Welcome to Dublin
Why Dublin
Dublin is a city of dualities, interconnections and contradictions. Located on an island nation on the edge of Europe, Dublin city balances a local village feel with the buzz of a vibrant and modern capital city. Although Dublin is Ireland’s urban core, the city shares a close symbiosis with its surrounding region. “All roads lead to Dublin, but they also lead out.“
Dublin is also a global city at the heart of European life. Even though 600km of ocean separates us from our nearest EU neighbour, Irish support for European initiatives remains amongst the highest in the EU. Ireland is also a global player and its commitment to multilateralism, sitting on the UN Security Council and in 2014 co-chairing the negotiations of the Sustainable Development Goals.
We are an island nation, but by no means isolated.
Circular Economy Hotspot Dublin 2023 will harness natural and cultural strengths influences that are unique to Dublin, making for a great Circular Hotspot host city in 2023.
Why now?
Dublin has a lot to offer as the host of the Circular Economy Hotspot 2023. In turn, the circular economy has a lot of value to bring to our capital city, and to Ireland.
Since 2020, both Dublin and Ireland have witnessed an enormous drive to invest, share knowledge and foster the circular economy. In particular we have seen tangible action and strategies laid out across policy, innovation and citizen engagement, reflecting the three key pillars of our Circular Economy Hotspot Dublin event.
The Irish Environmental Protection Agency estimates that annually Ireland uses 100 million tonnes of materials, and has one of the highest levels of consumption in Europe. Statistics aside, the circular economy also has the potential to address key social issues across our society, such as issues with housing, food systems, transport and agriculture. These sectors and themes will be reflected in our programme, as we focus on the value that the circular economy can bring to social enterprise, design and manufacturing, the built environment, food systems and the bioeconomy.
The Circular Economy Hotspot Dublin celebration will aim to bring the circular economy to life, making it part of the day to day life of Dubliners and event attendees, from public sector, policy makers, industry and startups alike.
Key initiatives in Dublin
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Targeted interventions are informed by Government funded market research surveys, the recent OECD Circular Economy Review, youth engagement programmes and public campaigns. Some examples include:
Reuse Month October
Science Week
Climate Action Week
Relove Fashion
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Dublin is home to the Dublin Bay Biosphere, the first UNESCO Biosphere within a capital city and also hosts the largest enclosed park (Phoenix Park) in any European capital city. Dublin has a strong international connection and reputation, supporting collaboration and innovation at European and international level.
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Dublin also hosts several knowledge centres which support circular economy innovation including
The National Centre for a Circular Economy at the Rediscovery Centre
CIRCULÉIRE the National Platform for Circular Manufacturing, hosted by Irish Manufacturing Research and Enterprise Ireland & IDA Ireland as one of the 8 supported Technology Centres based in the Greater Dublin Area
The Irish Green Building Council
BIOrbic, a world leading bioeconomy research centre
The Water Institute
The Grain 4 Lab
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Our reputation for technological innovation is made stronger through our network of smart districts under the Smart Dublin programme founded by the four Dublin Local Authorities in collaboration with technology providers, academia and citizens.
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Dublin is home to many exemplary third level institutes, making it a research and innovation hub.
National College of Art and Design
The Institute of Design Ireland
University College Dublin
Dublin City University
Trinity College Dublin
Technological University Dublin
