The AI4Green: Artificial Intelligence to boost the Circular Economy conference, held in the Assembly Hall of the ETSINF of the Universitat Politècnica de València, brought together researchers, companies, institutions and knowledge agents to address how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can accelerate the transition towards more sustainable production and consumption models. The event, organised by ValgrAI and the Valencia Chamber of Commerce, showcased cutting-edge experiences and generated a space for joint reflection on the role of AI in the construction of a circular and climate-neutral economy.
The conference is taking place at a key moment, in which Europe is promoting ambitious regulatory frameworks such as the European Green Pact, the Climate Law or the regulation against greenwashing (Green Claims). In this context, artificial intelligence is presented as a strategic technology for optimising resources, reducing emissions, redesigning processes and contributing to the sustainability of the planet.
The Managing Director of ValgrAI, Ana Cidad and Rafael Mossi, Director of Competitiveness of the Chamber of Valencia, were in charge of welcoming and giving an overview of the connection between Artificial Intelligence and circular economy.
The first intervention was given by Alberto Rodrigo from the European Projects Unit of the Chamber of Valencia who explained the European project AI4GREEN (Erasmus+ KA220-VET), aimed at bringing the concepts of artificial intelligence and circular economy to small and medium enterprises. Rodrigo pointed out that the project has identified a great interest among European SMEs to be trained in these areas, but also difficulties such as the lack of trained personnel or the lack of understanding of the benefits of these technologies.
Ana Belén Ruescas, researcher at the Image Processing Laboratory (IPL) of the University of Valencia, shared her work on the application of advanced AI techniques in the field of environmental sustainability and earth system analysis.
Ruescas explained how artificial intelligence makes it possible to build hybrid models, combining empirical and physical data, which facilitate the detection of climate anomalies, the prediction of extreme events and the evaluation of the impact of environmental policies. He also highlighted its potential to optimise the management of resources such as water and energy, improve agricultural planning, and provide more accurate simulations of the evolution of ecosystems.
“AI offers us a powerful tool for modelling complex phenomena such as climate change, but it also poses important ethical challenges. Data quality, traceability of algorithms and fairness in their application are key elements for this technology to really contribute to sustainability,” he said.
In his speech, he also presented practical examples such as the use of neural networks to quantify carbon emissions or the prediction of air quality, stressing that ‘understanding is more difficult than adjusting’, and that the real value lies in explaining the models and making them understandable for action.
For his part, Héctor Calvete, Innovation Agent at ValgrAI, during his talk addressed the dual role of artificial intelligence in relation to the circular economy, highlighting both its benefits and its potential risks. On the one hand, AI is presented as a key tool to optimise the use of resources, improve energy efficiency, reduce waste and make more informed decisions in areas such as mobility, logistics or environmental management. On the other hand, the high energy consumption of certain models, the generation of electronic waste and the possibility of accentuating inequalities if not managed in an ethical and sustainable manner were also highlighted. In this sense, the reflection revolved around how to make technological development compatible with the principles of sustainability.
ValgrAI, as an ecosystem of research and innovation in intelligence, is currently developing various projects that demonstrate the potential of AI to move towards a circular economy. These include initiatives such as RECICLAI360, an app based on artificial vision to improve waste separation; SimFleet, which optimises urban transport through intelligent simulations; or USMILE and ThinkingEarth, which apply AI to model the earth system and improve climate change prediction.
Success stories: Hidraqua and Devera
Among the business experiences highlighted, Hidraqua, a company that manages the integral water cycle in the Valencian Community, shared its approach to sustainability based on data and artificial intelligence. The company showed how the digitisation of infrastructures and processes allows them to carry out predictive and efficient management of water resources, which is essential in a context of increasing scarcity and water stress.
Hidraqua’s Transformation Director, Cristina Baixauli, explained how they use predictive models to anticipate the behaviour of supply networks, detect leaks, optimise consumption and reduce water and energy losses. She also highlighted the role of AI in strategic decision-making, thanks to the advanced analysis of environmental and operational data, thus contributing to the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation.
It also highlighted its collaboration with research centres and universities to develop innovative solutions that integrate AI, smart sensors and IoT, in line with its commitment to the circular economy, water resilience and climate neutrality.
The event also featured the participation of startup Devera, which presented its AI-powered automated product lifecycle analysis technology solution. Its system allows the carbon footprint of each product to be calculated quickly and accurately, helping brands and e-retailers to make sustainable decisions, comply with regulations and build trust with their customers. This tool is emerging as a key ally in complying with European regulations on sustainability and transparency in environmental labelling.
Training, innovation and collaboration for AI with purpose
ValgrAI reaffirmed its commitment to artificial intelligence for the common good, making available to the Valencian training ecosystem programmes such as the micro-credentials in AI and sustainable territories, the next edition of which starts in May 2025, and fostering collaboration with companies, institutions and educational centres.
The AI4Green conference has highlighted that the convergence between technology and sustainability is not only possible, but necessary. Artificial intelligence, applied with critical vision and responsibility, can become a powerful tool for rethinking the future, transforming production models and empowering organisations to act with greater efficiency and less environmental impact.
