CirkArena Project Launched: A New Research Center for the Circular Economy Begins Its Activities
The two-day event brought together representatives from public administration, academia, research institutions, and the private sector. The goal was to formally initiate the project and confirm the essential cooperation of all participating entities.
CirkArena will focus on researching and effectively utilizing industrial waste specific to the Moravian-Silesian Region, including slags, dust residues, biowaste, and construction debris. The centre will connect top scientific and innovation teams, aiming to integrate its facilities in Třinec and Ostrava into the national reference laboratory system. Research findings will contribute to the region's transformation, support sustainability, and reduce environmental impact, with the goal of shifting toward sustainable material management. Another key objective of the center is to link technological and knowledge bases, accelerating innovation, research, and education in the circular economy.
The CirkArena project is part of the broader SMARt And Green District (SMARAGD) strategy, which offers comprehensive solutions to challenges in materials, energy, environmental sustainability, and information technology. SMARAGD integrates synergistic projects with planned multi-source funding, aiming to ensure the region’s sustainable development.
The project’s inauguration was attended by representatives from academia, public administration, and the private sector. The event was introduced by Jakub Švrček, Executive Director of Material and Metallurgical Research Ltd., the leading organization behind the project. Over the two-day program, the main research objectives and involved institutions were presented. Key partners include VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, specifically the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, the Faculty of Mining and Geology, the Faculty of Civil Engineering, and the Nanotechnology Centre within the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies at VSB-TUO. The Bio-waste and Biopolymers activity within the project is led by Karla Čech Barabaszová, and the initiative was presented at the event by Gražyna Simha Martynková, Director of the Nanotechnology Centre.
"Cooperation on CirkArena is a great challenge for us, as it allows us to connect research in the field of biopolymers and bio-waste with nanotechnology and bring even areas such as waste management to the level of advanced research, focusing on molecular and atomic processes. We are looking forward to the cooperation offered by the consortium, especially with our closest research partner – the team from UTB Zlín, led by Vladimír Sedlařík," shared her impressions from the event Gražyna Simha Martynková..
"The project has been in development for months, but now we have come together in person to mark this important milestone. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but I felt that all participants, partners, and stakeholders are highly motivated and eager to contribute," said Jakub Švrček.
CirkArena brings a unique combination of research, innovation, and education to the region’s circular economy sector. Its activities have the potential to significantly contribute to sustainable development and the modernization of the industrial landscape in the Moravian-Silesian Region.