Day 1: Who do you need at the table in Asturias?

The first day during our study visit to the Paradise Hub 4 Circularity in Asturias, we deepened the topic of multiple helix cooperation. Answering the questions: Which partners do you need to reach your regional circularity goals? And how to grow and obtain a fruitful cooperation?   

As a conclusion you need to gather various parties at the table: Industry/SME’s, regional government, local government, business development agencies, university, different levels of education, innovation network and citizens. Ofcourse it depends on the regional situation which representatives take a seat at the beating heart of the Circular Hub.  

In Asturias the Chemical Industry Cluster is an important player at the table of the Asturias Paradise Hub4 Circularity. Followed by Regional Government, Sekuens and the University of Oviedo. 

If you have them at the table, building trust, one on one and within the group is important. Then step by step creating a more formalised governance structure seems the way to go. Ideally you get an organisation, that coordinates the cooperation and project progress within the Hub.  

In Asturias there is nobody working full time for the Hub (yet), all stakeholders spend some of their time to achieve common goals. Sekuens takes the role of coordinator of the Hub. 

 
Some Hub’s have a physical meeting place, a building where they meet each other in the hall way and work together closely. There can be an informal exchange of expertise and services as neighbours, without wallets on the table.   

In Asturias the industry is spread throughout the region, so there is no communal building or shared infrastructure yet. They are working on a pipeline to connect and recycle their industrial waste water, which is a major project. 

The Asturias Paradise Hub4 Circularity shared a good practice regarding multiple helix cooperation: they set up a program for students to work in the pilot plant of some companies and thereby help to solve challenges from the industry. 

More tips are shown in the visual.  

Please leave questions/tips in the comments on: what is challenging in your Hub cooperation?”