The region has a long tradition of utilising the circular economy. Arctic Industry and Circular Economy Cluster connects process- and mining industry companies, SMEs serving industry, universities, research institutions, funding and regional authorities to a same co-operation network. Common goal for Lapland is to be a forerunner in sustainable utilisation of natural resources and sustainable industry and circular economy activities. The work in progress for sustainable industrial refining has been notified on national, Nordic and EU levels. Systematic cluster development started in 2014, when Lapland was chosen as one of the model regions of European cluster initiative with six other regions. Lapland has been able to innovatively benefit from natural strengths of the region for cluster development.

By 2020, the Industrial circular economy in the Kemi-Tornio region has become an international showcase with innovative solutions to develop eco-innovation parks.  The industrial symbiosis at the Kemi Tornio region is one of the forerunners in the Finnish circular economy.

The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra started cooperation with Digipolis company in Kemi in 2016 to promote education and know-how of industrial circular economy in national scale. Sitra named spreading of good practices, largely based on the experience by the Kemi-Tornio Industrial Circular Economy Innovation Platform as one of the key projects of the Finnish circular economy road map development.

Sitra and Digipolis started a joint project where the Centre for Industrial Circular Economy was established in 2017. The project focuses on describing the model for industrial symbiosis on an operative level to national and international actors, with a strong emphasis on cooperation with other eco-innovation parks in Finland and internationally. The founding members of the Centre were Digipolis, the City of Kemi and the Lapland University of Applied Sciences.

The Centre assists companies to develop their business and products in circular economy e.g. by providing specialist guidance, applying for financing, bringing together businesses and creating networks and consortiums, and assisting in creating pilots and scaling up operations. The Steering Group of The Centre includes a broad-based group or experts ranging from big industry to public sector authorities. An essential part of the activities of the Centre for Circular Economy is coordination of the network of Eco-Industrial Parks in Finland.