The CE-RISE consortium recently gathered in Oslo, Norway for its bi-annual project meeting, bringing together nearly 40 experts and partners from across Europe. With over a third of our partners based in Norway, this gathering marked a special opportunity to align on key milestones and future directions for the Circular Economy Resource Information System (CE-RISE).

Reviewing Progress and Strengthening Collaboration

The first day of the meeting focused on reviewing our achievements and setting the course for upcoming activities. Key topics included:

• The interdependencies between CE-RISE modules and how each partner contributes to building the Information System.
• Practical recommendations for implementing RE-criteria.
• The methodological foundations of our system, including the development of RE-indicators (read more here, and here).
• Progress on Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) calculations and how we’re addressing data gaps – such as electricity breakdowns and water outputs – in selected products (see more).
• Ongoing work on mock Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for testing and validation (learn more).
• A progress check on all five CE-RISE case studies.
• Initial planning for our annual event in September – more details coming soon.

We wrapped up the day with interactive group sessions focused on data quality, uncertainty evaluation, and the challenges of value comparison – key elements in building a reliable system for circular product data.

Day Two: Workshops and Technical Deep-Dives

With fresh energy the next morning, our partners dove into a series of targeted workshops to accelerate project development. Highlights included:

System Interoperability & Data Standards

Riccardo Boero (NILU) opened the day with an overview of the CE-RISE Information System’s interoperability framework, underlining the importance of data standardisation for smooth exchange across platforms. More on the Information System

Data Modelling & AI Support

AM Esfar-E-Alam (University of Oslo) guided participants through the CE-RISE data model and explored how Large Language Models (LLMs) – such as GPT-4 and Gemma 2B – can support smart database searching in future DPPs. What’s an LLM? Find out here

Integration with Granta MI

Discussions also explored potential integration with Ansys’ Granta MI platform, led by Daria Kieczka, Piers Ireland, and Dr. Tatiana Vakhitova, to enhance data interpretation and lifecycle assessment capabilities.

Training, Reuse & Refurbishment

Our consortium also began outlining the structure for upcoming CE-RISE training materials, with key input from Elise Vermeersch (SCYCLE) and Michelle Wagner (WEEE Forum). Meanwhile, GreenIT, Recosi, and ECORESET S.A. shared how the Information System will support their day-to-day work in ICT reuse, refurbishment, and repair.

The Case for Digital Product Passports

To close, Jahanzeb Tariq and Andreas Wade (Viessmann Climate Solutions) provided a compelling look at how fragmented and inefficient product data processes remain – highlighting the urgent need for robust Digital Product Passports.

Thank You to Our Hosts

A heartfelt thank you to Amir H. Taherkordi and AM Esfar-E-Alam from the University of Oslo for hosting us, and to Mahsa Motevallian and Miguel Las Heras Hernández from NILU for handling the seamless organisation of our time in Oslo.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue building the CE-RISE system—and mark your calendars for our annual event this September.