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Knowledge category: Projects

Collaborative production for the circular economy; a community approach

Updated on 12.04.2023

Pop-Machina aims to promote a more circular production model, engage communities, and promote urban and community development through developing a framework for collaborative production in urban areas. Pop-Machina uses new technologies (factory-of-the-future, blockchain) for urban planning, boosting social dialogue, and recognising local needs in training and skills development.

Acronym: Pop-Machina
Countries: Belgium, Greece, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Türkiye, United Kingdom
Project website: https://pop-machina.eu/
Start and end date: 01.06.2019 - 31.05.2023
Budget: 11 046 105 EUR
Funding source: Horizon 2020

More information

The EU-funded Pop-Machina project will create a network of existing and new communities for the aim of demonstrating the power and potential of the maker movement and collaborative production for the EU circular economy. The framework for implementing circular collaborative production in urban areas (which Pop-Machina will develop) will be tested in living labs within seven cities: Leuven (Belgium); Thessaloniki and Piraeus (Greece); Kaunas (Lithuania); Venlo (the Netherlands); Santander (Spain); and Istanbul (Turkey). Of these, the coastal areas involved are Santander, Thessaloniki, and Piraeus.

Pop-Machina will draw from cutting edge technologies and disciplines (including urban planning and architecture) to provide necessary support to overcome any scaling issues, which are typical drawbacks for collaborative productions. Pop-Machina uses these technologies and disciplines to identify the areas most in need of intervention and to reconfigure unused spaces.

Pop-Machina put forward an elaborate community engagement programme to facilitate networking. The project incentivised and stimulated the engagement of new maker communities through hosting maker-fairs and events in all municipalities.

Pop-Machina builds upon the existing informal curriculum for the development of maker skills by developing the social side of the topic. The project encourages the collaboration and exchange of ideas between educators and makers on the topic of the training modalities. A particular focus was put on developing the skills of women and vulnerable groups with the aim to empower these demographics (who are underrepresented in this field) to participate in collaborative production.

In every pilot area, Pop-Machina will demonstrate a business oriented collaborative production of feasible and sustainable concepts from secondary raw materials, or other sustainable inputs, based on the needs and preferences of the local stakeholders. A thorough impact assessment framework with an increased scope (considering, for example, social demands) will be co-designed with stakeholders, following basic assessment training. This improved impact assessment framework will be used in the assessment of pilot work. Based on the findings, the project will kick-start a series of policy events to openly discuss – without pushing results – the tax and legal barriers that obstruct collaborative production.

Relevance for Circular Systemic Solutions

The Pop-Machina project will demonstrate the power and potential of the maker movement and collaborative production for the EU circular economy. The project will specifically examine how to support the implementation of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. The project will work with and support maker communities in seven pilot cities across Europe, which will bring together a wide range of stakeholders, including citizens, supply chain actors, local entrepreneurs, investors, urban planners, policy makers and city officials. The results of the project will potentially be of high value for cities/regions/territorial clusters that consider developing and implementing relevant CSS.
A variety of tools and approaches have been or will be developed within the project to support the stakeholders involved in maker movements. Such tools/approaches include the Pop-Machina Maker Academy that, through online and physical activities and workshops, introduces the technologies and tools of each makerspace, shares examples and best practices, and trains the participants in basic making skills so that they can effectively engage in their preferred collaboration production process. Other tools/approaches include the Pop-Machina Circular Maker Accelerator and an integrated impact assessment framework that is able to evaluate circular collaborative production solutions.
Pop-Machina will pursue adaptability and transferability of piloted innovations with the greatest potential to promote their uptake across different socio-economic contexts in cities across Europe. Moreover, evidence-based policy recommendations will be developed to initiate a debate with policy makers to create an enabling environment for the maker movement.

Horizon programme(s) and/or topic(s)

Programme(s):

  • H2020-EU.3.5.: SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials (Main programme)
  • H2020-EU.3.5.4.: Enabling the transition towards a green economy and society through eco-innovation
  • H2020-EU.3.5.2.: Protection of the environment, sustainable management of natural resources, water, biodiversity and ecosystems


Topic(s):

  • CE-SC5-03-2018: Demonstrating systemic urban development for circular and regenerative cities

Budget

€ 11 046 105 (EU contribution: € 9 999 592.50)

Responsible organisation and contact details

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Contact the project: https://pop-machina.eu/

Project consortium partners

  • Stad Leuven
  • ETAM Anonymh Etaireia Symboyleytikon Kai Melethtikon Ypiresion
  • Dimos Thessalonikis
  • Dimos Peiraia
  • Q-Plan International Advisors PC
  • University Of Macedonia
  • Ayuntamiento De Santander
  • Universidad De Cantabria
  • Gemeente Venlo
  • Technische Universiteit Delft
  • Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
  • Istac Istanbul Cevre Yonetim Sanayive Ticaret AS
  • Planet Turkey Yonetim Ve Gelistirme Danismanlik Anonim Sirekti
  • Koc University
  • Kauno Miesto Savivaldybes Administracija
  • Ism Vadybos Ir Ekonomikos Universitetas UAB
  • The Chancellor Masters And Scholars Of The University Of Cambridge
  • Ethniko Kentro Erevnas Kai Technologikis Anaptyxis
  • White Research SPRL
  • Commonlawgic Amke
  • Netcompany-Intrasoft SA
  • Institut D'arquitectura Avancada De Catalunya
Sectors

e.g. electrical engineering, furniture and interior, textile and fashion

e.g. B2B services

e.g. healthcare

e.g. re-use of public spaces and facilities in urban areas

digital tools facilitating CE transition

Territories involved

large 500 000-200 000, medium 200 000-50 000, and small cities 50 000-5 000

Intra-territorial areas

e.g. commercial, residential, service, industrial