St.Gallen – The Circular Lab receives a financial injection of 4 million euros. It is intended to centrally promote the circular economy in the Lake Constance region. The project was initiated by the University of St.Gallen. It is jointly managed with the Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences.
According to a media release from the University of St.Gallen(HSG), the Circular Lab competence center, located in the Lake Constance region, will receive funding of 4 million euros. The HSG was able to raise half of the amount through the EU Interreg Alpenrhein-Bodensee-Hochrhein funding program. The remaining amount is financed by the six participating universities and 30 partners from industry. The Circular Lab will begin operations on June 1, 2023.
The Circular Lab, as a central hub, is said to make “a significant contribution” to the realization of the circular economy in the textile industry as well as the agricultural and food industries. Researchers and advisors at the science institutes will develop programs in which existing materials and products can be reused for as long as possible. The project is led by the University of St.Gallen and the University of Applied Sciences Vorarlberg. In addition, the OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule and the Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW) are also involved, as are the Albstadt-Sigmaringen University of Applied Sciences and the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg.
“The Circular Lab starts with companies and helps them to change their strategies and business models so that they can contribute to the realization of a circular economy,” Prof. Dr. Karolin Frankenberger, co-initiator and head of the Competence Center Circular Economy, is quoted as saying in the release. “I am very much looking forward to this exciting project and expect that we will have a significant positive impact on the region.” ww
