CE Hotspot Event in Slovenia – September 10-12

Center Rog, Ljubljana | 10th until 12th of September 2025

Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy of the Republic of Slovenia is pleased to announce that Slovenia will host the international conference Circular Economy Hotspot event– Slovenia 2025, which will take place from September 10 to 12, 2025, at the Rog Centre in Ljubljana.

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Main Topics

The conference will feature policy makers designing circular economy strategies at the EU level and in Slovenia, developers of support systems, and practitioners implementing circular practices. Best business practices and current developments in circular innovations will be presented. Discussions will address the role of decision-makers who design support systems and programs to overcome barriers to the circular economy.

We will also discuss how the circular economy can contribute to social resilience and the role of local communities, businesses, and young generation.

There will also be discussions on tools to strengthen circular supply and demand.

Who should attend

The conference is intended for companies from various industries, universities and faculties, students, research institutions, ministries, public utilities participating in waste management schemes, municipalities, regional development agencies, non-governmental organizations and the media, as operating according to the principles of the circular economy concerns companies, research, professional and innovative institutions, ministries, local communities and individuals.

The conference is organized by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy and the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport in cooperation with the Slovenian Centre for Circular Economy.

We kindly invite you to visit the conference website and register for the event. Participation is free of charge, number of participants is limited.

Register here.

 

Programme overview

Programme Overview

Day 1 – 10 September 2025 (Ljubljana Castle)

  • 15:30–16:00 Registration

  • 16:00–16:15 Welcome by Bojan Kumer, Minister of Environment, Climate and Energy, Slovenia

  • 16:15–17:00 Keynote by Zuzanna Skalska (360 Inspiration, NL)

  • 17:00–18:00 High-Level Panel on unleashing circular potential

    • Speakers: Jessika Roswall (EU Commissioner), Bojan Kumer, Matjaž Han, Vesna Nahtigal

  • 18:30–20:30 Welcome Reception with National Majorette Ensemble

Day 2 – 11 September 2025

  • 09:00–10:00 Arrival, coffee, and keynote on CE indicators (Daniel Montalvo, EEA)

  • 10:00–11:30 Competitive Sustainability

    • Keynote: Dr. Martin Porter (University of Cambridge)

    • Three parallel panel sessions:

      • Circularity for Competitive Advantage

      • Inspiring Circular Innovations

      • Policy, Regulation, and Commercialisation

  • 16:30–18:00 Presentation of Center Rog and 2026/2027 Hotspot Announcements

  • 18:00–20:00 Reception with musical performance

  • All day: Exhibition of circular businesses and research projects

Day 3 – 12 September 2025

Site Visits:

  • Circular Industry (e.g. Steklarna Hrastnik, Energy Cooperative)

  • Circular Innovation (e.g. Jožef Stefan Institute, ReCatalyst)

  • Circular Solutions (e.g. TECOS, Hop Research Institute)

  • Circular Use & Recycling (e.g. Depo Vrhnika, Aquafil)

  • Circular Cities (Ljubljana Walking Tour)