On 10 June 2026, the TransScale project was presented at the DUT Conference 2026 in Brussels, bringing together researchers, policymakers, municipalities, and sustainability practitioners from across Europe to discuss the future of urban transitions and sustainable development.
Maria Korabovska, young researcher within the TransScale project, presented research findings focused on the challenges of scaling circular economy initiatives in urban environments. The presentation explored several European case studies from Latvia, Norway, and Denmark, highlighting both barriers and enabling factors for circular and sharing economy initiatives.
The presentation addressed key challenges faced by many circular initiatives, including:
- fragmented regulations,
- unstable and short-term funding,
- limited institutional support,
- and difficulties scaling beyond pilot stage.
At the same time, the discussion highlighted important enabling factors such as strong municipal engagement, local collaboration networks, digital coordination tools, and supportive policy frameworks.
The presented case studies included:
- Nomales Recycling Center (Latvia),
- Omigjen reuse initiatives (Norway),
- and repair and reuse initiatives in Denmark.
One of the key conclusions of the presentation was that circular solutions and innovations already exist across Europe, but stronger systemic support and long-term financing mechanisms are needed to help these initiatives scale and become part of mainstream urban infrastructure.
The DUT Conference provided an excellent platform for discussing governance, sustainability transitions, circular economy development, and the role of cities in enabling more resilient and resource-efficient urban futures.
The TransScale project continues to contribute to research and policy discussions on scaling circular and sharing economy initiatives across Europe.