Abstract
The global imperative to transition towards a more sustainable and Circular Economy (CE) has sparked intricate discussions and strategic considerations across diverse industries and regions. According to the existing literature, innovation emerges as a critical factor in overcoming barriers to the CE implementation. Open Innovation (OI), by advocating proposals to enhance collaboration within the value chain involving suppliers, clients, industrial partners, the academia, civil society organizations, and the public sector influences the infusion of external knowledge, technologies, and resources for the development of novel products and processes. This research delves into the critical interplay between CE and OI. The study is structured around six interconnected papers, each contributing unique insights to a comprehensive understanding of how OI practices, OI networks, and OI models can facilitate CE implementation. This work explores different research contexts, although it main focus is on the Forest-Based Bioeconomy (FBB) in Uruguay. The organization of these papers follows a logical progression from foundational concepts to specific applications and integrative frameworks, creating a cohesive narrative that underscores the significance of each study.