A First of a kind Hub for circularity demonstrator for Attica and peripheral regions
▶Summary
Industrial-Urban symbiosis (I-US) involves municipalities and regions cooperating with industries on the management of resources, waste, energy, water, infrastructures, services, transportation and networks. This inter-disciplinary and cross-sectoral character is implemented by Hubs4Circularity (H4C) in a FOAK approach, as key instruments for delivering territorial I-US solutions in Europe by Processes4Planed partnership. Theseus will establish first-of-a-kind H4C in Greece originating from the capital region of Athens/Attica (incl. Athens metropolitan area -Greek capital, 68 municipalities, 2.928 km, 3,7 million inhabitants 35% of national- several industrial and semi-urban areas) towards the whole country, with overarching aim of closing loops through I-US to become climate neutral by 2050, in line with P4P partnership objectives. Theseus will validate new or existing technologies and develop solutions for water, energy and materials based on regional needs (Innovation Pillar (IP) 2 , 3) and digital/robotic technologies (IP4). The hub will operate under innovative governance and cooperation models of involved stakeholders, to enable pilots, upscale solutions, exploit outcomes, attract further companies and expand existing ecosystem (IP1,5). Water, energy and material flows were targeted selected, being widely spread, having high potential all over Europe and included in EU/P4P strategies. The overall systemic, based on regional science approach and IP1,IP5 activities will ensure strong insights to smoothly replicate Theseus solutions to other EU regions. Several existing innovations from H4C, I-US and Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) projects will be used, retrofitted and expanded.. The systemic solution of Theseus is expected to have significant impact on the region, while metaphorically recalling the mythical figure of Theseus, king and great reformer of Athens.