Deadline Date: May 11, 2026
The Call4Circular invites micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to develop innovative solutions for industrial symbiosis and the reuse of industrial by-products in Lazio.
The focus areas of this initiative include symbiosis and sustainable industrial and technological development, implementation of circular economy processes, activation of cross-sectoral synergies, and maximization of the development strategy effectiveness of APEAs and their constituent companies.
The initiative is part of the Lazio Region Project “Strengthening the Active Space Network” under PR Lazio FESR 2021/2027 – Specific Objective 1.3, aiming to strengthen the sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs while creating jobs through productive investments. Lazio Innova, in partnership with the Ecologically Equipped Production Areas (APEAs) of Lazio, promotes the Open Circular Lab to support businesses in reducing environmental impact and increasing energy efficiency through shared infrastructure and sustainable management models.
Call4Circular is the second phase of the Open Circular Lab, building on insights gathered during initial thematic roundtables where APEA ecosystem businesses highlighted their innovation needs. Selected solutions will participate in a matchmaking process with the APEA ecosystem, culminating in the awarding of two prizes to the most innovative projects with market potential, in memory of Engineer Moreno Rotondi, a notable figure in Lazio’s business and technology sector. The cash prizes are 10,000 euros for first place and 5,000 euros for second place.
Participants will have access to a range of services provided by the Lazio Region’s FabLab network, including personalized consultancy on technical feasibility, design support, prototyping assistance, and specialized technical guidance for transitioning from prototype to product engineering, with attention to industrialization processes. Talent Working environments within the Spazio Attivo Network are also available to all participants.
APEAs in Lazio are legal entities, public or private, that manage common infrastructures and services aimed at optimizing resource use, promoting eco-efficiency and eco-innovation, and implementing an integrated management system based on input-output resource balances. Operators within APEAs collaborate through memoranda of understanding to exchange best practices and pursue continuous improvement following the PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) approach.
For more information, visit Lazio Innova.
