WE.Circular

Even though efforts are put in supporting women entrepreneurs (WE) still only 25.6% of the founders in the Danube region (DR) are female. Gender divide exists in all sectors including those related to circular transition and sectors that underpin it. COVID-19 accelerated the digital transition but has accentuated the digital skills gap that already existed and new inequalities are emerging as many people do not have the required level of digital skills. Besides skills for business development and circular transition WE from the DR need to improve their digital skills in order to become more competitive. WE.Circular comes as a response of these specific needs of WE in the DR through project transnational activities focused on: identification of needs and challenges WE face in their digital and CE transition; exchange of knowledge; CE policy measures in the DR, policy improvement and S3s harmonization to be aligned to their needs through developed Transnational Strategy for WE Circular Transition; innovative training programme for development and improvement of digital and CE culture and skills delivered by Learning Network; innovative circular business models for recycling, reuse, and reduce developed and tested by WE.Circular Labs which will also facilitate increase of skills of stakeholders to harmonize S3s; capacity building of the public authorities regarding assessment of innovative circular business model and, design of a supportive WE policy framework via Transnational Policy Learning Centre. The consortium of 15 PPs, 11 ASPs from 12 DR countries brings together national & regional, public and private organizations and universities, whose specific thematic background guarantees a solid knowledge and necessary expertise by coming forward with appropriate innovative solutions. It will upgrade existing cooperation mechanisms between the target groups based on quadruple helix model. WE.Circular results will have strong economic & green impact.