Project pilot action blogpost 3. – Local kick-off event, official launch of pilot project
Implementation of the pilot action “Co-creation for more circular cities at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics” related to the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE NiCE project of the Department of Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development of BME, Part 3: Local kick-off event, official launch of the pilot project at the Conference of the BME Department of Environmental Economics, celebrating its 35th anniversary
On 8 November 2024, the BME Department of Environmental Economics and Sustainability celebrated its 35th anniversary in a day-long event. In 2024, we have multiple occasions to celebrate, as the predecessor of the Department started its operation 35 years ago, we have been members of the European Union for 20 years, and the first students enrolled in our master’s program – Regional and Environmental Economic Studies MA – 15 years ago. The objectives of the event included to review the history, results, current activities and opportunities of the Department, including trainings, talent management, national and international research projects.
The guests included present and former students, PhD graduates of the Department, former colleagues and professional partners, including the “board” of local stakeholders and partners of the NiCE pilot project. To mark the anniversary, a study-volume was prepared and presented at the Conference. The volume includes a total of 15 studies on four topics — economic and social aspects of sustainability, environmental management, sustainable consumption, and regional sustainability research — two of which are related to the NiCE project.
Dr. Mariann Szabó, assistant professor, deputy head of department, scientific coordinator of the NiCE Interreg Central Europe project gave a presentation titled “Circular economy lifestyles – launch of the BME Pilot project”. The presentation highlighted the purpose of the project, the framework of the partnership and the various activities that serve the strengthening of consumption-related areas of the circular economy in urban spaces, including the Department’s Pilot action. Within the framework of the project, the BME Department of Environmental Economics and Sustainability is working together with the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development to develop solutions that help consumers integrate circular economy principles into their everyday lives. Within this framework, the Department announced various workshops (European Researchers’ Night 2024, Intensive Seminar of the Master programmes of the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences (GTK)), as well as a university course (Sustainable Business Model Design) in the spring semester of 2024/2025, where student groups can work together with different enterprises.
