The CIRCUIT project’s latest General Assembly was held in Rome on October 22-23, 2024. This gathering brought together partners and stakeholders, marking another significant milestone in CIRCUIT’s commitment to advancing sustainable and innovative infrastructure solutions for European transport.
Over two productive days, participants shared progress, insights, and strategies, focusing on new developments and collaborative goals.
Key Highlights from Day One
The assembly began with a warm welcome from the local hosts and the coordinators, including Patrizia Bellucci (ANAS), Thierry Goger (FEHRL), Irina Stipanovic (INFRAPLAN), and Carlos Martin-Portugués Montoliu (ACCIONA). The morning opened with Work Package 7 updates, where Adewole Adesiyun and Denisa Nela (FEHRL) led discussions on coordination, management, and ethical standards, essential for maintaining streamlined project oversight and partnership alignment.
Following this, attention shifted to Work Packages 1 and 2, where Irina Stipanovic (INFRAPLAN) presented our holistic framework and KPIs for building circular, resilient, and sustainable transport infrastructure. Laura Orfali (IECA) discussed the main barriers to circular management and green public procurement in the sector. Rahul Tomar (DTT) provided an update on the development of the Circularity Analytics Tool, the Digital Product Passport, and the supply-chain matchmaking tool, all aimed at enhancing transparency and collaboration.
In the afternoon sessions, Carlos Martin-Portugués Montoliu (ACCIONA) led Work Package 3, highlighting progress in validating innovative technologies. The session featured video presentations and interactive discussions on advancements in bridge solutions, geotechnical structures, asphalt concrete mixtures, and tunnel energy management systems. Next discussions turned to Work Package 4, with Luca Lottero (ERF) detailing efforts on the analysis of Green Public Procurement (GPP) in pilot countries.
To conclude the first day, participants embarked on a technical visit to the SMART ROAD CENTRE on Motorway A91, gaining firsthand insights into Italy’s latest advancements in digital infrastructure. The day wrapped up with a sightseeing tour and a social dinner, allowing participants to network and strengthen professional relationships.
Day Two: Scaling Up and Dissemination
Day two started with a recap and welcome coffee before diving into Work Package 5, led by Patrizia Bellucci (ANAS). This session showcased pilot projects in Croatia, Spain, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Italy.
The focus then shifted to Work Package 6, where Esti Sanvicente (WRC) and task leaders emphasized guidelines for replication, dissemination, and exploitation. Key activities included presentations on scientific dissemination and communication strategies. An interactive workshop was held to discuss the initial strategies for leveraging project results after completion, ensuring that CIRCUIT’s impact extends beyond its duration.
We are pleased to announce two major achievements that mark the end of the project’s first 18 months:
- Finalization of the design phase for our five pilots 🛣️
- Significant progress in developing and validating innovative technologies in the recycling, reuse, and energy pillars ♻️🌳⚡️
These milestones reflect our commitment to advancing sustainable infrastructure practices and demonstrate the project’s tangible contributions to circularity and environmental impact. Our partners’ collaboration and dedication have been instrumental in our achievements thus far, and we look forward to building on this foundation in the year ahead.
For more information on CIRCUIT’s progress and future milestones, stay tuned to our official updates on the LinkedIn page and website.
