The All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026 Call for Applications is now open
- Circuleire IMR
- 16 hours ago
- 2 min read
IMR welcomes submissions from ventures operating on the island of Ireland and delivering a circular solution in the region.
Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), as the secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE, is delighted to announce the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026, an initiative designed and led by IMR and funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE).
In this second year, IMR is pleased to welcome the Department for the Economy (DfE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Media Support and Event Partner, respectively.
The All-Island Circular Venture Awards celebrate late-stage startups at the forefront of circular economy innovation, providing a platform to showcase high-potential ventures reshaping how materials, components and products are used, reused, remanufactured and regenerated.
In 2026, the awards will continue to spotlight start-ups and ventures across the island of Ireland who are pioneering the circular economy through innovative business models, products, and services that directly facilitate or enable circular value creation.
The call for applications opened on Wednesday 19th August 2026 and will close on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at 23.59 (Irish time). IMR welcomes applications from ventures operating on the island of Ireland, delivering a circular solution that tackles an environmental or sustainability challenge in the region.
Finalists will compete for a total prize pool of €10,000, plus 1-to-1 coaching sessions with international experts in entrepreneurship and circular economy, and promotional support from IMR's Circular Economy Innovation Unit to help raise the venture's visibility.
Shortlisted ventures will have the opportunity to:
Pitch to investors and potential partners aligned with your venture's mission and growth ambitions.
Network with like-minded businesses, all-island government representatives and investors to build valuable connections and opportunities.
Engage with CIRCULÉIRE network members, a leading community of circular economy innovators and practitioners and gain high-profile exposure on its social channels.
Selected ventures will pitch at Awards Day on Thursday 19th November 2026 to a high-profile audience of investors, industry leaders, policy makers, and media at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Awards Day will be held following the EPA’s Circular Economy Conference.
The deadline for applications is on 13th October at 23.59 (Irish time). Shortlisted ventures will be notified in late October 2026. Visit the All-Island Circular Venture Awards website for more information and to read the Awards Guidelines and Eligibility Criteria.
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