The Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS) supports Irish organisations in developing innovative circular economy projects. CEIGS helps businesses explore circular business models, adopt sustainable practices, improve resource efficiency, and create solutions that contribute to Ireland's transition to a more circular and sustainable economy. Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS) ABOUT CEIGS MEDIA & RESOURCES FUNDING STRANDS WHY APPLY HOW TO APPLY APPLICATION About CEIGS The Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS) is a Government of Ireland initiative led by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE), which provides support to projects advancing the circular economy in Ireland and raising awareness of the need to transition to a circular economy. The programme supports organisations in developing, demonstrating and scaling practical circular economy solutions that reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and contribute to key national strategic circularity objectives, such as those outlined in the Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2026-2028 . Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at IMR, and Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Circular Economy. CEIGS 2026 CIRCULÉIRE and its secretariat, Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), administer the 2026 programme in partnership with DCEE. The 2026 programme emphasises accessibility, simplification and strategic outcomes and will prioritise projects with a clear pathway to adoption and scale, advancing higher-value circular economy R strategies. Eligible organisations are invited to submit projects to: Develop, pilot, demonstrate and/or scale innovative circular economy solutions. Deliver measurable environmental, economic or societal benefits through improved circularity. Address recognised circular economy challenges within priority sectors or demonstrate exceptional wider replication potential. Demonstrate a clear implementation pathway within the funded project period. Present a credible strategy for scaling, replication or long-term adoption beyond the lifetime of the grant. Funding Strands The programme provides funding through two competitive strands: Strand 1 €50,000 6 months Grants of up to €50,000 for projects of up to six months’ duration. €50,001 to €150,000 12 months Strand 2 Grants from €50,001 up to €150,000 for projects of up to twelve months' duration. Funding will be awarded through an open competitive process based on eligibility, strategic alignment, innovation, implementation readiness, expected impact, value for money and the potential for wider adoption. Why Apply Increased available funding, from € 650,000 to €1.5 million . Broadened eligibility criteria remove previous restrictions on organisation size. A streamlined, user-friendly application process. How to Apply Before completing the Online Application Form , applicants should read the following documents. These documents are best viewed on a desktop. Guide for Applicants Download Applicant Reference Guide Download Project Budget Application Workbook Download De Minimis Aid & UiD Declaration Download FAQ Download Terms & Conditions Download Evaluation Framework Download Application All applications must be submitted through the CEIGS 2026 online application portal hosted on AwardForce by the 12th of October . Applicants are encouraged to review the Applicant Reference Guide before commencing their application, as it previews the questions, response requirements and supporting documents. Applicants must ensure that the information submitted on AwardForce is consistent with the Budget Workbook and all supporting documents. Until applications close Days Hours Min APPLY NOW Applications submitted after the deadline or through an alternative submission method will not be accepted. Any technical issue must be reported to the official support contact before the deadline and supported by evidence. Reporting an issue does not guarantee acceptance of a late application. The following information must be consistent across all submitted documents: 1 Applicant Organisation 2 Project Title 3 Funding Strand 4 Project Duration 5 Grant Requested 6 Total Project Cost OTHER RESOURCES Watch Info Session Video Recording CEIGS Info Session Video Recording CEIGS Info Session Presentation Slide Deck Read Info Session Presentation Slide Deck Media & News Media News Minister Dillon launches €1.5 million Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme READ MORE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND, 14 SEP 2026 Minister Dillon launches €1.5 million Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme READ MORE LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS, 15 SEP 2026 €1.5m circular economy fund launched as Mayo projects set to benefit READ MORE MAYO LIVE, 14 SEP 2026 Strategic Partners

The All‑Island Circular Venture Awards spotlight innovative start-ups across Ireland that are advancing the circular economy through impactful circular value propositions. The awards recognise late‑stage ventures driving new solutions for how materials, components, and products are used, reused, remanufactured, and regenerated—celebrating high‑potential innovators shaping a more sustainable future. 19th Nov, 2026 All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026 Celebrating Innovation. Accelerating Circular Impact. REGISTER TO ATTEND ABOUT AWARDS DAY HOW TO APPLY WHY APPLY PRIZES 2025 AWARDS MEDIA & NEWS ABOUT THE AWARDS CIRCULÉIRE, Ireland’s Circular Innovation Network, led by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE), is delighted to announce the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026 . In this second year, IMR, as the secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE, is pleased to welcome the Department for the Economy (DfE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Media Support and Event Partner, respectively. Awards Day will take place following the EPA's Circular Economy Conference, in the same venue. Awards Day is recognised as an Associated Event of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026. 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. READ THE AWARDS GUIDELINES & CRITERIA AWARDS DAY 16:00 Registration & networking 16:45 Welcome 17:00 Circular Ventures Pitches 17:50 Comfort break and networking 18:00 Circular Ventures Pitches continued 18:50 Wrap-up & networking 19:10 Awards Ceremony Days Hours Min LEFT FOR AWARDS DAY REGISTER TO ATTEND HOW TO APPLY Eligible ventures should apply via the link below. Shortlisted companies will pitch at the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026 on the afternoon of Thursday, 19th November 2026. Don’t delay - start your Awards Platform registration now! ***DEADLINE EXTENDED*** Complete your application by Friday 16th October 2026 at 23.59 (Irish time). Please note you must select the All-Island Circular Venture Awards call when applying on Awards Force. Shortlisted ventures will be notified in late October 2026 and will be required to provide evidence demonstrating eligibility compliance by 4th November 2026. For any questions, contact us at circuleire@imr.ie . 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 Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Rd, Dublin 4, D04 K5F9, hosted within the framework of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Annual Circular Economy Conference. Finalists will compete for a total prize pool of €10,000, plus 1-to-1 coaching sessions with international experts in entrepreneurship and circular innovation.  All shortlisted ventures will have the opportunity to:  Gain high-profile exposure through professionally produced videos, in-depth case studies and promotional content featured across CIRCULÉIRE’s website, social media channels and stakeholder networks. Network with like-minded businesses, all-island government representatives and investors to build valuable connections and opportunities. Engage with CIRCULÉIRE network members and connect with a leading community of circular economy innovators and practitioners. Pitch to investors and potential partners aligned with your venture's mission and growth ambitions. Access promotional support from IMR's Circular Economy Innovation Unit to help raise the venture's visibility. PRIZES €5.000 + Coaching Session + Premium CIRCULÉIRE Multimedia Profile (professionally produced video, featured case study and promotional campaign) €3.000 + Coaching Session + CIRCULÉIRE Multimedia Profile (featured case study and digital promotion) €2.000 + Coaching Session + CIRCULÉIRE Venture Spotlight (website profile and social media feature) SHORTLISTED VENTURES The eight shortlisted ventures pitching to an audience of investors, industry, policy makers, and media at the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026 include Ecokinly, Evolve Circular Automotive, Loop Your Spare, ReSolve, Salt Rock Dairy, Senoptica, Slíglas and SomaTech. The selected ventures represent a broad range of sectors including consumer goods, pharma, biochar, construction, electric batteries, agrifood, dairy and packaging. READ ON FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE COMPANIES: EcoKinly helps consumers rethink single-use and replace it with premium washable hygiene products to build new circular habits. Loop Your Spare is an AI-powered operating system for circular construction, making material reuse visible, measurable and scalable. Salt Rock Dairy is on a mission to prove that a single source, small scale artisanal dairy can not only be zero waste, but also commercially viable.  Slíglas streamlines biochar production from low-value wood residues for durable carbon removal. Evolve Circular Automotive  extends the lifecycle of electric vehicle batteries and transforms them into valuable resources through energy storage solutions to power commercial buildings. ReSolve allows pharma and chemical laboratories cut solvent costs and hazardous waste by recycling HPLC mobile phase without compromising analytical result compliance. Senoptica prints a food-safe oxygen sensor into food packaging to prevent food and plastic waste from failed packs to end the destructive testing the industry relies on today. SomaTech turns agri-food by-products into high-value ingredients, enabling circular, sustainable food and feed supply chains through their purposely built plug-and-play fermentation platform. REPRESENTATIVES: VIEW BIO EcoKinly is an award-winning brand challenging throwaway culture. It designs reusable nappies, wipes and period products that help consumers rethink everyday habits and refuse single-use products. Through product innovation, mainstream retail partnerships and key stakeholder engagement, EcoKinly is building a model for reuse with society-wide application Kate Doyle Founder & CEO, EcoKinly VIEW BIO Surplus construction materials and temporary works are often stored, forgotten or discarded. Loop Your Spare transforms them into valuable assets through a free-to-start model that lowers barriers to adoption. By making reuse visible, auditable and repeatable across projects and organisations, LYS reduces embodied carbon, waste and cost. Co-Founder, Loop Your Spare Juan A. Morillas VIEW BIO Salt Rock Dairy is a family-run, on-farm dairy in Gorey, Co. Wexford, producing award-winning milk, yoghurt, kefir, buttermilk and cultured butter. Built on circular principles, they use refillable, biodegradable, and returnable packaging, turn every by-product into new products and keep supply chains short and local. Founder, Salt Rock Dairy Catherine Kinsella VIEW BIO Evolve Circular Automotive is an All - Ireland circular automotive business transforming vehicle recovery, salvage, repair and recycling. Through quality Green Parts strategic industry partnerships, Evolve extends component lifecycles while reducing waste and carbon emissions. We also deliver a sustainable, cost-effective solution within the Automotive industry supporting the transition to green parts.  CEO, Evolve Circular Automotive Richard Brennan VIEW BIO By lowering solvent purchasing, disposal requirements and environmental impact, ReSolve enables pharma and chemical laboratories achieve measurable sustainability gains while maintaining reliable chromatographic results and compliance. Managing Director, ReSolve Dermot Harrington VIEW BIO Senoptica is a Trinity College Dublin spin-out tackling food waste in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Its patented, food-safe oxygen sensor is printed into the lidding film, allowing every pack to be inspected without opening it. The technology is FDA-approved and printed at industrial scale, and it is currently being piloted with leading food producers. CEO, Senoptica Seamus Farrell VIEW BIO Slíglas converts low-value wood residues into biochar and durable carbon removal using streamlined, modular technology. Biochar is a key tool for reaching net zero. When stored in soil, biochar sequesters and locks away carbon. Biochar also benefits soils by retaining nutrients and increasing yields. CEO, Slíglas Paul McGoldrick VIEW BIO SomaTech upgrades agri-food by-products into 100% natural gut-health ingredients rich in pre/postbiotics, enzymes and bioavailable nutrients. Its patent-pending, plug-and-play fermentation platform and Bioware™ recipes deliver a 36-hour, low-cost, automated process. A Monaghan facility proves it at 12t/year. The vision: SomaTech at grain processors worldwide, enabling secure, sustainable, profitable supply chains. Founder & CEO, SomaTech Tony Callaghan JUDGES VIEW BIO Dr Geraldine Brennan is Director of Circular Economy Innovation at Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR). She is a strategic circular economy expert, systems thinker and senior sustainability leader with over 15 years of experience in industry-applied research, consulting, advertising, and communications. She has a track record of building collaborative public-private partnerships to deliver the circular economy's potential. Geraldine holds a PhD in Strategic Management & Sustainable Development and an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London and is a recognised thought leader in scaling circular innovation, including CIRCULÉIRE, Ireland's Circular Innovation Network Geraldine Brennan Director of Circular Economy Innovation - IMR VIEW BIO Mark Peters is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WakeUp Capital, Ireland's first female-led impact venture capital firm, investing in startups that enable more sustainable ways to live, work and consume within planetary boundaries. Prior to founding WakeUp Capital, Mark held senior technology leadership roles at Google, Microsoft and News Corp across Europe and the United States. He also founded a US-based SaaS platform focused on adaptive video advertising and early machine learning technologies. Mark is an active angel investor, a founding board member of the Irish Tech Operators network, and an advisor to early-stage sustainability and climate-tech companies. Co-founder & Managing Partner - WakeUp Capital Mark Peters VIEW BIO Mark is a prominent industrialist with a career in international business development for leading manufacturers in Northern Ireland. He retired as CEO of Wrightbus in 2019 and was subsequently appointed joint Chief Executive of Makers Alliance for 5 years. Today he is an independent strategic adviser to SME’s and public bodies engaged in the NI advanced manufacturing sector. Mark is a past President of the NI Chamber of Commerce, served 8 years on the board of Invest NI, and was recognised in 2015 with the award of an OBE for services to the economy. Strategic Business Adviser Mark Nodder VIEW BIO Martijn Lopes Cardozo is a Partner at Regeneration.VC, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in circular and regenerative businesses. Previously, he was CEO of Circle Economy Foundation, helping governments, cities and businesses accelerate the transition to a circular economy. A serial entrepreneur, Martijn has founded and built innovative ventures, including Black Bear, a company recovering valuable materials from end-of-life tyres. He is a frequent international speaker and entrepreneur-in-residence at YES!Delft. Martijn holds an MSc in Applied Physics from TU Delft and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Partner - Regeneration.VC Martjin Lopes Cardozo 2025 AWARDS SHORTLISTED VENTURES 2025 The ten shortlisted ventures pitching to an audience of investors, industry, policy makers, and media at the first All-Island Circular Venture Awards will include Arcology System, Biographene Innovations Ireland, BladeBridge, Circular Food Co, Ecoroots, HaPPE Earth, Gemell Technology Limited, Harp Renewable, Integrated Materials Solutions and Kinset Limited. The selected ventures represent an extremely broad range of sectors including commercial fitout infrastructure, construction waste management, compostable PPE, biobased production and packaging solutions; repurposed wind energy infrastructure; digital enablement of circular processes; aerobic digestion; additional manufacturing for textiles; and upcycling of food residuals. Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. Co-Founder & CEO, Arcology System Colette van Jaarsveld Representative READ ABOUT VENTURE Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. CEO, BladeBridge Dr Angie Nagle Representative READ ABOUT VENTURE BladeBridge repurposes retired wind turbine blades into durable infrastructure. Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. Founder & CEO, Ecoroots Lavanya Bhandari Representative READ ABOUT VENTURE Ecoroots transforms agricultural waste into compostable mycelium packaging powered by a data-driven platform for scalable, zero-waste biomanufacturing. 2nd Finalist Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. Co-Founder & CEO, HaPPE Earth Dr Mary O'Riordan Representative READ ABOUT VENTURE HaPPE Earth makes single-use PPE into a circular solution, replacing plastics with compostable materials, converting waste into fertiliser, and delivering ESG insights cutting costs, carbon, and complexity. Winner Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. Managing Director, Integrated Materials Solutions (IMS) Cian O’Hora Representative READ ABOUT VENTURE Integrated Materials Solutions (IMS) accepts C&D wastes and processes them into certified low carbon secondary aggregates for reuse in the construction industry. Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. Co-Founder, Bio Graphene Innovations Ireland Ltd Barry O’Flanagan Representative READ ABOUT VENTURE Bio Graphene Innovations Ireland transforms agricultural waste into bio-graphene materials that decarbonise concrete, enabling seawater use, and establishing a scalable circular manufacturing model for Europe. Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. Co-Founder & Head of Operations, Circular Food Co (CFCO) Niamh Dooley Representative READ ABOUT VENTURE Circular Food Co recovers food waste to turn into high value ingredients. Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. Co-Founder & CEO, Gemell Technology Limited Adam Hankin Representative READ ABOUT VENTURE Gemell Technology Limited reduces unnecessary textile waste through data-driven 3D visualisation and analytics. 1st Finalist Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. Senior Sales Manager, Harp Renewables Gerry Mc Donnell Representative READ ABOUT VENTURE Harp Renewables supplies advanced, fully circular food waste solutions for all industries. Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. CEO & Co-Founder, Kinset Limited Katelyn O’Riordan Representative READ ABOUT VENTURE Kinset connects supply chain, material, and lifecycle data in one trusted system, making it simple for brands to demonstrate transparency, enable reuse and recycling, and engage consumers through interactive digital experiences. 2025 GALLERY FAQs The FAQ document provides practical answers to common applicant questions about the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026, covering topics such as eligibility requirements, the application process through Award Force, evaluation criteria, shortlisted venture obligations, and Awards Day arrangements. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the FAQ document before contacting the circuleire@imr.ie team, as many common questions relating to eligibility, submissions, evaluation, circular economy criteria, and event participation are addressed within the document. READ FAQs MEDIA & NEWS media and news Media - Click to share the message News Northern Ireland businesses encouraged to enter the 2026 Circular Venture Awards aiming to celebrate innovation and accelerate circular impact. READ MORE DEPARTMENT FOR THE ECONOMY NORTHERN IRELAND, AUG 2026 Apply for the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026 READ MORE NI BUSINESS INFO, 26 AUG 2026 Omagh Businesses Encouraged to Apply for the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026 READ MORE OMAGH ENTERPRISE, 26 AUG 2026 Loop motif generated with the support of AI. OTHER RESOURCES Awards Info Session Video Recording Watch Info Session Video Recording Awards Info Session Slide Deck Read Info Session Presentation Slide Deck STRATEGIC PARTNERS & SUPPORTER Media Support Event Partner

Explore CIRCULÉIRE’s successful circular economy pilot projects and discover upcoming funding calls and opportunities. CIRCULAR BUSINESS SUPPORTS KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & POLICY ENGAGEMENTS ECOSYSTEM COLLABORATION Innovation Pilots From 2020 to 2022, CIRCULÉIRE actively supported the development of a circular economy in Ireland through a dedicated €1.5 million Innovation Pilot Project Fund. This initiative, backed by our strategic partners DCEE, EPA, and EIT Climate-KIC, funded 10 large-scale, system-wide innovation projects within the CIRCULÉIRE network. The Innovation Pilot Project Fund aimed to identify, test, and scale innovative circular solutions, with a focus on circular manufacturing systems, supply chains, and circular business models. Over the lifespan of this pilot, nine network participants were awarded funding to explore circularity within their sectors and collaborated with fellow CIRCULÉIRE participants and actors from the external circular ecosystem to bring their projects to life. To learn more about upcoming calls for proposals, application processes, and deadlines, keep an eye on CIRCULÉIRE's Latest News section (Inc link to news) and social media channels. See below for an overview of the successful circular economy demonstration projects funded by CIRCULÉIRE's Innovation Pilot Project Fund. 2022 2021 2020 Circular by Design Project Lead: Design & Crafts Council of Ireland Project Partner: National College of Art and Design The global textiles and apparel industry is the joint third highest emitter of greenhouse gases globally and operates in an almost completely linear ‘take-make-waste’ system. To address this challenge, The Design and Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) and the Creative Futures Academy (CFA) came together to design and launch ‘Circular By Design’; a first-of-a-kind training programme that supports textile and fashion designers, brands and manufacturers to make the transition to circular practices in every step of their design practice, value chain and business model. In its pilot year, Circular By Design equipped Irish businesses with the necessary knowledge and skills to create materials, products, and entire business models built on circularity principles. Participants gained a foundational understanding of the circular economy and redesign their value propositions, materials, products, services, and business models for a more sustainable future. READ CASE STUDY Circularising Single Use Plastics (C-SUP) Project Lead: Novelplast Project Partners: Irish Green Labs | Technical University of the Shannon | CÚRAM University of Galway | Connacht-Ulster Waste Regional Waste Office | Eventec | Climate 23 Irish laboratories rely heavily on large quantities of high-quality, carbon-intensive, single-use plastics. Most of this plastic, often polypropylene pipette tips, comes from Germany, the UK, or the US, and is incinerated in Ireland after just one use. A national audit carried out by University of Galway and Irish Manufacturing Research identified these pipette tips as the most common plastic lab waste. The C-SUP demonstration project tackled this challenge by turning these single-use polypropylene plastics into a valuable feedstock for Irish recyclers. Creating a circular system where lab waste becomes a resource, empowering researchers to minimize their environmental impact. Through dissemination via the Irish Green Labs network, the project aims to make purchasing recycled polypropylene labware the standard practice across thousands of Irish laboratories. READ CASE STUDY Do More with Less Project Lead: Farrell Furniture Project Partners: Atlantic Technological University Connemara | Office of Public Works This collaborative furniture take-back and remanufacturing project is an innovative shift towards green procurement by the Irish Government. Through a collaborative effort, Do More with Less, aims to develop and implement circularity within the public sector. There are two streams within this project. Stream One – Remanufacturing for Continued Use : Obsolete office furniture that was created by Farrell Furniture in the mid 2000’s is retrieved from the OPW. It is then repaired, remanufactured, and redistributed through the public sector. Stream Two – Preserving Design Heritage: The Crannac Chair, a classic chair design that is no longer produced will be studied and reverse-engineered by ATU Connemara. Allowing their future repair and reuse and keeping a classic piece of Irish Design in use for many years to come. READ 'DO MORE WITH LESS' CASE STUDY READ 'CRANNAC CHAIR' CASE STUDY Medical Devices a New Life (MEDAL) Project Lead: Offerre Project Partners: FPD Recycling | University of Limerick The healthcare sector is a significant contributor to environmental pollution, responsible for roughly 4.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. An increased reliance on single-use medical devices, particularly in high-income countries, has had a large impact on this. The collection high-cost and low-volume of these devices has left traditional take-back schemes are often abandoned by producers. MEDAL offers a cost-efficient reprocessing system that extends the lifespan of medical devices without compromising on product integrity or strict reprocessing protocols. Designed with key stakeholders and regulations in mind, the system prioritises high performance, user convenience, producer engagement, and overall system integrity. The Pilot assesses automation solutions for cleaning and de-manufacturing and supports the circular design of products and packaging. The system also provides a cloud-based platform allowing device consumers to interact with the producers. READ CASE STUDY Upcycled Insulation Project Lead: Cirtex Ltd Project Partners: Tipperary County Council | Clothes Pod (https://www.clothespod.ie/ ) | Interior Creations Every year, tens of thousands of tonnes of mattresses, furniture, bedding, and industrial offcuts are sent to waste in Ireland. Currently, Ireland has no answer to upcycling this end-of life material. Cirtex is a new Irish company that is seeking to turn this soft padding material into insulation and other useful products that can be further upcycled when they reach their “end of life”. The Upcycled Insulation project, in collaboration with Tipperary County Council, Clothes POD, and Interior Creations, demonstrates how to effectively collect these materials from the public in a clean and efficient manner and convert it into high-quality insulation for housing and padding for furniture and bedding companies. This solution not only diverts massive amounts of waste from landfill, but also provides the construction, furniture, and bedding industries with a sustainable alternative for their production needs. READ CASE STUDY Circular Economy & The Power of Many Project Lead: Freefoam Building Products Project Partners: Glenveagh | Mulligan Guttering | Shabra Recycling In 2021, the EU generated an estimated 188.7 kg of packaging waste per inhabitant, with construction packaging waste playing a significant role. READ MORE The CE Power of Many initiative aims to implement a take-back scheme for unused roofline building products and packaging delivered to construction sites to prevent waste ending up in landfills. Freefoam, CE Power of Many Project Lead, are implementing this take-back scheme for the left-over products and packaging associated with their products. Furthermore, they are reviewing existing packaging to optimise its recovery and reuse. This project has also led Freefoam to partner with Shabra Plastics to develop a closed loop system from Freefoam’s production plant in Cork to Shabra’s plant in Monaghan, for all PE-LD and cardboard that flows into Freefoam. READ CASE STUDY RoboCRM | Advanced Robotics To Capture Critical Raw Materials In WEEE Recycling For A Circular Economy Project Lead: FPD Recycling Project Partners: University of Limerick | Robotics & Drives In the Electronics and Electric Equipment (EEE) sector, great strides are already being made towards circularity through the increased growth of WEEE recycling. Current methods however, struggle to recover all valuable Critical Raw Materials (CRM) from electronic devices. Modern appliances often have integrated batteries which cannot be easily accessed or removed. During WEEE recycling the process to harvest appliance batteries and their CRMs can be dangerous and inefficient for humans to carry out. RoboCRM uses non-destructive, AI powered detection methods and pattern recognition to identify and sort batteries and electronics containing batteries from the main WEEE stream. Allowing for safer and more efficient processing, and a higher recovery rate of CRMs in the recycling process, closing the loop on battery recycling in the WEEE system. READ CASE STUDY SUCCESS Sustainable Use of Carbon Contributes to Environmentally Sustainable Systems Project Lead: Dawn Meats Project Partners: BHSL Waste Solutions | University of Limerick Dawn Meats, one of Europe’s largest food processing companies, produces over 430,000 tonnes of added value meat products annually. Through their SUCCESS Pilot Project, they aim to transform Ireland's meat processing sector into a circular economy model by maximising renewable energy from by-products and residues. Partnering with BHSL, a proven technology provider in the poultry sector, and researchers from the University of Limerick, SUCCESS has identified the potential to transform animal by-products and sludge into green energy through BHSL's small-scale, energy conversion technology. SUCCESS seeks to deliver Ireland’s first circular meat processing demonstration plant extracting maximum renewable energy from processing side-streams and residues while creating a high-value end product to service the growing biofertilizer sector. READ CASE STUDY CESI Circular Economy Skills Initiative Project Lead: WEEE Ireland Project Partners: Fasttrack into IT | White Goods Association Repair to extend a product’s lifecycle is a core element of functional circular economy. For repair to be a viable option in White Goods WEEE however, there needs to be skilled workforce capable of carrying out maintenance on appliances, a service that is lacking in Ireland. The Circular Economy Skills Initiative (CESI) project addresses the skills and training bottleneck that exists by developing the first QQI-accredited appliance repair qualification course in Ireland, upskilling and training much needed repair and reuse specialists. CESI was developed with support and input from the White Goods Association ensuring that the training and modules would address industry requirements and provide the most value to participants and consumers alike. READ CASE STUDY Lithium Long Life Battery (LLLB) Project Lead: WEEE Ireland Project Partners: Wisetek | KMK Metals Long-Life Lithium Batteries (LLLBs) from electric vehicles (EVs), IT equipment, and energy storage systems offer a valuable resource for a more circular Irish economy. After reaching their first life (typically 7-10 years in EVs), these batteries still hold significant potential. The LLLB-CE project aims to unlock this potential by establishing a comprehensive LLLB management system in Ireland, allowing for the safe removal, collection, sorting, and discharging of these batteries. Developing this process and training more people in the environmental management of LLLB will create employment opportunities across the sector. Encouraging new training pathways for circular economy upskilling of current operatives in the material sorting and recycling sector in Ireland. READ CASE STUDY

This page outlines the eligibility criteria for ventures seeking to apply to initiatives jointly offered by CIRCULÉIRE and Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR). It provides guidance on the types of ventures that qualify, the requirements applicants must meet, and the standards used to assess suitability. The information supports prospective applicants in determining whether their venture aligns with the objectives of CIRCULÉIRE and IMR before beginning the application process. Celebrating Innovation. Accelerating Circular Impact. 19th Nov, 2026 All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA & APPLICATION Who the Awards Are For The All-Island Circular Venture Awards are designed to spotlight the next generation of circular economy innovators across the island of Ireland. The programme is intended for emerging ventures, including both: Businesses that were founded with a circular business model at their core; and New circular ventures, spin-outs or business units established within existing organisations. For ventures originating within existing organisations, applicants must demonstrate that the venture has a distinct circular value proposition, defined objectives and growth plans, and a clear pathway to delivering measurable circular economy impact. The Awards are not intended for long-established circular businesses that already have a mature market presence. Rather, they seek to recognise and support emerging ventures that are demonstrating innovation, early market traction and significant potential for future growth. Irish Manufacturing Research, as the secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE, welcomes applications from ventures that meet the following eligibility criteria: Geographic Scope Be registered and operating on the island of Ireland. Delivering a circular solution that tackles an environmental and/or sustainability challenge in the region. Stage of Development & Commercial Traction Have moved beyond the ideation and prototype phases. Have a business model or product/service already in the market or ready to launch. Demonstrate commercial traction through at least one of the following criteria: A client base or recurring revenue; Signed commercial contracts or Letters of Intent (LOI); Successful pilot projects or customer trials; Be able to demonstrate meaningful progress towards commercialisation through one or more of the following: customer pilots, first sales, strategic partnerships, investment secured, operational deployment, or other evidence of market demand and growth potential. Circular Economy Focus Demonstrate a novel and differentiated approach, showing how the solution improves on or goes beyond existing circular economy practices nationally or across the island of Ireland. Deliver a technically robust and scalable solution that enables or directly pursues one or more circular economy strategies, including: design for circularity; repair, reuse, refurbishment, or remanufacturing; product-service systems or circular business models; take-back schemes or reverse logistics; industrial symbiosis or closed-loop production; novel material substitution; circular procurement; recycling or material recovery, where higher-value circular strategies are not feasible and the approach is justified within a broader circular economy model. Prove how the solution is enabled by multiple system-level interventions, such as business model innovation, production systems, technology, market structures, customer behaviour, skills development, financing mechanisms, supply-chain collaboration, or data and traceability system . Priority will be given to ventures that apply higher-value circular strategies and demonstrate systemic change, rather than stand-alone end-of-pipe solutions. Recycling and recovery-focused ventures must show why higher-value interventions are not viable and how their approach maximises circular value creation and resource retention. Impact Potential Potential to scale across sectors and regionally in the island of Ireland, and beyond. Ability to deliver measurable impact, with potential in one or more of the following areas: Material innovations reducing waste and improving resource efficiency. Process innovations which lower GHG emissions, energy, or water use. Technological innovations which enhance material recovery and support circular systems. Product innovations extending lifespan, improving repairability, or enabling recycling. Business model innovations which create jobs, upskill workforces, and incentivise circular behaviour. System innovations which influence policies or market structures to accelerate circular transitions. Priority will be given to ventures that deliver system-level change and support higher-value circular strategies that keep products, components, and materials in use at their highest value for as long as possible. Ventures focused primarily on recycling, recovery, or other end-of-pipe interventions should demonstrate why higher-value circular approaches are not feasible and how their solution contributes to wider circular economy outcomes. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate circularity thinking in their venture’s evolution, showing a test, learn, and adapt ethos. This includes self-awareness of where their model can become more circular in the future, and consideration of the waste, outcomes, and potential unintended consequences of their products or services. Team & Capacity  Dedicated team with relevant expertise.  At least one company representative must be available to pitch in person at Awards Day on 19th November 2026 (Aviva Stadium Lansdowne Road Ballsbridge Dublin 4 D04 K5F9).   Legal & Ethical Standing  Fully compliant with all environmental, business, and data regulations relevant to their operations and jurisdiction.   Free from ongoing legal disputes or ethical violations.  The deadline for applications is Friday 16th October 2026 at 23.59 (Irish time). APPLY HERE Return to the All-Island Circular Venture Awards 2026 Page

All Posts Ireland Working Groups Funding Knowledge Sharing Networking European Union Policy Webinars International Standards Ireland Working Groups Funding Knowledge Sharing Networking European Union Policy Webinars International Standards Ireland Working Groups Funding Knowledge Sharing Networking European Union Policy Webinars International Standards Leanne Conroy Aug 13 3 min Welcoming the 5th Cohort of the CIRCULÉIRE Circular New Venture Accelerator Programme On Tuesday 16th of July 2024, the 5th year of the CIRCULÉIRE Circular New Venture Accelerator Programme launched with 5 participating... 6 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Jun 14 2 min A Packed house at Freefoam Building Products in Cork for the Q2 CIRCULÉIRE network meeting on 12th June 2024 What a week as our founding member Freefoam Building Products Ltd played host to the CIRCULÉIRE network for another jam packed agenda... 7 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy May 13 3 min Applications Open for 2024 CIRCULÉIRE Late-Stage Venture Programme - Deadline Extension to 26th June Now in it's 5th year of funding, CIRCULÉIRE’s Circular Venture Programme is the first of its’ kind in Ireland, dedicated to supporting... 4 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy May 8 2 min Circularity at the Irish Waste Management Conference 2024 More than 150 delegates attended the 2024 edition of the Irish Waste Management Conference, held on Thursday, 14th March, at the Aviva... 1 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Mar 8 7 min Highlights from The World Circular Economy Forum in Brussels April 15th & 16th. Earlier this month, the WCEF2024 brought more than 1,500 frontrunners of circularity to Brussels, Belgium. The event was followed online... 2 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Mar 3 2 min CIRCULÉIRE partners with Dublin City Council as part of Local Enterprise Week March 4th -8th 2024. Dublin 5th March - Guinness Enterprise Centre. CIRCULÉIRE this week partnered with Dublin City Council Economic Development office at the... 2 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Feb 29 2 min ESG and the Circularity Potential An effective # ESG strategy can show that an organisation is reducing risks, bringing the potential to achieve business growth whilst... 1 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Feb 12 1 min Circular Economy of Water Webinar Now Available On Tuesday 23rd of January 2024, the CIRCULÉIRE delivery team (led by Dr Geraldine Brennan and Ana Santos) hosted an insightful webinar... 0 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Feb 7 2 min CIRCULÉIRE kicks off a European Knowledge Sharing initiative with the Dutch Tech Zone - showcasing Circular Economy Innovation in Ireland. On Friday 2nd February, CIRCULÉIRE welcomed the programme board of the D UTCH TECH ZONE - a delegation of approximately 25 people to... 1 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Jan 10 3 min CIRTEX Ltd Welcomes Min. Ossian Smyth To Circular Upcycling Plant In Ireland, there are an estimated 500,000 used mattresses sent discarded every year. CIRTEX, (co-founded by Rick Earley and David... 0 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Nov 23, 2023 3 min Circular Economy of Water Good Practice Sectoral Guide Launches at the All Ireland Waste Water Expo CIRCULÉIRE is delighted to announce the launch of Towards a Circular Economy of Water in Ireland at the All Ireland Waste Water Expo in... 0 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Nov 21, 2023 2 min CIRCULÉIRE member CIRTEX features in RTÉ One series Heated Over 500,000 mattresses are being discarded each year in Ireland through Fly Tipping and illegal dumping. This is a staggering volume... 0 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Nov 14, 2023 3 min Fostering Circularity in Irelands Electronic Sector at the WEEE Ireland members conference in October 2023 At this year's WEEE Ireland Member Conference held on Wednesday 18th Oct 2023 at Castleknock Hotel, Dublin, Dr. Geraldine Brennan along... 1 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Nov 13, 2023 2 min ZeroNet launches 21st Century Smart Take-back Scheme Imagine being able to schedule your e waste collection for pick up at your front door ! Maybe now you can. At last month's CIRCULÉIRE... 5 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Nov 13, 2023 2 min Join Us For Our Public Thematic Working Group Series - Unlocking Circularity: Inspiring Innovation for Industry Throughout October and November the CIRCULÉIRE Thematic Working Group (TWG) delivery team within Irish Manufacturing Research delivered... 0 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Nov 10, 2023 2 min CIRCULÉIRE supports the 2050 Sustainability Accelerator at Republic of Work November 9th 2023 Last night, we had the pleasure of supporting an evening of energy, expertise and and enthusiasm at the Republic of Work Sustainability... 2 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Oct 23, 2023 2 min CIRCULÉIRE participate at first Public Service Transformation Conference 23rd October 2023 There was a packed room at this afternoon's session on Evidence for Sustainability panel as part of the Department of Public Expenditure... 1 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Aug 27, 2023 2 min Revolutionizing Circular Economy and Business Success with Industry 5.0 In the pursuit of a more sustainable and resilient future, Industry 5.0 is emerging as a crucial driver of circular economy principles... 0 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Aug 27, 2023 2 min Mastering the Circular Transition: A Five-Step Guide for Organizations In today's world, where environmental sustainability is a pressing concern, businesses are increasingly looking towards circular... 0 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Leanne Conroy Aug 8, 2023 2 min CIRCULÉIRE Centre of Excellence for Circular Innovation Roadmap Series In November 2022, CIRCULÉIRE, in collaboration with its secretariat Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), was granted funding and entrusted... 1 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked 1 2 3 4 5

Wed, 11 Sept | IMR Mullingar Members Only | CIRCULÉIRE Q3 Network Meeting & Funding Masterclass Time & Location 11 Sept 2024, 09:45 – 16:00 IMR Mullingar, National Science Park, Dublin Road, Petitswood, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland About the event CIRCULÉIRE Q3 Network Meeting to be held on Wednesday 11th of September 2024 in IMR Mullingar. At this meeting we will be welcoming external funding experts from EPA, Enterprise Ireland, IDA, and InterTradeIreland who will be giving an overview of the funding opportunities available from their organisations to assist you in taking a proactive approach to your funding journey for 2025. Show More Schedule 9:45 - 10:15 30 minutes Coffee & Registration 10:15 - 10:30 15 minutes CIRCULÉIRE Network Updates 3 more items available See All RSVP Share this event

Events September 2024 Today Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 9:45 Members Only | CIRCULÉIRE Q3 Network Meeting & Funding Masterclass +1 more 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Day (1/2) European Manufacturing Conference 2024 +1 more 25 Day (2/2) European Manufacturing Conference 2024 +1 more 26 27 28 13:30 CircLean: Open Innovation Workshop in Ireland – co-hosted by CIRCULÉIRE & Aryzta +1 more 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 Members Only | CIRCULÉIRE Q3 Network Meeting & Funding Masterclass Wed, 11 Sept IMR Mullingar 11 Sept 2024, 09:45 – 16:00 IMR Mullingar, National Science Park, Dublin Road, Petitswood, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland 11 Sept 2024, 09:45 – 16:00 IMR Mullingar, National Science Park, Dublin Road, Petitswood, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland RSVP European Manufacturing Conference 2024 Tue, 24 Sept Brussels 24 Sept 2024, 08:00 – 25 Sept 2024, 17:00 Brussels, Brussels, Belgium 24 Sept 2024, 08:00 – 25 Sept 2024, 17:00 Brussels, Brussels, Belgium Kindly Save-the-Date for the second edition of the European Manufacturing Conference taking place as an in-person event on the 24th & 25th of September 2024 in Brussels. Details CircLean: Open Innovation Workshop in Ireland – co-hosted by CIRCULÉIRE & Aryzta Sat, 28 Sept Grange Castle Business Park South, Co. Dublin, D22 T2P7, Ireland 28 Sept 2024, 13:30 – 17:00 Grange Castle Business Park South, Co. Dublin, D22 T2P7, Ireland 28 Sept 2024, 13:30 – 17:00 Grange Castle Business Park South, Co. Dublin, D22 T2P7, Ireland Register now for the upcoming CircLean Open Innovation Workshop to be held by CIRCULÉIRE’s Industry Member Aryzta at their office in Grange Castle Business Park and online. Details