On March 11 and 12, 2026, Green Deal Dataspace e. V. attended the Circular Valley Convention at Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf, one of Europe’s key platforms for the circular economy. Under the motto “Uniting Industries for a Circular Tomorrow,” the event brought together decision-makers and innovators from business, politics, science, and startups to discuss practical solutions, new business models, and pathways toward circular value creation.
For us, the Convention was a valuable opportunity to connect with a wide range of stakeholders, exchange ideas, and share our vision for a more connected and sustainable future. Especially meaningful were the direct conversations about shared challenges and potential cross-sector collaborations.
What made the Convention particularly relevant for us was its strong practical focus on products, technological innovations, and business models across the entire product life cycle. This closely reflects our belief that trusted data sharing can be a key enabler for circular ecosystems. It helps organizations connect information, reduce inefficiencies, improve traceability, and build the foundation for new forms of cooperation. In this sense, the event reaffirmed that the shift to a circular economy is not only a materials challenge, but also a data challenge.
We were also encouraged by the strong emphasis on resilience, competitiveness, and reducing dependencies through circular approaches. Discussions around early R-strategies – Refuse, Rethink, Redesign, Reduce – highlighted that circular transformation starts long before waste management: it begins with better decisions, better design, and better systems. This strongly resonates with the role of interoperable and trustworthy data spaces, which can support better decisions early in the lifecycle and help turn circular ambitions into operational reality.
Another important part of our participation was the opportunity to present CircMan5.0 to a broader audience. We were pleased to highlight the project’s relevance for circular manufacturing, discuss its potential with interested stakeholders, and open up new opportunities for future cooperation.
Overall, attending the Circular Valley Convention 2026 was a rewarding experience for Green Deal Dataspace e. V. We are grateful for the inspiring exchange, the new connections, and the shared commitment to shaping a circular tomorrow.
