4th interregional KARMA meeting – Szombathely HU (May 2024)
Interactive workshops, insights into local strategies and projects - but above all exciting exchange of experiences: The fourth interregional KARMA meeting – 28th to 29th May 2024 in Szombathely, Hungary – clearly demonstrated the potential of transnational knowledge transfer in the field of circular construction.
The two-day programme started with a crucial question: How to approach stakeholders and policy makers in the field of circular construction? Several partners presented experiences from their regions: “Metabuilding” project (Szombathely, Hungary), communication strategies (Flanders, Belgium) and the Pop-Up Circular Hub (Hamburg, Germany). In an interactive workshop, the KARMA team then shared experiences from their regions in small groups, including challenges and barriers, as well as possible solutions and success factors for successful and sustainable contact with key players. In a second workshop, the partners discussed the different working groups that structure the project. Topics covered include i.e. restoration strategies, waste management, cost effectiveness of circular economy processes and governance of strategies.
An important part of the interregional meeting was the exchange of practical experiences and study visits on site. The project partners gained insights into numerous projects, related to circular economy in the Szombathely region. They had the opportunity to visit the Pannon Businnes Network (PBN) digital innovation hub (“am-LAB” and “at.home”) and to test digital twin solutions and virtual reality tools. They also got first-hand insights into the two local strategies – Szombathely 2030 as well as SECAP –at the Municipality of Szombathely. One of the highlights was a visit to Falco Wood Industry. The project partners were able to see first-hand insights into how the company transforms wood waste into sustainable chipboards. The 4th interregional meeting concluded with a study visit to University of Sopron's eco-friendly biomass heating system project. The university became the first Hungarian university that achieved climate-positive operations through biomass-based heating systems.
Overall, the 4th interregional meeting strengthened the share of knowledge on circular economy in the construction sector within the KARMA team. In the coming months, the project partners aim to continue their exchange online and expand their cooperation with local stakeholders.
