KIEHKURA
Public Procurement as a Driver for Sustainable Product Development and Circular Economy
Duration: 1.5.2025 – 31.12.2027
Funding:
Metropolia: EU- ja valtion rahoitus: 272 764 €
The project will be implemented as a consortium involving four Universities of Applied Sciences. The aim is to bring together expertise in public procurement, circular economy, and RDI collaboration to generate national-level impact.
Partners:
- Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (coordinator)
- Jamk University of Applied Sciences
- Laurea University of Applied Sciences
- Turku University of Applied Sciences
Needs and Objectives
KIEHKURA project focuses on promoting the circular economy use and product development of machines and equipment through public procurement. This approach extends the lifespan of equipment, improves utilization rates, and supports the research and development efforts of SMEs. At the same time, it reduces waste generation and increases the use of recycled materials, components, and parts.
The KIEHKURA project responds to the growing need to develop public procurement practices that align with the objectives of the circular economy. The project aims to support companies in transitioning toward sustainable product design and to provide public procurement entities with concrete tools for more environmentally friendly machinery and equipment procurements.
The evolving EU regulatory landscape—including the Ecodesign Regulation and sustainability reporting requirements—calls for a new approach to both product development and procurement processes. The project’s objective is to enhance companies’ capabilities to meet these new requirements, support the emergence of new business, and strengthen public sector models that promote the circular economy.
At the same time, the project builds a national ecosystem in which higher education institutions and companies work in close cooperation to advance sustainable development.
Project Activities
The project includes a variety of activities. Companies will be engaged in co-development through workshops, market dialogues, and piloting initiatives. Pilot procurements will be carried out in the regions of participating Universities of Applied Sciences, during which circular economy-compliant procurement criteria will be tested and further developed.
In parallel, opportunities for shared use of machinery and equipment will be explored, and new business models leveraging sharing economy and digitalization solutions will be built. Procurement models and process descriptions will be co-developed with public actors and companies, and these will be compiled into nationally applicable guidelines and tools.
Expected Results
The project will produce circular economy-compliant procurement criteria that are applicable on a national scale, as well as new innovative procurement models and ecosystem concepts suitable for shared use. Company competencies will increase, and their readiness to participate in public procurement procedures will improve.
Public procurement entities will gain access to validated tools and operational models that support sustainable development objectives. In the long term, the project is expected to significantly influence the structure of machinery and equipment markets, as well as to increase resource efficiency, production sustainability, and the adoption of innovative service solutions throughout the country.
Communication Channels
Project communication will be carried out actively through national networks and events.
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences’ website will serve as the public information page for the project. The project’s primary communication platform will be its dedicated website, launched at www.kiehkura.fi. The site will host up-to-date news, events, results, and publications. Practical pilot experiences and partner organization insights will also be shared through this platform.
The project’s activities and progress can be followed on LinkedIn, where updates, articles, and participant perspectives will be shared regularly. Social media will also serve as an interactive channel for stakeholder engagement and public dialogue. Additional information about the project and its implementation will be available on the websites of the partner institutions.
Contact
Päivi Piispa
Project manager
Clean and sustainable solutions innovation hub
paivi.piispa(at)metropolia.fi
