Closing Session

CLOSING SESSION / 16:45 - 18:00 / BLUE ROOM - First Floor 
Circular Economy Across Disciplines – Challenges, Solutions and Future Perspectives
Chairs / Presidenti: Maria Cristina Lavagnolo (IT), Andreas Bartl (AT), Raffaello Cossu (IT)

The Closing Session of SUM 2026 provides an opportunity to reflect on the key outcomes of the Symposium and to synthesise insights emerging from its multidisciplinary dialogue on circular economy and urban mining. 
By integrating perspectives from engineering, economics, law, environmental sciences, medicine, agronomy, architecture, and related fields, the session aims to identify cross-cutting challenges, highlight systemic solutions, and outline future research and policy directions.
Particular emphasis will be placed on the systemic nature of circular transitions and on the need for coherent, cross-sectoral approaches linking science, practice, and governance. 

Open debate with the audience and the invited speakers:

• Margherita Ferrante, Public Health Physician, University of Catania (IT)
• Norbert Fraeyman, Biochemist and Pharmacologist, Ghent University Hospital (BE)
• Marco Frey, Economist, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (IT)
• Silvia Gross, Chemist, University of Padova (IT)
• Kosuke Kawai, Industrial Ecologist, National Institute for Environmental Studies (JP)
• Maria Pettersson, Environmental law, Luleå University of Technology (SE)
• Ana Paula Ribeiro, Chemist, Técnico, University of Lisbon (PT)
• Stefan Salhofer, Waste & Resource Management Expert, BOKU University (AT)
• Rainer Stegmann, Environmental Engineer, Hamburg University of Technology (DE)

Closing Remarks:
Raffaello Cossu (IT)
Photo presentation: highlights of SUM 2026