In Germany, the Circular Valley initiative has recently launched a new funding programme with the goal of establishing a ‘Silicon Valley of the circular economy’ in the heart of Europe. Since its founding in 2021 by the Circular Valley Foundation, the initiative aims to close material loops along existing value chains, create policy recommendations, and educate the public about the circular economy.
Among its current members are major companies such as BASF, Bayer, Evonik, Knipe, and Vorwerk as well as renowned scientific institutions like the Fraunhofer Umsicht Institute, the Max Planck Society, and the Wuppertal Institute. Over 100 start-ups from around the world have been supported by Circular Valley, bringing their innovative ideas to the Rhine-Ruhr region.
The latest cohort of start-ups comprises 15 teams from countries like Egypt, Chile, India and across Europe. These start-ups will spend three months in