On October 6th, our team visited the Delta Climate Center (DCC) in Vlissingen, an inspiring initiative where education, research, and innovation come together to tackle the complex challenges of climate adaptation.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and explore how we can strengthen collaboration between the Institute for a Circular Society (i4CS) and the Delta Climate Center.

Both i4CS and DCC share a strong mission-driven focus on accelerating circular transitions through co-creation and collaboration across disciplines and sectors. At their core, both initiatives aim to bridge science and practice, connect regional and national actors, and foster innovation that creates real-world impact.

Another natural connection lies in our shared institutional foundations. Both DCC and i4CS bring together expertise from Utrecht University (UU) and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), alongside other key partners. These shared roots provide a strong basis for collaboration and knowledge exchange — linking circular transitions through complementary perspectives on sustainability, resilience, and societal transformation.

Throughout the day, our teams pitched ongoing projects and explored their connections across shared themes. Among the i4CS initiatives discussed were ESCH-R, Circlash, and Fertile Soils — projects that address circular resource use, legal principles, and sustainable land management from complementary perspectives.

Building on these exchanges, we engaged in an interactive workshop to identify overlaps and new opportunities for joint research, education, and community engagement. The session highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and network-building, helping to connect academic insights with regional challenges and societal needs.

By the end of the day, we had defined concrete next steps to deepen collaboration and increase our collective impact in the fields of circularity and climate adaptation.

A heartfelt thank you to the Delta Climate Center team for their warm welcome, thoughtful discussions, and inspiring exchange. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and co-creating solutions for a more sustainable future.