Interreg Central Europe project
CE0100312

“Cooperating for greener central Europe”

Project title: From Niche to Centre - City Centres as Places of Circular Lifestyles

Project Acronym: NiCE

Transforming Central Europe: The NiCE Project Envisions a Sustainable Future for City Centres

We are thrilled to introduce the NiCE project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at rejuvenating the face of European city centers. Amidst the global shift towards online trade, catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic, city centers have witnessed a significant economic shift. However, with every challenge comes an opportunity for growth, innovation, and transformation.

NiCE stands at the forefront of this change, focusing on two main objectives:

1. Transforming city centers into sustainable lifestyle hubs: NiCE is committed to easing the transition for city dwellers towards more sustainable lifestyles by reimagining the city centers as vibrant hubs for green living and sustainable consumption.

2. Reinvigorating city centers through the circular economy: By encouraging circular economic practices, NiCE intends to breathe new life into our city centers, transforming them into vibrant, thriving, and sustainable communities.

We are devoted to showcasing various practical strategies across different contexts to enhance new, sustainable forms of consumption. Our goal is to elevate the visibility of these sustainable practices in urban centers while encouraging collaboration among all significant stakeholders.

But NiCE is not just about transformation; it's also about education, inspiration, and community-building. We are committed to fostering transnational, national, and regional dialogues. By sharing our findings with municipalities, regions, providers of alternative consumption and business models, citizen associations, and policymakers, we hope to spark further joint efforts that continue to push for establishing circular city centers throughout Central Europe.

Join us in our quest for a greener, more sustainable future as we reimagine our city centers for a post-pandemic world. Together, we can pave the way for sustainable economic practices and a healthier planet. Learn more about our project and how you can get involved on our website. Let's make NiCE happen!

Lead partner: the German Environment Agency

Project consortium:

• German Environment Agency (DE)
• ENVIROS (CZ)
• CityLAB Innovations for urban quality of life (AT)
• Scientific Research Centre Bistra Ptuj (SI)
• Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (IT)
• Research and Innovation Centre Pro- Akademia (PL)
• Budapest University of Technology and Economics (HU)
• Creative Industry Košice, n.o. (SK)
• Municipality of Brzeg Dolny (PL)

Total project value: €2,220,767.38
Co-financing rate: 80%

Project duration: May 2023 - April 2026
Website: https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/nice/