Page 94 - Enhancing innovation and participation in smart sustainable cities
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United for Smart Sustainable Cities
Enhancing Innovation and Participation
Figure 19 Two slides on WCYCLE project
ICT will play a big role in enabling this project; it will connect all parts of this project, enable monitoring and
evaluation of every part of the project and will contribute greatly to the success of this project.
2.2 Implementation
Project WCYCLE will be implemented in phases according to the financial possibilities of the city and the
utility companies. Currently in preparation are phase 1 – P1 and phase 2 – P4, also two institutes (WCYCLE
and Prototype) are in the process of being formed (January 2017). Preparations for other activities are
at different stages; phase 1 is to be completed by 2019 and phase 2 by 2022. Locations for facilities in
the city are already set.
Project implementation has been possible due to a decision of the city council that approved the city’s
plan for Maribor waste management in 2015. The city council also approved the ‘Integrated sustainable
urban development plan’ in which the WCYCLE project is one of the strategic city projects. Part of this
project was also included in the Smart specialization strategy of Slovenia and other parts of this project
were also approved in call Interreg Alpine space in October 2016.
Different stakeholders from private and public sectors were involved in the project preparation. From
the private sector came consultants for a circular economy, and all public utility companies from Maribor
were involved and still are involved in the development of the WCYCLE project. Further to this,
specialized institutes from Slovenia are also a part of the development ( ZAG, IJS).
The city leadership has recognized the potential of sustainable development through project WCYCLE. It
has actively supported the efforts of a working group of different stakeholders in their activities to form
project solutions for Maribor and prepare their implementation.
o The Mayor’s cabinet has been involved in different activities that brought the project forward,
especially at the level of EU cooperation, and presentations on workshops and congresses.
o A working group has members from city government, utility companies and the private sector; the
partners are in transition to a green circular economy on a government level.
http://www.vlada.si/en/media_room/government_press_releases/press_release/article/circular_e
conomy_as_new_opportunity_for_economic_growth_58878/, this press release, on Maribor,
released on 18.11.2016 was one of the events in the month for a circular economy in Slovenia 2016.
o Implementation for all possible solutions for the financing of project WCYCLE will be looked at , but
the PPP mode will be adapted to meet up-to-date requirements; some kind of dynamic PPP model
will be necessary for future investment. The city’s revolving fund for investment that will be used for
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