Circular Innovation through Multi Helix Collaboration

Cheers4EU and Portuguese Strategic Partners go for a Circular and Sustainable Future.

Collaborative innovation is essential in an era marked by complex sustainability challenges. The Multiple Helix model - a framework that integrates academia, industry, government, and civil society - has emerged as a powerful tool in multidimensional issues. A compelling example is the partnership between Cheers4EU and a diverse group of collaborators from Portugal: Municipality of Coimbra, Veolia, InovCluster, and Smart Waste Portugal (SWP).

At the core of this collaboration is Cheers4EU, a project committed to sustainable solutions and circular economy practices for the agro-industrial sector. More than just an initiative, Cheers4EU is working to establish a circular hub in Portugal’s Centre Region. This hub, which brings together actors across sectors to co-create sustainable systems, is a beacon of hope for the future of sustainability. It aims to serve as a testing ground and accelerator for circular innovation deeply rooted in local ecosystems.

The involvement of the Municipality of Coimbra brings public policy and urban development support, ensuring that innovations align with regional sustainability goals and benefit local communities. The municipality acts as a catalyst for public engagement and may enable a possible inclusion of the Cheers4Eu vision of a circular hub for the agro-industrial sector in the innovation and research strategy for an intelligent strategy for the Centre region.

Veolia, a global leader in water, waste, and energy management, brings technical expertise and practical solutions to the collaboration. Its contribution ensures that Cheers4EU can implement effective resource efficiency measures, especially in water reuse, waste reduction, and circular process design. This support ensures that the project will have an example of scalability in compliance with environmental standards.

InovCluster, a national agro-industrial cluster, supports innovation and competitiveness among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By facilitating collaboration between researchers, producers, and entrepreneurs, InovCluster helps integrate Cheers4EU’s work into local food and agro systems and sustainable value chains, fostering rooted and replicable innovation.

Smart Waste Portugal (SWP), a platform focused on promoting circular economy practices and innovation in waste management, is a key partner in our initiatives. SWP connects several value chains as plastics, residues from construction, electric and electronic residues, glass and also collaborative treatment of food waste, losses and residues. They implement leading-edge practices in materials reuse, packaging design, and post-consumption waste handling. Their involvement ensures sustainability throughout the product lifecycle - from production to disposal.

By bringing together public, private, academic, and civic threads, this partnership illustrates the power of co-creation in addressing today’s most pressing sustainability challenges. It aims to replicate this model in other regions seeking to develop resilient, green economies through cross-sector innovation.

This Multiple Helix collaboration highlights how a shared vision, complementary expertise, and coordinated action can lead to significant results. Together, these participants are testing a new model for circular and socially responsible agro-industrial production that reduces environmental impact and enhances community well-being and economic resilience.