The 2017 edition of the Circular Economy Hotspot hosted jointly by the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, and Luxinnovation will be held in Luxembourg from 20 to 22 June 2017.
For three days, conferences, company visits and discussion panels led by high-level government officials, European institutions and industry aim to inform attendees about the circular economy over the last two years and trigger a wide public debate around the subject of circularity and its implementation. They hope to stimulate exchanges between international participants, companies and public officials, in particular with a view to initiating national and cross-border collaborations.
Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director-General of the Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission, Environment Minister Carole Dieschbourg and Secretary of State for the Economy Francine Closener are among the speakers for the opening ceremony.
William McDonough, one of the world's leading sustainable development leaders, rewarded for his commitment to the circular economy at the summit Davos World Economic Forum in 2017, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the evening conference.
The second day of the Luxembourg Circular Hotspot 2017 is organised by the Chamber of Commerce and will be dedicated specifically to the circular economy in the Greater Region and the Benelux countries.
The LëtzBiz - Circular event, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce on 21 June, will target SMEs and micro-enterprises in order to inform them about the circular economy, encourage cross-border relations and engage in exchanges between companies and experts active in this field.
The last day will be devoted to financial aspects and new circular business models with the support of the European Investment Bank (EIB). The program is complemented by numerous company visits that present their practical implementation of the circular economy.
According to the ministries, Luxembourg realised that the economy as a whole should place more emphasis on sustainability and environmental protection. As natural resources become increasingly scarce and expensive, the traditional economic model, based on a linear approach, becomes obsolete. The circular economy makes it possible to reconcile growth and respect for the environment and aims to increase the competitiveness of the Luxembourg and European economy.
In line with the strategic study of the "Third Industrial Revolution" carried out by the American economist Jeremy Rifkin, the transition to a circular economy is considered an economic priority by the Luxembourg government.
The Ministry of the Economy and the Department of the Environment of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure work closely together in the Strategic Group for the Circular Economy, in which all relevant authorities in the Luxembourg ecosystem adhere.
The participation fee is €500. For more information, and to register, see: http://circularhotspot2017.lu
