Green competitiveness: Territorial innovation through Interreg

Boosting innovation in industrial regions

One good example is the CI-HUB project (Interreg Danube), which focuses on less developed industrial regions, areas that often struggle to attract investment or access cutting-edge innovation. Rather than waiting for change to come from outside, CI-HUB is helping these regions build their own capacity to innovate. Through open innovation hubs, local actors -from companies to universities and public authorities- collaborate on solutions for circular manufacturing and green technology adoption.  

CI-HUB Project, Interreg Danube

Empowering SMEs with circular tools

Support for small and medium-sized businesses is also a major pillar of this competitiveness agenda. In the cross-border area between Italy and Austria, the Inno.Circle project (Interreg Italy–Austria) is helping companies redesign their operations based on circular economy principles. It’s provided coaching, peer exchange and open-source tools tailored to business needs. These are the practical steps that help translate abstract strategies into measurable impact at the local level. 

Collaborative innovation in coastal economies

Meanwhile, in France and Italy, the Open Circular project (Interreg Italia–Francia Marittimo) is taking a collaborative approach to innovation. Through living labs and shared experimentation spaces, it supports businesses in developing new sustainable models. By involving multiple stakeholders -chambers of commerce, researchers, SMEs- the project creates an ecosystem where competitiveness grows from cooperation.

In the textile sector, where the need for change is urgent, the STAND Up! initiative (Interreg NEXT MED) has already supported hundreds of young entrepreneurs across the Mediterranean to build circular businesses. This is not only about reducing environmental impact, but also about creating jobs, boosting local economies, and driving innovation in a region rich in design and manufacturing traditions.  

Digital passports for sustainable textiles

Digitalisation also plays a key role. In Denmark, Sweden and Norway, the DIC (Data, Information and Circularity) project (Interreg Öresund–Kattegat–Skagerrak) is testing how digital product passports can improve traceability and circularity in the textile sector. For companies, it’s a chance to increase transparency and meet emerging regulatory requirements, while gaining a competitive edge in a market that’s increasingly demanding sustainability. 

Circular farming for local food systems

And when it comes to food systems, circularity is starting to show its value there too. The TransFarm project (Interreg Central Baltic) brings aquaponics, an innovative farming method where fish and vegetables are cultivated together, to urban and peri-urban areas in countries like Finland and Estonia. These systems use less water, less land and create local food chains that are resilient and low-impact. It’s a model that supports both environmental goals and regional competitiveness. 

Greening industrial materials

Finally, in the field of raw materials and industrial production, the X-Lives project (Interreg Deutschland–Nederland) is exploring how recyclable and renewable materials can be better integrated into local value chains. With over 20 development pilots, it brings together material scientists, SMEs and regional authorities to create circular alternatives in sectors like polymers and fibre-based composites, building a competitive edge through sustainability. 

X-Lives Project, Interreg Deutschland-Nederland

Circularity as a greening strategy