DECIDE Project Midpoint Meeting Held in Budapest

On March 27, 2025, the DECIDE – Digital Services for Circular Economy project reached its midpoint. To mark the occasion and plan the next 12 months, the project’s Steering Committee gathered in Budapest for an in-person meeting and the First Year Review.

The meeting was opened by Máriusz Joó, Executive Director of DBH InnoGroup, who emphasized the importance of the project in a rapidly changing world and within an evolving European Union. This was followed by Severine Dommer, Project Manager from ZD-BB, the Lead Partner, who provided an overview of DECIDE’s progress and financial status.

The DECIDE project aims to support companies and economic development organizations in identifying, developing, and optimizing circular business models. This includes analyzing existing models, assessing their potential for improvement, and collaborating with businesses and stakeholders to create new sustainable business solutions. The Steering Committee members discussed the project’s deliverables, its timely execution, and the challenges ahead. One key concern was the shifting political and economic landscape, which has pushed circularity and carbon reduction to the background –despite their growing importance for maintaining Europe’s economic competitiveness.

The First Year Review was conducted by the Managing Authority’s delegates, Project Officer Johannes Gabriel and Financial Officer Mihajlo Cicmilovic, and was deemed highly successful. The Lead Partners provided a general overview of the project, while Jan Fauser from Hochschule Reutlingen demonstrated the DECIDE Toolbox and real-world case studies. Additionally, each Work Package Leader presented updates on their respective tasks. The representatives from the Managing Authority offered valuable insights and shared updates on the status and future of the Interreg Project.

Looking ahead, DECIDE’s next steps are clear: project partners will expand their network by engaging more business partners to co-develop sustainable business models. The project will also focus on promoting and disseminating circular business models, ensuring that successful strategies are more visible and transferable.

Moreover, the upcoming launch of DECIDE’s AI-powered Value Chain Generator and Service Catalogue will provide businesses across the Danube region with new opportunities to coordinate their value chains, transition towards circular business models, and collectively contribute to a more sustainable future.