WE.Circular Final Event: Women Shaping Circular Futures

The WE.Circular project is pleased to announce its Final Event, “Women Shaping Circular Futures”, which will take place on 20 May 2026 at the Wirtschaftskammer Steiermark in Graz, Austria.

The event will bring together project partners, policy makers, experts, entrepreneurs and innovation stakeholders from across the Danube Region to present the main results of the WE.Circular project and to discuss future opportunities for strengthening women’s role in the circular and digital transition.

The programme will focus on policy development, transnational cooperation, learning and mentorship, circular business models, and regional support mechanisms that can help women entrepreneurs become active drivers of circular transformation.

Event details

Date: 20 May 2026
Time: 10:00 – 16:00 CET
Venue: Wirtschaftskammer Steiermark, Körblergasse 111-113, 8010 Graz
Language: English

Programme highlights

The event will open with welcome addresses by Mag. Gabi Lechner, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, and Claudia Krobath from Innovation Region Styria.

The first thematic session, “Policies for Change: Advancing Women in the Circular Economy”, will explore how policy frameworks and transnational cooperation can support women entrepreneurs in the circular economy. Gabi Lechner will present a Styrian perspective on women’s leadership and economic transformation. Karmen Maričić, Coordinator of Priority Area 8 of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region – Competitiveness of Enterprises, will introduce the role of the EUSDR in supporting enterprise competitiveness across the Danube Region. The session will also include contributions from Claudia Krobath of Innovation Region Styria and Diána Tilla Nagy of the Hungarian Economic Development Agency, who will present the WE.Circular Policy Learning Centre and the Transnational Strategy for WE Transition.

The second session, “Learning Together: Strengthening Circular Skills, Networks and Mentorship”, will focus on capacity building, peer learning and entrepreneurial support. Melika Husić-Mehmedović from the University of Sarajevo will present the WE.Circular Learning Network and Training Programme. Marina Letonja from DOBA, Slovenia, will introduce the Ecosys4you initiative and its approach to engaging entrepreneurial ecosystems for young people. Renata Anna Jaksa from Women Business Angels, Hungary, will present the IMPACTA initiative, focusing on mentorship and policy support for women business actors.

The third session, “From Labs to Regional Impact: Circular Business Models in Action”, will showcase practical approaches and support structures for circular and digital transition. Mariya Zlateva from RAPIV will present the WE.Circular Labs and circular business models developed within the project. Karin Huber-Heim from the Circular Economy Forum Austria will discuss how circular ambition can contribute to regional transformation through smart policies for competitive and resilient regions. Maja Sušec from Pomurje Technology Park, Slovenia, will introduce B2GreenHub and its support for circular and digital transition, while Ingrid Winter from the Office of the Regional Government of Styria will present the role of public administration in fostering the circular economy.

Registration

Participation in the event is open to stakeholders interested in women’s entrepreneurship, circular economy, digital transition, regional development and transnational cooperation.

Register here: link

We invite all interested participants to join us in Graz for a day of exchange, reflection and dialogue on how women entrepreneurs can contribute to shaping circular futures across the Danube Region.