SMILE CITY provides realistic circular systemic solutions to support the evolution towards a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free, circular economy by 2050. The contribution to C02 reduction works on two levels:

• an intensive use of recycled materials in replacement of virgin ones, without decreasing the performance of final products;
• the use of such products and applications to increase sustainable mobility.

The project aims to integrate innovative systemic solutions in up to 100 km of cycling paths and implement 20 e-bike charging stations, developed using different types of recycled urban waste: construction materials, EoL tyres and EoL batteries from Electric Vehicles. The foreseen innovations include the creation of e-bike charging stations made of recycled concrete precast elements and PV panels equally produced with recycled materials, the installation of recycled rubber moulded products for urban furniture such as rubber bollard, lane dividers, and rubberized asphalt, which contributes both to increase sustainability and safety.

SMILE CITY will thus assemble the technological state of the art of the different value chains involved to implement circular systemic solutions in 7 different EU and non-EU countries, backing the transition towards a regenerative, inclusive and circular economy at local and regional scale across Europe and therefore boosting interregional and cross-border cooperation.

In addition, the project will also increase resource efficiency, reinforcing Europe’s strategic autonomy and reduce the negative environmental footprint related to current recycling techniques of the considered urban waste value chains. By supporting awareness raising and information spreading, SMILE CITY will engage both citizens and industrial leaders in the green transition towards climate-neutral solutions for Circular Cities, bolstering the market uptake of circular solutions through regional and local actions. Ten pilot cities and regions are involved in the project, in addition to the Polish City of Sosnowiec, they are located in Italy (Lucca, Turin), Spain (Manresa, Castilla y León Region), Turkey (Instabul, Bursa), Serbia (Belgrade), Bulgaria (Varna) and Crete (Crete Region).

 

IETU will implement the following tasks:

• development and analysis of digital tools supporting bicycle and e-bike mobility, including mobile applications, charging station management systems, and data integration, taking into account EU standards, data security, and system interoperability;
• support for the development of eco-design criteria for materials and products used within the project infrastructure, with particular emphasis on sustainable solutions and recycled materials;
• co-development of an eco-accounting model including eco-costs, eco-credits, and user eco-accounts, aimed at assessing the environmental impact of cycling mobility and promoting eco-incentive schemes;
• coordination and implementation of environmental impact assessments of the proposed solutions, including analyses of CO₂ emissions, air quality, and impacts on soil, water, and biodiversity;
• support for monitoring the impact of air quality and active mobility on citizens’ health through environmental and health data analysis as well as pollution monitoring activities;
• participation in Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analyses for the proposed infrastructural and technological solutions, including investment, operational, and end-of-life costs;
• participation in the Social Life Cycle Assessment of circular economy solutions through analysis of the project’s social impacts on users, local communities, and stakeholders;
• co-development of a mobile application enabling management of eco-accounts, eco-credits, and access to charging station data, including integration with digital product passports;
• participation in the preparation of the project communication and dissemination strategy, including promotional materials and outreach activities;
• support for the development of project communication tools such as the project website, promotional materials, and social media channels;
• implementation of dissemination and promotional activities through conferences, workshops, scientific publications, and sector-related events;
• coordination of the preparation of e-learning packages and educational activities related to project outcomes, including the development of teaching materials and integration of project results into academic education and training activities.

 

The project consortium, in addition to the pilot cities and regions:

• European Tyre Recycling Association (ETRA), Francja (koordynator)
• Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Włochy
• Cycling Industries Europe (CIE), Belgia
• University of Turin (UNITO), Włochy
• Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Włochy
• Politecnico di Torino (POLITO), Włochy
• European Cyclists' Federation (ECF), Belgia
• STRATAGEM Energy Ltd, Cypr
• Centre for Experiments in Urban Studies (CEUS), Serbia
• Solum Photovoltaic Innovation SL, Hiszpania
• Botta S.r.l., Włochy
• FONDAZIONE ECOSISTEMI, Włochy
• Region of Crete, Grecja
• FlexoFibers, Hiszpania
• Instytut Podstawowych Problemów Techniki Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Polska
• AIMPLAS - Instituto Tecnológico del Plástico, Hiszpania
• Instytut Ekologii Terenów Uprzemysłowionych, Polska
• The Applied Research Institute for Prospective Technologies (PROTECH), Litwa
• The Catalonia Institute of Construction Technology (ITeC), Hiszpania
• Christoforos Keridis S.A., Grecja
• COMSA Corporación, Hiszpania
• Recykl Organizacja Odzysku S.A, Polska
• UAB "Modernios E-Technologijos", Litwa
• Little Electric Energy S.L., Hiszpania
• The International Association of Sport and Leisure Infrastructure Management (IASLIM), Słowenia
• Fundación Patrimonio Natural de Castilla y León (FPNCyL), Hiszpania
• The Nottingham Trent University, Advanced Design and Manufacturing Engineering Centre (ADMEC), Wielka Brytania

 

Project implementation period: styczeń 2025 - grudzień 2028

Project coordinator in IETU: Janusz Krupanek, e-mail:

Website: https://circulardigitalhealth.eu/

 

Financing:

The project has received funding under the HORIZON.2.6 - Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Main Programme