📣 FUNDING CALL: UP2CIRC to Support Circular Economy Innovation

The Up2Circ Accelerator’s second call supports up to 40 EU SMEs adopting circular economy solutions. Apply by April 30th! If you are a SME within EU Member States (EU 27), apply until 30th of April. This opportunity might be just what you have been looking for in leveraging your company to the next level!

✅ Who can Apply?

For your company to apply, you must obey to two of the following eligibility criteria, before the submission deadline:

  1. Enhanced Knowledge and Expertise in Circular Economy. This will be granted with, at least, 50% of your company’s participation in the Up2Circ Academy online (and free!) learning programme modules. The verification will be made through your company name. Therefore, it is essential to provide accurate and complete information in the Up2Circ Academy about the participant profile.
  2. Customised Advisory. With the support of an UP2Circ Advisor (see the ones in your country, by accessing here), you must upload the Up2Circ Assessment Report, which will basically comprehend a self-assessment regarding circularity potential and practices of your company. The report will outline your SME’s strengths, weakness and suggested improvements.

💡  Types of Projects and Funding

You can either apply for a small-scale or large-scale funding – however, keep in mind that different possibilities, mean different demands.

Small-Scale Projects

  • Funding Amount: €15,000 fixed grant.
  • Project Duration: 6 months
  • Expected Outcome: comprehensive feasibility study, including a detailed business plan.The feasibility study must aim to innovative or transform the applicant company’s current circularity practices, specifying one circular business model to do so.
  • Eligible Activities: feasibility study is mandatory to focus on at least one of five types of circular business models that include “circular supply chain” (replacing unsustainable materials), “sharing economy” (shared use, access or ownership), “product as a service” (shifting towards outcome-oriented solutions), “product life extension” (extending product lifespan) and “recovery and recycling” (recovering from waste and by-products).
  • # of to-be funded projects: 28

Large-Scale Projects

  • Funding Amount: €50,000 fixed grant.
  • Project Duration: 12 months
  • Expected Outcome: new technology, validated prototype or new products, process or services successfully developed or integrated into the applicant’s processes, sought at testing and implementing concrete measures towards circularity. The outcomes must focus on one of the three following activities: “technologies to increase circularity”, “circular product design” and “new products, processes or services” that enhance circularity of the applicant SME’s business.
  • # of to-be funded projects: 12

📅 Timeline and Key Dates

The deadline of the call is set for 30th of April 2025. Fortunately enough, you will not have to surpass a long wait. By June 2025 you should have the results and by July 2025 you will have the opportunity to put your idea into practice. Fingers crossed!


🤝 What is the association between STARRISE and the call?

STARRISE focuses on promoting interregional collaboration between SMEs and other organisations within the agri-food and logistics sectors. The goal is to leverage each company’s innovation potential and market differentiation, while aligning with the specific strengths of each region’s Smart Specialization Strategy (S3).  The UP2CIRC open call, although addressed at single-applicants, they aim to support innovative sustainability and circular economy practices within companies in general, including agri-food and logistics sectors.

Both initiatives have complementary benefits that your company may take advantage of! STARRISE offers you possibilities for EU long-term collaboration and training for enhanced innovation capacity in agri-food and logistics sectors. UP2CIRC call offers you concrete funding pathways that allow you to concretize long-waiting activities. Together, the two initiatives can offer companies the tools, insights and connections needed to succeed in the circular economy space! Therefore, why not join both?

🔍 Additional information

For more information about the call, please visit the official sources.

To keep updated with most recent news about STARRISE, please follow our LinkedIn.

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