Circular Valley
How can cross-border cooperation accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Europe’s industrial heartland?
This panel from the Circular Valley Forum 2025 brings together three senior public-sector leaders: Susanne Hagenkort-Rieger, Director General of the Economic Policy Department at the Ministry of Economy in North Rhine-Westphalia; Brigitte Mouligneau, Transition Manager at OVAM and Circular Flanders; and Arnoud Passenier, Circular Economy Advisor to the Government of the Netherlands. They discuss how their regions structure circular economy policy, where joint priorities lie, and why trilateral collaboration is essential for scaling circular value chains across chemicals, construction and battery materials.
The conversation highlights the need for shared infrastructures, coordinated industry support and policy alignment to make circular business models viable at European scale.
This episode is part of our series in collaboration with Circular Valley. The series features recorded sessions from the Circular Valley Forum 2025.
People Susanne Hagenkort-Rieger (Director General of the Economic Policy Department, Ministry of Economy, NRW https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-hagenkort-rieger/
Brigitte Mouligneau (Transition Manager, OVAM, Flanders) https://www.linkedin.com/in/brigitte-mouligneau-67098b5/
Arnoud Passenier (Circular Economy Advisor to the Government, the Netherlands) at https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnoud-passenier-9366414/
About Circular Valley is a European hub for circular economy innovation, bringing together international startups, industry, science and policymakers to accelerate the shift toward circular value creation. It is based in Wuppertal, one of Europe’s most dynamic economic regions, and supports cross-sector collaboration to close material loops, advance enabling policy and increase public understanding of circular solutions.
Further Links https://circular-valley.org/
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