On 23 October 2025, the Final Event of the Interreg Alpine Space project ECOLE – Eco Industrial Park Network for the Alpine Regions Leveraging Smart and Circular Economy took place at the elegant Savoia Excelsior Palace in Trieste, Italy. The event was organised and hosted by COSELAG – Consorzio di Sviluppo Economico Locale dell’Area Giuliana, bringing together project partners, policymakers, and experts from across the Alpine Space.
Opening session
Moderated by Mr. Guido Piccoli, the event opened with welcoming remarks from Mr. Zeno D’Agostino, President of COSELAG, and Mr. Sergio Emidio Bini, Regional Councillor for Economic Development of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.
Mr. Filippo Tomelleri, from Consorzio ZAI – Interporto Quadrante Europa, Lead Partner of the project, presented ECOLE’s objectives, achievements, and future perspectives, underlining the importance of cross-border cooperation in promoting smart, circular, and sustainable industrial ecosystems in the Alpine regions.
Keynote speeches: Industry and Circularity
The conference continued with keynote speeches on “Industry and circularity: challenges, strategies, solutions” from:
- Mrs. Sonja Eser, Circular Design Consultant
- Mr. Raimondo Orsini, Director of the Foundation for Sustainable Development
- Mrs. Ana Struna Bregar, Founder and CEO of the CER Sustainable Business Network
- Mr. Henri De Nicolay, R&D Engineer at MagREEsource
Round table: Transnational cooperation for circular industrial parks
A round table discussion on “Transnational cooperation on circularity in industrial parks” followed, featuring project partners from Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and France:
- Mrs. Sandra Primiceri (COSELAG)
- Mr. Stephan Pessl (WEIZ Innovation Centre)
- Mrs. Gelda Bográn Linares (TUM International GmbH)
- Mrs. Tina Pezdirc Nograšek (Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region)
- Mrs. Marion Laur (Grenoble-Alpes Métropole)
The discussion emphasized the need for ongoing cooperation to exchange best practices, develop innovative tools, and create synergies for a low-carbon, circular, and resilient Alpine economy.
Closing remarks and legacy
With this final milestone, ECOLE concludes its three-year journey, leaving behind:
• Practical tools to support sustainable industrial transformation
• Best practices for implementing circular models in industrial areas
• A strong European network of actors committed to ongoing collaboration
The ECOLE project’s legacy is a step forward in building more sustainable and competitive industrial systems, paving the way for continued innovation and cooperation in the European industrial sector.
A heartfelt thank you goes to all project partners and to the Interreg Alpine Space Programme for their continuous support — and to Consorzio ZAI – Interporto Quadrante Europa and COSELAG for hosting such an inspiring and forward-looking event.