Special Note of the Author
This policy brief builds on empirical and conceptual research on circular economy transitions in port regions, with a particular focus on the role of innovation ecosystems. It does not aim to provide a definitive model, but rather to identify key mechanisms and policy levers that can support more effective and scalable circular economy dynamics. The arguments are grounded in qualitative evidence and should be further tested across different port contexts. The objective is to support policymakers in designing realistic and context-sensitive interventions.
Dr. Aina Ndrianjara Andriamanantena
Associate researcher
Society for Inclusive and Collaborative Entrepreneurship (S4ICE) gGmbH
WP_circular_ports_AinaApril2026
Introduction: A Structural Policy Blind Spot
Ports are increasingly seen as strategic spaces for circular economy development because they concentrate industrial activities, logistics, and resource flows (de Langen & Sornn-Friese, 2019; Veyssière et al., 2021). Yet, circular economy implementation in port regions remains uneven, often fragmented across projects and stakeholders rather than embedded in a coherent territorial strategy (de Langen et al., 2020; Haezendonck & Van den Berghe, 2020; Roșca-Sadurschi & Ceclu, 2022). This suggests a structural policy blind spot: ports are still too often approached as logistical infrastructures, while circular transitions depend on the coordination of interdependent actors, shared resources, and collaborative governance within an innovation ecosystem (Andriamanantena et al., 2022; Granstrand & Holgersson, 2020). In that sense, the main difficulty is not only technological or financial in nature. It is also organizational and institutional, because circular economy in port regions requires policies that structure ecosystem dynamics rather than support isolated initiatives.
