KiertoProto - Prototypiointi kiertotaloudessa

The primary goal of the project is to establish a circular economy competence operational model in the Ostrobothnia region, enabling local companies and to develop sustainable solutions. The project focuses on integrating circular economy principles with prototyping processes, helping metal and subcontracting companies address sustainability challenges more effectively. A key element of the project is the development of an operational model that combines circular economy principles with physical prototyping. This model allows companies to integrate circular economy concepts early in their product development and leverage the expertise generated in
collaboration with educational institutions.
The project’s actions are divided into three work packages (WP), covering the creation of a regional collaboration model, the development of demonstrations, and the production of a toolkit. The regional collaboration model brings together companies and educational institutions to
support circular economy prototyping. Through demonstrations, concrete circular economy principles are tested in product development projects, which may include the development of new products or the updating of existing ones. The toolkit provides practical tools that companies can use to apply circular economy principles in prototyping, particularly in product lifecycle management and material recyclability.
The project emphasizes a learning-by-doing approach and co-development methods, enabling an interactive and participatory approach. Co-design techniques and iterative testing ensure that the developed models and tools are flexible and adaptable to various needs. The project will produce a sustainable operational model that can be expanded to different industries and integrated into the structures of participating organizations. This will also facilitate long-term knowledge transfer to companies through future employees.
The project will deliver several tangible benefits. Firstly, the operational model for physical prototyping will support circular economy requirements and sustainable products. Additionally, the toolkit produced during the project will offer companies clear methods to develop and test their products in line with circular economy principles. The project fosters deeper collaboration
between educational institutions and companies, strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem and supporting the development of Ostrobothnia’s economy. This collaboration will also help transfer students’ skills to companies, creating long-term value for both businesses and the regional education system. The novelty value of the project lies in the unique combination of circular economy and physical prototyping, supporting sustainable business models. The project will generate significant benefits for businesses as students acquire circular economy skills and gain hands-on
prototyping experience before graduating and joining the local workforce.