Open call for Up2Circ Accelerator Program

Up2Circ is a project funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme with the overall objective to accelerate and scale the transition of European SMEs towards a circular economy. Up2Circ covers the entire value chain from awareness raising, education and training, tailored advisory service to funding of concrete transition projects towards a circular economy. The Up2Circ-Accelerator aims to mobilise and enable SMEs for the uptake of circular business models, circular product design and circular processes. It accompanies SMEs with a client-centric, customised advisory approach from exploration of opportunities to concrete implementation projects along the circular strategies to narrow (use less), slow (use longer), close (use again), regenerate (make clean) and inform (use data) material and energy flows.

Up2Circ encourages the uptake of advanced technologies and social innovation as enablers and drivers of a successful transition towards a modern, digitalized, resource-efficient and competitive circular economy. Advanced technologies like new materials, digitalisation, industrial biotechnology and additive manufacturing can significantly support the transition to circularity and can increase competitiveness and resilience of enterprises as elaborated in European Industrial Strategy. Social innovation is a key driver for economic success of circular transition as it enables businesses to fully develop their human capital potential and is essential to rethink and reshape current practices of producing and consuming to enhance resource efficiency while satisfying customers’ needs.

Up2Circ focuses on innovation and transformation measures that individual SMEs can realistically achieve. Up2Circ especially targets SMEs that are not aware yet how they could best innovate to transform.

Types of Projects and Funding

• The budget allocation for the call is €1.230.000.
• SMEs can apply for two different funding schemes based on the maturity of their transition projects:
  • Small scale projects: Feasibility studies
    • Funding: small scale projects of up to €15.000
    • Expected number of funded small scale projects: 32
    • Project scope: In-depth validation of technical, economic and social aspects of adoption of circular business models, considering desirability, feasibility, viability and environmental aspects. Projects should focus on one or several circular business models such as circular supply chain, sharing platforms, product as a service, product life extension, recovery and recycling.
    • Expected outcome: feasibility study including a business plan
    • Project duration: 6 months
  • Large scale projects: Piloting and demonstration
    • Funding: large scale projects of up to €50.000
    • Expected number of funded large scale projects: 15
    • Project scope: Pilot and demonstration activities to implement concrete transition measures towards circularity through the implementation of certain technologies, a shift to circular product design, introduction of new products, processes and services. Projects should focus on prototyping, pilot testing, implementation of new business processes, solutions and systems.
    • Expected outcome: validated prototype
    • Project duration: 12 months

Duration

• Projects starting date: fixed date October 1st, 2024
• Small scale projects end date: fixed date March 31st, 2025
• Large scale projects end date: fixed date September 30th, 2025

Who can apply?

Projects must be submitted by a single SME from the EU Member States (EU 27) that meets the following two criteria related to their involvement in the Up2Circ Academy before the submission deadline:

• Circularity assessment: Applicants must have completed the circularity assessment using the Up2Circ Circularity Assessment Tool. For companies located outside the Up2Circ partner regions, the circularity assessment is completed online. For companies located in Up2Circ partner regions, the circularity assessment may also be completed offline with support of Up2Circ team.
• Enhanced knowledge and expertise in circular economy: Applicants must have actively participated in the Up2Circ Academy online learning programme. Active involvement is defined as having completed a minimum of 50% of the Up2Circ Academy e-learning modules.

For more information, visit Up2Circ.