops replication, organisational, business and exploitation plans for the
uptake, replication and upscaling of its solutions, as well as education and training programs and social innovation actions.</ns2:abstractText></ns2:project>