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27th Nov, 2025 All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 Celebrating Innovation. Accelerating Circular Impact. AWARDS GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA CIRCULÉIRE and Irish Manufacturing Research welcome applications from ventures that meet the following eligibility criteria:  Geographic Scope  Incorporated and operating on the island of Ireland (Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland).  Demonstrable operational presence or strategic engagement in the region.  Stage of Development   Late-stage start-ups (2+ years in operation desirable) that have moved beyond the ideation and prototype phases. Business model or product/service in market or ready to launch, with evidence of traction (e.g. revenue, partnerships, pilots, customer base).  Circular Economy Focus  Clear circular value proposition reshaping how materials, components, and products are designed, used, reused, remanufactured, or regenerated. (Think - Design for Circularity, Product-as-a-Service, Remanufacturing, Repair, Circular Supply Chains, Reverse Logistics, Industrial Symbiosis, etc.). Impact Potential  Potential to scale across sectors or regions.  Measurable environmental or economic impact (e.g. innovation in materials, processes, technology, products, business models and systems).  Alignment with Ireland’s circular economy transition goals.  Team & Capacity Dedicated team with relevant expertise. Availability of at least one team member to pitch on 27th November 2025 in person. Availability to record a short promotional video w/c 10th November (optional). Legal & Ethical Standing   Compliant with relevant regulations.   Free from ongoing legal disputes or ethical violations.  APPLY HERE Return to All-Island Circular Venture Awards Page

27th Nov, 2025 All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 APPLY TODAY Celebrating Innovation. Accelerating Circular Impact. ABOUT THE AWARDS HOW TO APPLY PRIZES JUDGES AGENDA VENUE, DATE, TIME ABOUT THE AWARDS The AlI-Island Circular Venture Awards will spotlight start-ups and ventures across the island of Ireland who are pioneering the emergence of the circular economy sector by enabling or demonstrating a circular value proposition. The awards are a great opportunity for late-stage start-ups driving innovation in the circular economy, and a platform to shine a light on high-potential ventures reshaping how materials, components and products are used, reused, remanufactured and regenerated. CIRCULÉIRE is delighted to announce its inaugural All-Island Circular Venture Awards, a prestigious new initiative designed and led by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and funded by the Department of Climate, Energy & the Environment (DCEE). READ THE AWARDS GUIDELINES & CRITERIA HOW TO APPLY Eligible ventures should apply via the link below. Shortlisted companies will pitch at the All-Island Circular Venture Awards on the afternoon of Thursday, 27th November 2025. Don’t delay - start your Awards Platform registration now! Complete your submission by 30th October 2025. Shortlisted ventures will be notified in early November 2025 and will be asked to provide evidence of compliance with the eligibility criteria by 10th November 2025. For any questions, contact us at  circuleire@imr.ie . Days Hours Minutes Applications deadline APPLY HERE Applications Open 8th Oct 2025 Applications Close 30th Oct 2025 Finalists Announcement 11th Nov 2025 Pitches & Awards 27th Nov 2025 WHY APPLY Shortlisted companies will pitch to a distinguished audience of investors, industry leaders, policy makers, and media at the All-Island Circular Venture Awards to be held at the ESB Head Office (F27), 27 Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 KT92. 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. All shortlisted ventures will have the opportunity to:  Pitch to investors and potential partners aligned with their venture’s mission. Access promotional support from IMR’s Circular Economy Innovation Unit. Feature as a case study on CIRCULÉIRE’s website and social media channels.   Network with like-minded businesses, government representatives, and investors. Engage with CIRCULÉIRE’s network members. PRIZES €5.000 + Coaching Session + CIRCULÉIRE Case Study €3.000 + Coaching Session + CIRCULÉIRE Case Study €2.000 + Coaching Session + CIRCULÉIRE Case Study JUDGES Evaluation panel to be announced soon. AGENDA REGISTER TO ATTEND Pitch Sessions & Awards Ceremony: 27th November, 2025 14:00 - 14:15 Welcome & Introduction 14:15 - 14:30 Message from the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment (DCEE) 14:30 - 15:30 Venture Pitches - Session 1 15:30 - 16:00 Networking Break & Light Refreshments 16:00 - 17:00 Venture Pitches - Session 2 17:00 - 17:15 Panel Feedback & Closing Remarks 17:15 - 17:45 Judges' Deliberation & Attendee Networking 17:45 - 18:00 Awards Ceremony 18:00 - 19:00 Celebratory Reception MEDIA & NEWS Media - Click to share the message News CIRCULÉIRE presents the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 READ MORE Circular Venture Awards Now Open for Applications READ MORE Loop motif generated with the support of AI. STRATEGIC PARTNERS & SUPPORTER Partners Supporter What All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025 When 27th Nov 2025, 2:00 PM Where ESB Head Office (F27), Event Space, 27 Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin, D02 KT92

Rebecca Wilson (Rediscovery Centre), Elizabeth O’Reilly (WEEE Ireland), David Fitzsimons (European Remanufacturing Council), Katharina Schlegel Thummer (Plastics Europe), and Geraldine Brennan (IMR), speaking at Session 2 of the EPA Circular Economy Conference 2025 . The recent EPA Circular Economy Conference was an inflection point for the next phase of circular economy implementation in Ireland.  Minister Alan Dillon TD launched the consultation on the second Whole of Government CE Strategy with significant state investment planned.  While we heard about the green shoots of progress made by companies, opportunities for collaboration, information sharing, business model innovation and wider harmonization need focus.    Laura Burke, EPA Director General reminded us that Ireland is facing a growing waste crisis, with excessive waste generation across municipal, packaging, and construction sectors. EPA data shows recycling rates are stagnating, and Ireland is on track to miss key EU targets. Ultimately, producers must design more durable, repairable, remanufactured and recyclable products, engage with circularity and support take-back schemes.    Later in the day, Dr. Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at Irish Manufacturing Research chaired Session 2 dedicated to Producer Responsibility in Priority Sectors   with a stellar cross sectoral panel spotlighting plastics (Dr. Katharina Schlegel, Plastics Europe 's Circularity Director), remanufacturing (David Fitsimons, Director, European Remanufacturing Council ), electronics and batteries (Elizabeth O’Reilly, WEEE Ireland , a    CIRCULÉIRE Founding member) and Local Circular Solutions (Rebecca Wilson, Director of Research Policy and Education, Rediscovery Centre ).  David Fitzsimons, European Remanufacturing Council , emphasized the challenges of building a circular economy amid global economic pressures that favor cheaper, large-scale production. He highlighted the need to shift remanufacturing from business-to-business (B2B) to business-to- consumer (B2C), showcasing companies like Orbitex, Cordon Group, and D&B Audiotechnik as successful examples.  Here in Ireland we have notable examples such as Iqutech and GreenIT (CIRCULÉIRE Members). Fitzsimons warned that EU policies must accelerate to compete with U.S. tariff-driven growth in circular industries. He urged Irish innovators to focus on enabling technologies and praised Ireland’s leadership in green procurement. Finally, he called for balanced EU policy that supports product life extension – noting the friction between ensuring repair incentives do not disincentivize design for remanufacturing alongside recycling, stressing the urgency of coordinated action.    The Whole of Government CE Strategy will drive this coordinated action.  This statutory, action-focused plan aims to increase circular material usage by two percentage points annually and embed circularity across sectors. Key initiatives include expanding the Circular Econ omy Innovation Grant, piloting a repair voucher scheme, establishing circular hubs, a national communications platform and a National Centre of Excellence for Circular Economy Innovation.      By promoting shared economies, reverse logistics, and collaboration across government, industry, and academia, the strategy aims to reduce resource loss, support job creation, and end our throwaway culture.     Industry and public input is vital to shaping this transition and ensuring Ireland becomes a European leader in circularity, sustainability, and green innovation.      Anyone can have their say here  until the 5 th  of November.     A reminder too that CIRCULÉIRE will facilitate sectoral workshops for members to co-ordinate responses to the strategy which are taking place week commencing the 20 th  of October.      #LetsGetCircular

All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2025, taking place on November 27, 2025 - Celebrating Innovation. Accelerating Circular Impact. Are you a late-stage start-up driving innovation in the circular economy? Does your venture have the high potential to reshape how materials, components and products are used, reused, remanufactured and regenerated? CIRCULÉIRE is pleased to announce our inaugural All-Island Circular Venture Awards . Open to late-stage start-ups and ventures across the island of Ireland, this award is designed to recognise those pioneering the emergence of the circular economy sector by enabling or demonstrating a circular value proposition.    The All-Island Circular Venture Awards, designed and led by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE), are a prestigious initiative that will see shortlisted companies pitch to a high-profile audience of investors, industry leaders, policy makers, and media on the  27 th  November 2025 .  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. Referring to the awards announcement, Dr Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at Irish Manufacturing Research, said:  “ Ireland’s transition to a circular economy is not just an environmental imperative—it’s a strategic opportunity to unlock innovation, create green jobs, build resilient economies and enable communities to thrive. Pioneering circular ventures represent the bold thinking and collaborative spirit needed to redesign production and consumption system for a regenerative future .”     Inspired by this potentia l, CIRCULÉIRE and Irish Manufacturing Research w elcome applications from ventures that meet the eligibility criteria.  This is an excellent opportunity to pitch to investors and potential partners aligned with your mission.      The  All-Island Circular Venture Awards will take place at ESB Head Office (F27), 27 Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 KT92 on the 27 th  November 2025 at 2-7pm.    Additionally, all shortlisted ventures will receive promotional support from IMR’s Circular Economy Innovation Unit and will have the opportunity to feature as a case study on CIRCULÉIRE’ s website and social media channels. The All-Island Circular Venture Awards  will be an occasion for networking with like-minded businesses, all-island government representatives and th e CIRCULÉIRE’s n etwork members.    Ventures should submit applications via th e Awards Platform by 30 th  October 2025 . Any enquiries about the application process can be emailed t o circuleire@imr.ie .   Shortlisted ventures will be notified in early November 2025 and will be asked to provide evidence of compliance with t he eligibility criteria b y 10 th  November 2025 .

Emma McBride, (Public Affairs Ireland), David Flynn (Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail), Geraldine Brennan (Irish Manufacturing Research), Vojtech Vosecky (The Circular Economist), Seán O'Dwyer (An Post) at Procurement Forum 2025. Public Affairs Ireland ’s recent Procurement Forum brought together leaders from government, law, policy, and practice to explore how procurement in Ireland can be a genuine driver of change. Minister of State Emer Higgins opened the forum by introducing the new National Procurement Strategy and Roadmap. She emphasised that procurement is no longer just about securing the lowest price; it is about delivering broader value for every euro spent. Highlighting its potential, she explained how procurement can support SMEs, drive regional development, and advance environmental goals. With €175 billion in public capital investment planned, initiatives such as nationwide roadshows and the first-ever Supply Exposition this November showcase the government’s commitment to transforming the way Ireland procures goods and services. Three themes repeatedly emerged throughout the day: strategy, digitalisation, and the circular economy. Emma McBride , Director of Public Affairs Ireland (PAI), likened them to the wheels and pedals of a bike that must work together to keep progress moving forward. Mags O’Callaghan from the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) shared Ireland’s work with the OECD on a national digital procurement roadmap. She acknowledged that the current system is fragmented and overly complex but stressed that successful change depends on input from both experts and novices. She explained that hearing from individuals with different levels of experience is crucial to building a genuinely user-friendly system. Other speakers added further depth to the conversation. Paul McEvoy , from the Dublin Business School (DBS) , cautioned against adopting technology for its own sake. He noted that digitalisation is only valuable if it leads to better outcomes and more intelligent decisions. Peter Curran of Beauchamps reminded attendees of the importance of legal foundations, fairness, transparency, and clear feedback in every procurement process. Adding a sustainability lens to the topic at hand, circular economist Vojtech Vosecky, entered the conversation. He challenged the audience to view procurement as a tool for sustainability, sharing examples from across Europe where circular approaches have reduced waste, cut emissions, and created new markets. The forum concluded with reflections from a panel comprising Vojtech Vosecky , representatives from the EPA and An Post , as well as Irish Manufacturing Research Director of Circular Economy Innovation, Dr. Geraldine Brennan . This panel emphasised that while public procurement is already a powerful lever for change, organisations must shift their mindsets and embed sustainability into their daily operations. Overall, the discussions pointed clearly to a shared vision: procurement can be a strategic lever for economic opportunity, sustainability, and resilience, but only if approached with ambition and collaboration, concluding that: Strategy, digitalisation, and circular economy thinking must be integrated, not treated as separate agendas. Both experts and novices should be engaged to design systems that work for all users. Procurement should be used as an economic tool to support SMEs and foster innovation. Fairness and transparency should be kept at the heart of every process, ensuring trust and accountability. #LetsGetCircular #CircularProcurement