Its objective is to increase the innovation of tourism companies from the blue and green economy of the South Baltic by using selected elements of the circular economy (GC) in their services and products, as well as in the accepted business models.
The GC concept is to minimise the environmental impact of products and services. This can be achieved by designing them in such a way as to allow maximum use and regeneration throughout the entire life cycle and at the end of recovery and/or reuse of the material from which they are made.
Through the implementation of this project, we intend to prepare SMEs operating in the tourism sector in the South Baltic to benefit from the opportunities offered by the GC. GC elements used in business models of SMEs can be a factor in the development of green products and services in tourism. Efficient use of raw materials, better waste management, eco-friendly thinking and sustainable management of the life cycle of products and services can lead to increased competitiveness of SMEs, bring them real savings and, most importantly, boost their innovation and create new business opportunities.
The project is innovative in some ways, as the GC concept originates from the industrial sector and has been adopted by manufacturing and commercial companies. Moreover, South Baltic tourism companies differ in their qualifications, innovation potential and environmental awareness. In order to reduce these differences, we intend, within the project, to provide SMEs with tools to strengthen their potential including self-assessment tool, i.e. a tool to self-diagnosis their business ventures, a model of cross-border training and advisory services. The programme's performance indicators are adapted to these assumptions. As part of the training, we would like to use innovative methodologies - business model templates and creative thinking. This method of work helps initiate changes, as it strengthens the efficiency and use of knowledge in the company to create unusual solutions, innovative products and services.
The programme is implemented by 7 partners from 4 countries in the Southern Baltic: Pomerania Development Agency SA (project leader - Poland) Klaipedzka Chamber of Commerce Industry and Crafts (Lithuania), Public Institution Strategic Self Management Institute (Lithuania), Energy Agency of Southeast Sweden (Sweden), Institute of Flow Machines of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland), Regional Centre for Research and Tourism (Denmark), University of Linnaeus (Sweden).
CIRTOINNO project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Interreg Southern Baltic Programme 2014-2020.
