- Ciudad Real Activa is an initiative created by the IMPEFE that aims to promote professional development, career guidance and entrepreneurship in the area.
Last Friday, 16th December, the European project CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster was present at the event “Ciudad Real Activa”, an event whose objective was the dynamisation of the local entrepreneurial and business ecosystem, as well as achieving professional orientation and boosting entrepreneurship in its initial stages.
Juan Manuel Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, partner of the CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster project, explained the European project funded by the European Union’s Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME), which aims to transform companies in the textile and fashion industry into sustainable, circular and regenerative enterprises. “To meet its objective, the CircularInnoBooster project has launched CirCoAX, an eight-month acceleration programme that provided 30 consortia (#CirCoAX30) from across the European Union committed to circularity with funding, training and further activities to develop their ideas. This acceleration aims to turn these initiatives into projects funded by the EU through programmes such as LIFE, Interreg and Horizon, enabling public-private partnerships with city councils, county councils and regional governments,” explained Revuelta.
Job creation
Promoted by the Municipal Institute for Economic Promotion, Training and Employment (IMPEFE) and the City Council of Ciudad Real in the framework of the Ciudad Real Emprende cycle of meetings, the event was aimed not only at achieving a connection between investors and companies, but also put the focus on young people who are being trained in the Vocational Training Centres of the territory, and their own University. In this way, it was possible to connect young people with the professional, entrepreneurial and innovative reality. “CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster will enable job creation at a time when it is so necessary. Less than half of used clothes are collected for reuse or recycling when they are no longer needed, and only 1% are recycled into new clothes. This generates 5.8 million tonnes of textiles per year in the EU, approximately 11 kg per person. But instead of seeing this as a problem, we should see it as an opportunity to generate new materials from this waste, which in turn creates new jobs and helps social integration around the world,” explained Finnova’s CEO.
About CircularInnoBooster
CircularInnoBooster Fashion and Textile (F&T) is a project funded by the European Union’s Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Programme (COSME).
The CircularInnoBooster project aims to transform companies in the textile and fashion industry into sustainable, circular, and regenerative enterprises. With a duration of 2 years, it has a budget of 1,128,000 euros, 75% co-financed by the European Commission. The project is composed of an international consortium led by the European Institute of Design (IED), together with Texfor, Circulab, Finnova and The Circular Project with HumanNation.
About COSME
COSME is the Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises programme of the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME).
Through this programme, assistance is provided to SMEs to help them develop their business models, access finance, and internationalise. It also supports public administrations in improving the business environment and facilitating economic growth in the European Union. During the 2014-2020 funding period, this programme earmarked €2.3 billion to support SMEs.
About IED
Istituto Europeo di Design is an academic institution operating in the field of education, training, and research in the disciplines of design, fashion, visual communication, and management. IED has branches in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), Italy (Milan, Rome and 5 other cities) and Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro). It operates in several EU and COSME countries through partnerships and agreements with institutions, business support organisations, teachers, experts, and mentors. IED is based on a wide network of connections in the F&T (Fashion and Textile) sector.
About Finnova
Finnova is a foundation working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship at EU level. Based in Brussels, it operates through collaborations and partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s expertise in leading European project communication and dissemination activities is combined with a strong proven track record in start-ups and business support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and selection and award ceremonial events.
About Texfor
Texfor is the textile association of reference in Spain with 400 members. Founded in November 2010 and based in Catalonia, it brings together companies from the entire textile value chain, from yarns to fabrics through accessories, finishing processes, printing, and dyeing for the garment industry, home textiles and technical / industrial applications. Texfor has expertise and experience, having worked in important expert committees at EU level: university and vocational training, financial capacity building, transversal collaboration, promotion of R&D&I, specialised services, and leadership in sustainability with a focus on the circular economy.
About Circulab
Circulab is a laboratory and business design studio specialising in the development of methodologies, tools, and transformation programmes to help companies develop circular and sustainable business models. Circulab has designed a set of tools to implement the circular economy model in companies. It operates in more than 23 countries, 9 of them in the European Union, supporting projects through more than 60 independent business consultants, applying the circular methodology and tools.
About The Circular Project with HumanNation
TCP (The Circular Project) supports and promotes circular and sustainable fashion in different areas, offering the fashion industry a communication strategy based on a cross-cutting and systemic approach to the circular economy. TCP combines social, ethical, environmental, and economic aspects, and has a strong presence and connections in the world of sustainable fashion. TCP has promoted the Circular Sustainable Fashion Week in Madrid, a unique event of its kind, and acts as the headquarters of the Spanish Association for Sustainability, Innovation and Circularity in the Fashion Industry. TCP is also an ambassador for Sannas (Triple Bottom Line Business Association) and has collaborated with a wide range of Spanish, European and Latin American institutions, and companies. The Circular Project is working with Human Nation to co-design and develop CirCoAX. HumanNation is a consulting firm specialising in the development of innovation ecosystems and transformative and disruptive companies for the “new economy”. It is based on the fourth economic sector, systems thinking and co-creation. It sensitises organisations and ecosystems to respect planetary boundaries and the social fabric, creating resilient local economies with a global perspective.
