On 15 November, we closed the pilot call – Up2Circ Accelerator, which will support 7 projects to validate the adoption of circular business models and implement concrete actions towards circular products, processes and services. The budget allocated for this pilot call is €350,000.
The pilot call was aimed at SMEs from the project’s partner regions, namely:
- Metropolitan Region of Hamburg (DE, TUTECH)
- Estonia (EE, TSP)
- South Moravian Region (CZ, JIC)
- Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur Region (FR, risingSUD)
- Lubelskie region (PL, LFR)
- Metropolitan City of Torino (IT, CCIAATO)
- Extremadura region (ES, FUNDECYT-PCTEX)
We received a total of 46 applications from SMEs from different sectors and with different ideas for circular transformation.
6 SMEs applied for grants of up to €15,000 for so-called small projects to change their business model to a circular model, resulting in a feasibility study including a business plan. The remaining 40 SMEs applied for grants of up to €50,000, the expected outcome of which is an approved prototype.
The projects are currently being evaluated and the results will be announced in the second half of January 2024.