Up2Circ - Second Open Call
Up2Circ Second Call: Get up to €50K to move your business towards circularity
The Up2Circ Accelerator’s second open call will support up to 40 projects in adopting circular business models through two funding tracks. Small-scale projects, focused on feasibility studies, will receive €15,000 for six months to explore at least one circular business model, such as circular supply chains, product life extension, or the sharing economy. Up to 28 projects will be funded. Large-scale projects, aimed at piloting and demonstration, will receive €50,000 for 12 months to implement circular transition measures, including technology adoption, circular product design, or introducing new circular products, processes, or services. Up to 12 projects will be supported.
Type of projects to be funded: Up2Circ supports SMEs in adopting circular business models, implementing circular technologies, and introducing circular product designs, processes, or services. The funding is divided into two schemes:
- Small-scale projects: Feasibility studies for circular business model adoption.
- Large-scale projects: Piloting and demonstration activities for implementing circular solutions.
Sectors / domain: Circular economy, covering resource-efficient business models, sustainable product design, and waste reduction.
Individual or consortium: Only individual SMEs can apply. Consortia are not eligible.
Specific eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must be SMEs based in the EU27 (Horizon Europe Associated Countries are not eligible).
- Applicants must have actively participated in the Up2Circ Academy online learning programme. Active participation is defined as completing at least 50% of the Up2Circ Academy e-learning modules.
- Applicants are required to upload the Up2Circ Assessment Report, completed with the support of an Up2Circ advisor. The Up2Circ advisor will assist the applicant in conducting a circularity assessment followed by completing the Up2Circ Assessment Report, which will outline the SME’s strengths, weaknesses, and suggested improvements.
Specific topics or challenges:
Small scale projects: Feasibility studies - Eligible projects must focus on one or more of the following circular economy models:
- Circular supply chains (use of recycled, bio-based, or reclaimed materials).
- Sharing economy models.
- Product-as-a-service (subscription-based or pay-per-use models).
- Product life extension (repair, reuse, remanufacturing).
- Recovery and recycling (waste valorisation and closed-loop systems).
Large scale projects: Piloting and demonstration - There are three types of eligible activities:
- Implementation of technologies to increase circularity: Activities should focus on integrating technologies that significantly reduce resource consumption and/or waste production.
- Adoption of circular product design: Activities should involve conducting a product environmental footprint analysis (LCA), identifying optimization opportunities, and developing or testing a prototype.
- Introduction of new products, processes or services: Projects should introduce new products, processes, or services that enhance the circularity of the applicant’s core business. The measures do not need to be new to Europe but must be new to the company.
Projects duration:
Small-scale projects: 6 months (July 1, 2025 – December 30, 2025).
Large-scale projects: 12 months (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026).
Budget, funding rates and payment conditions:
Funding rate: 100% (lump sum financing).
Small-scale projects: Fixed funding of €15,000 (up to 28 projects).
Large-scale projects: Fixed funding of €50,000 (up to 12 projects).
Payment schedule:
50% upfront upon signing the subgrant agreement.
50% upon approval of the final report after project completion.
📅 Call timeline:
Opens: March 1, 2025
Closes: April 30, 2025 (23:59 CET)
Evaluation period: May 12 – June 11, 2025
Results announcement: June 13, 2025
Project start date: July 1, 2025
Links
Closes
30/04/2025
Max funding per project
50.000€