WASTECOSMART - Optimisation of Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategies for the Maximisation of Resource Efficiency addresses the priority areas of a “Resource Efficient Europe” and relates to the EcoAP, by boosting innovation based on research and technology development within the field of integrated waste management. Through cross border cooperation and collaborative research activities between six regional research driven clusters, the project will strengthen regional capacities for investment, research and technological development. The core goal is to help introduce innovation to the market in this sector and as a consequence support economic growth and regional development. The partners of WASTECOSMART will join forces to elaborate one Joint Action Plan (JAP) for the coordination and strengthening of their complementary RTD capacities. In close consultation with regional stakeholders from the scientific world, businesses and public authorities (triple helix), the regions will elaborate a coordinated set of Regional Research Agendas and a cross-regional Joint Action Plan, which sets a common roadmap for future collaborative RTD activities and develops synergetic follow-up projects in these key domains. The formation of regional waste management clusters is further strengthened through the mentoring of less developed regions, the dissemination of the outcomes on various platforms and internationalisation measures reaching out to other high potential regions in the world. WASTECOSMART’s approach to waste management will be based on a novel and innovative process applying a holistic set of practices. So far, there are very few studies that employ the methodological concept of innovation systems analysis, and only a few studies dealing with anything other than isolated technological issues and approaches have been carried out.