identical, with the O.P., and the methodology will prove more effective. In the
current programming period, we focused on the SSS only, as this was the target of
the study. Would we need a thorough study of the CE (unlinked to the SSS), we
would need to differentiate between SSS and regional O.P.s. There are significant
delays in the ESIF absorption and project implementation for most O.P.s and
corresponding revisions. Consequently, CE actions suggested under the SSS may
eventually not be implemented at all or at least not yet.
After extracting the relevant suggestions, we tried to match them to the individual
goals of the CE. Appendix 4 presents the distribution of actions per region and
NCES, leading to the following initial conclusions. Few activities suggested under
the regional SSS address the CE directly. But many of the axes and interventions
described per region and captured in Appendix 3, which are related to agricultural
production, rationalisation of the economy, energy and the environment, may
(or may not) be implemented in compliance with the NCES approach and principles,
even though they were initially not adopted as such. The number and type of axes,
interventions and related goals vary significantly across regions both in qualitative
and in quantitative terms. Appendix 4 shows the relative frequencies per region and
type of intervention. The highest number of CE-related interventions was found in
Central Macedonia, followed by Central Greece and the Peloponnese. The lowest
was in Western Greece and Western Macedonia.
The National SSS and Central Macedonia envisage interventions in all goals. The
CE goals supported by the SSS are mainly goal 1 (Integrating the criteria for ecological
design/planning and analysis of product life cycle); goal 2 (Effective implementation
of prioritisation of waste management, promoting the prevention of creating waste and
encouraging reusage and recycling); goal 3 (Creating and promoting manuals for
improving energy efficiency in procedures of production) and goal 7 (Highlighting
the significance of shifting from linear to circular economy) of the national strategy for
CE. In particular, all regions (except for North Aegean) envisage activities addressing
goal 2, followed by goal 7, followed by goal 1 and goal 3. Conversely, the lowest
number of goals addressed is goal 6 by two regions only (Facilitation and creation of
appropriate channels for the exchange of information and the coordination), followed
by goal 8, addressed by three regions (Processing transparent and feasible indices for
monitoring the implementation of the transition).
12.7 A Stakeholder Validation Workshop
A validation workshop on “Circular Economy Transition in Smart Specialization
Strategy” was hosted by the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy seeking
the communication of the main outcomes of the project related to the synergies
among the national strategy on circular economy and the research and innovation
SSS and the discussion on the implementation of these strategies identifying the
needs, barriers and strengths in Greece. Key stakeholders (e.g. Ministers, Region
officials, Town mayors, entrepreneurs and start-ups) composed the audience in this
12 Circular Economy in National Smart Specialisation Strategies: The Case of Greece
217
current programming period, we focused on the SSS only, as this was the target of
the study. Would we need a thorough study of the CE (unlinked to the SSS), we
would need to differentiate between SSS and regional O.P.s. There are significant
delays in the ESIF absorption and project implementation for most O.P.s and
corresponding revisions. Consequently, CE actions suggested under the SSS may
eventually not be implemented at all or at least not yet.
After extracting the relevant suggestions, we tried to match them to the individual
goals of the CE. Appendix 4 presents the distribution of actions per region and
NCES, leading to the following initial conclusions. Few activities suggested under
the regional SSS address the CE directly. But many of the axes and interventions
described per region and captured in Appendix 3, which are related to agricultural
production, rationalisation of the economy, energy and the environment, may
(or may not) be implemented in compliance with the NCES approach and principles,
even though they were initially not adopted as such. The number and type of axes,
interventions and related goals vary significantly across regions both in qualitative
and in quantitative terms. Appendix 4 shows the relative frequencies per region and
type of intervention. The highest number of CE-related interventions was found in
Central Macedonia, followed by Central Greece and the Peloponnese. The lowest
was in Western Greece and Western Macedonia.
The National SSS and Central Macedonia envisage interventions in all goals. The
CE goals supported by the SSS are mainly goal 1 (Integrating the criteria for ecological
design/planning and analysis of product life cycle); goal 2 (Effective implementation
of prioritisation of waste management, promoting the prevention of creating waste and
encouraging reusage and recycling); goal 3 (Creating and promoting manuals for
improving energy efficiency in procedures of production) and goal 7 (Highlighting
the significance of shifting from linear to circular economy) of the national strategy for
CE. In particular, all regions (except for North Aegean) envisage activities addressing
goal 2, followed by goal 7, followed by goal 1 and goal 3. Conversely, the lowest
number of goals addressed is goal 6 by two regions only (Facilitation and creation of
appropriate channels for the exchange of information and the coordination), followed
by goal 8, addressed by three regions (Processing transparent and feasible indices for
monitoring the implementation of the transition).
12.7 A Stakeholder Validation Workshop
A validation workshop on “Circular Economy Transition in Smart Specialization
Strategy” was hosted by the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy seeking
the communication of the main outcomes of the project related to the synergies
among the national strategy on circular economy and the research and innovation
SSS and the discussion on the implementation of these strategies identifying the
needs, barriers and strengths in Greece. Key stakeholders (e.g. Ministers, Region
officials, Town mayors, entrepreneurs and start-ups) composed the audience in this
12 Circular Economy in National Smart Specialisation Strategies: The Case of Greece
217