1st Press Release
The ENCIRCLE project officially kicks off to revolutionize sustainable manufacturing
Date: 6 November 2024
Location: Thessaloniki, GREECE
The European Union-funded project “Enabling Circular Value Chains via Production Digitization and Human Empowerment” (ENCIRCLE) officially launched on the 1st of October 2024. The ENCIRCLE project is setting a new benchmark in sustainable manufacturing by offering an advanced framework for environmental impact assessment. This European initiative leverages state-of-the-art technologies, including Digital Twins, Soft Sensors, and Digital Product Passports, to transition traditional manufacturing methods toward sustainable, circular models. The ENCIRCLE project is supported by the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under Grant Agreement No 101178230, and will run for three years, bringing together a dynamic consortium of 15 partners across Europe, including top research institutions, industry leaders, and specialized SMEs.
The kick-off meeting, held on 29 and 30 of October 2024 in Thessaloniki, Greece, gathered all partners to outline objectives, defined roles, and set the project’s anticipated impact towards transitioning from linear to circular manufacturing by building on and advancing digital technologies. The ENCIRCLE project aims to:
- Decarbonize manufacturing, searching for sustainable production configurations and designs that reduce environmental footprint without compromising quality.
- Train workforce through gamification, cultivating new skills and fostering a new circular mindset.
- Follow a human-centered design and propose a symbiotic ecosystem of humans and AI through explainable Human-in-the-Loop methodologies.
Aligned with the EU’s guidelines on sustainable production, ENCIRCLE emphasizes a strategic approach to circularity at each stage of the product lifecycle, with key objectives focusing on:
1. AI-enabled control loops for sustainable manufacturing
2. Circularity and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Framework
3. Production virtualization for first-time right manufacturing
4. Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) Decision Support System
5. Gamification for circular value chains
6. Digital Product Passport (DPP)
With the achievement of the above objectives, ENCIRCLE’s end goal is to create a culture of sustainable consumption and responsible production, encouraging businesses to adopt circular CRM systems and empowering consumers with digital tools for sustainable choices. By exploring legal and ethical dimensions, the project is committed to creating a model for the industry that aligns with the environmental needs of the planet, ultimately contributing to the global effort of mitigating climate change and fostering a sustainable economy.
For more information, please visit the project website (www.encircle-project.eu) and/or contact the project coordinator:
Dr. Nikolaos Dimitriou
e-mail: nikdim@iti.gr
