Establishment of the Regional Centre for Circular Economy

By project COMMIT

Published on 08 April 2025

Serbia

Region Šumadije i Zapadne Srbije

About this good practice

With the European Green Deal (COM/2019/640), the EU committed to meeting the goals of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Achieving the goals of this agreement implies a new industrial policy based on the circular economy. The transition from a linear to a circular economy is the strategic goal of the Republic of Serbia. The principles of the circular economy are recognized in the Strategy of Smart Specialization in the Republic of Serbia (period 2020-2027), the Strategy of Sustainable Urban Development (until 2030), were, among other activities, the introduction of the concept circular economy in local governments. The biggest obstacle for the transition to a circular economy at the local level is the low level of awareness and insufficient capacities of key actors: In this regard, in partnership with the City of Kragujevac, REDASP started the implementation of the project "Regional Centre for Circular Economy" financed by the Czech Republic. The goal of the project is to promote the principles of the circular economy and strengthen the capacity of the key actors of the City of Kragujevac in this area by establishing the Regional Centre for the Circular Economy. The project contributes to the achievement of national goals and sustainable development goals in accordance with the Environmental Protection Program of the City of Kragujevac 2023-2033 and will create basic conditions for the further development of the region's capacity to transition to a circular economy.

Resources needed

- Targeted trainings for representatives of the public and business sectors from the region
- An online campaign reaching over 50,000 people
- A study visit to Brno for key stakeholders
- Office space available to all interested clients
- Basic technological equipment
- Trained consultants

Evidence of success

The first and most visible difference lies in the way waste is already being treated differently and how small and medium-sized enterprises are involved in the process. The waste is no longer a potential source of pollution but becomes a valuable resource for production. The importance of this topic has also been recognized by the City of Kragujevac, which included financial support in its 2025 budget for businesses whose operations are based on the principles of the circular economy.

Potential for learning or transfer

In the case of the city of Kragujevac, as the administrative centre of the Šumadija and Pomoravlje region—which encompasses 11 municipalities and in whose sustainable economic development REDASP actively participates—a Sustainable Development Strategy for Šumadija and Pomoravlje has been adopted. This strategy defines many different strategic objectives regarding the circular economy, and to achieve these and other goals, the Strategic Plan also envisions the establishment and operation of a Regional Centre for Circular Economy, meaning that in the case of our region, a pathway can be defined—from identifying and analyzing the current situation, through defining a strategy with clear objectives, to the establishment of the Regional Centre for Circular Economy. This centre, in cooperation with other development institutions of the city, will fulfil the planned goals.