From Regional Research to International Impact: Advancing Circular Economy Research through HEROES

International collaboration has opened new opportunities for sustainability and circular economy research. For Sanna Joensuu-Salo, Principal Lecturer (Research) at SEAMK, working within the HEROES alliance has expanded both the scope and impact of research by bringing together expertise from different countries, disciplines, and institutional contexts. 

Sustainability and entrepreneurship research in an international context
My research has focused on entrepreneurship at both the individual and firm levels. In recent years, sustainability has become an increasingly important theme in my work, and I have explored topics such as green growth. 

Working across borders brings certain challenges, particularly when it comes to coordinating schedules and navigating cultural differences. However, these challenges are outweighed by the benefits of collaboration. 

HEROES alliance has provided many valuable new connections that will be highly beneficial for future project preparation. Together within the Circular Economy Professional Development Group (POD), we have collected survey data on environmental proactiveness in SMEs and are planning to write joint articles. 

Overall, this collaboration has opened up exciting opportunities to engage in more impactful international research. 

Supporting circular business models and regional development
Our work is closely connected to the development of business models in companies, and SEAMK is strongly engaged in supporting the growth and success of regional businesses. 

The research generates directly applicable knowledge on how SMEs can leverage circular economy approaches to enhance competitiveness and achieve sustainable growth. It also supports the development of the regional ecosystem by creating new project opportunities and strengthening sustainability-oriented collaboration. 

Our POD brings together diverse perspectives from across the HEROES alliance, combining expertise from different disciplines, countries, and institutional contexts. Together, we are addressing key research challenges: 

• scaling and enabling circular business models and value chains 

• understanding and overcoming organizational, behavioral, and policy-related barriers 

• leveraging technology and innovation to accelerate the circular transition and measure its impact. 

Our research also addresses a key local need: supporting SMEs in developing their business models from a circular economy perspective. In particular, we focus on strengthening environmental proactiveness and understanding how it can drive business development and competitiveness. 

The main beneficiaries are regional SMEs and the broader business ecosystem, as the insights help companies respond to sustainability challenges and identify new growth opportunities. 

New perspectives through HEROES alliance
While the role itself was given to me, the opportunity for collaboration and for engaging in international projects and research has been highly motivating. 

Through this collaboration, I have gained new perspectives, particularly in areas such as green finance, which had not previously been a central focus in my work. Engaging with the research and development activities of others continuously generates new ideas, especially for future project preparation. 

The collaboration within the POD has been very valuable as a whole. Meeting in person during our brainstorming retreat in Halmstad was particularly important, as it strengthened connections and led to new project ideas related to the circular economy. 

A research community that enables growth
Through HEROES, I have gained access to a strong international network of researchers with complementary expertise, especially I serve as a co-lead of the Circular Economy POD together with Kari Laasasenaho, also from SEAMK in circular economy and sustainability transitions. This has enabled joint data collection efforts and collaborative research outputs. 

Overall, it has significantly expanded the scope and impact of my work, making it possible to pursue more ambitious international research initiatives than would have been possible alone. 

I would encourage any researcher who is hesitant to join to do so with an open mind. Sharing expertise and engaging with others in the HEROES community helps develop one’s skills from multiple perspectives and opens up new opportunities in research, projects, and teaching.