Deadline Date: January 07, 2026
The Circular Business Awards by the EU CERC are an annual recognition targeted at enterprises in countries eligible for ODA support, as part of the annual Circular Awards by the EU CERC which also includes a separate Policy Implementation Award.
The focus areas include the Electronics & ICT Business Award and the Young Woman Entrepreneur Award, each offering a €10,000 support package to strengthen the development of circular economy strategies and enhance international visibility and linkages with the EU market.
Each of the two winners will receive a support package of €10,000, to be implemented through a capacity building plan submitted to the EU CERC Business Lab. The plan will guide the identification of activities to be financed via the support package over the 12 months following the award.
Eligibility criteria specify that the two circular business awards target a company active in one specific sector (different sector each year) and a company co-founded by a young female entrepreneur. In 2026, the specific sector is Electronics & ICT. The young woman entrepreneur must have co-founded the circular business, remain actively engaged in the strategic and operational direction of the business, and currently not be older than 35 years.
For either of the awards, the applicant must meet the following technical requirements: the company must implement a circular business model that is based on circular design, avoiding or reducing consumption before use; optimal use, extending the lifetime of products during use; or value recovery, including recovery of product or recycling of materials. The applicant must be registered in one of the ODA-recipient countries listed on the official page. Applicants must be micro-, small- or medium-sized enterprises according to the local classification in their country of residence and must have been operating for over three years. The company should not be involved in any activity on Enabel’s list of Unauthorised Business Activities such as weapons, child labour, or asbestos, and must adhere to the Decent Work Principles of Enabel, aligned with the ILO.
Additionally, the winners will be invited to present their cases on the main stage of the next annual World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF), attended by thousands of public and private stakeholders from around the world. The prize also includes a ticket to attend WCEF2026, coverage of travel-related costs such as visa and airfare, per diem support for accommodation and local expenses, and exclusive visibility opportunities during the WCEF, including media coverage and short video presentations. Participation-related costs will be reimbursed on a real-cost basis up to a maximum of €5,000 per winner.
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