Up2Circ Second Open Call

In its second open call, Up2Circ Accelerator will support up to 40 projects to validate the adoption of circular business models and implement concrete actions towards circular products, processes and services.

Project Scope

• Small scale projects: Feasibility studies
  • A feasibility study is a detailed analysis that evaluates all aspects of a proposed project to ensure its successful implementation. The feasibility study must aim to innovate or transform the applicant company’s current practices to become more circular. The study must explore the potential adoption of at least one circular business model within the company.
  • There are five types of eligible circular business models:
    • Circular supply chain: Optimise resource use by replacing unsustainable materials with bio-based, reclaimed, reused, or recycled alternatives.
    • Sharing economy: Enhance resource utilisation through collaborative models for shared usage, access, or ownership.
    • Product as a service: Improve resource productivity by providing outcome-oriented solutions where customers pay for the benefits a product delivers, rather than owning it.
    • Product life extension: Prolong product lifespans through repair, maintenance, upgrades, resale, or remanufacturing.
    • Recovery and recycling: Recover usable materials or energy from waste and by-products.
• Large scale projects: Piloting and demonstration
  • The pilot and demonstration activities must aim at implementing at least one of the concrete transition measures towards circularity through technology adoption, circular product design, or the introduction of new products, processes or services. Projects must focus on prototyping, pilot testing, and the implementation of new business processes, solutions and systems.
  • There are three types of eligible activities:
    • Implementation of technologies to increase circularity: Activities should focus on integrating technologies that significantly reduce resource consumption and/or waste production. Expected outcome: New technology successfully integrated into the applicant’s processes.
    • Adoption of circular product design: Activities should involve conducting a product environmental footprint analysis (LCA), identifying optimization opportunities, and developing or testing a prototype. Expected outcome: A validated prototype of a product enhanced with circular design principles, developed by the applicant.
    • Introduction of new products, processes or services: Projects should introduce new products, processes, or services that enhance the circularity of the applicant’s core business. The measures do not need to be new to Europe but must be new to the company. Expected outcome: New products, processes, or services integrated into the applicant’s operations.

Funding Information

• Small scale projects: Feasibility studies
  • Funding: Fixed amount of €15,000
  • Project duration: Fixed 6 months
  • Expected number of funded projects: 28.
• Large scale projects: Piloting and demonstration
  • Funding: Fixed amount of €50.000
  • Project duration: Fixed 12 months
  • Expected number of funded projects: 12.

Eligibility Criteria 

• The admissibility and eligibility check is conducted by the Up2Circ consortium partners and includes the following criteria:
  • Type of activity: The proposed activities must align with the eligible activities outlined in Section 2.2 of the Second Open Call Guide for Applicants. These include:
    • Small scale projects: Adoption of at least one of the five eligible circular business models (circular supply chain, sharing economy, product as a service, product life extension, or recovery and recycling).
    • Large scale projects: Implementation of at least one transition measure toward circularity (technology adoption, circular product design, or introducing new products, processes, or services).
  • Customised advisory: Applicants must upload the Up2Circ Assessment Report, completed with the support of the Up2Circ advisor. The Up2Circ advisor will assist the applicant by conducting a circularity assessment followed by completing the Up2Circ Assessment Report, which will outline the SME’s strengths, weaknesses, and suggested improvements.
  • Enhanced knowledge and expertise in circular economy: Applicants must have actively participated in the Up2Circ Academy online learning programme. Active participation is defined as completing at least 50% of the Up2Circ Academy e-learning modules.
  • SME status: Applicants must qualify as a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) according to the European Commission’s definition. SME status should be checked by applicants using the EU SME self-assessment questionnaire.
  • Geographical eligibility: Applicants must be based in a Member State of the European Union (EU 27). SMEs from Horizon Europe Associated Countries are not eligible.
  • Timely submission: The application must be submitted before the specified deadline.
  • Single applicant: Applications must be submitted by a single entity. Joint or consortium applications will not be accepted.
  • Application completeness: The application must be complete, including all required information.
  • Language requirement: The application must be completed in English.

For more information, visit European Commission.