The 30 selected transnational partnerships will receive funding, mentoring, visibility and training for 8 months to turn their disruptive proposals into benchmarks of the circular economy in the sector.
CirCoAX, the accelerator programme for European SMEs in sustainable and circular fashion and textiles, started on March 15th. The accelerator is part of the CircularInnoBooster project, co-funded by the European Commission through the COSME Programme. This project aims to transform companies in these industries into sustainable and regenerative business models, applying the circular economy model from a holistic perspective of triple impact (social, environmental and economic).
The project experts selected the 30 most innovative applications that will be part of CirCoAX and will receive, during the 8-month programme, funding of €12,000, coaching sessions, visibility support to publicize their projects and advice on European funding.
During the day, the project partners: IED, the Finnova Foundation, TEXFOR, Circular and The Circular Project with Humannation were able to present their work and contribution in terms of sustainability for the sector, putting their experience at the service of the selected candidates. The programme details were explained during an interactive session where candidates had the opportunity to solve their doubts.
As a result, CircularInnoBooster aims to create a community of proposals and experts who share common values. Hence, through cooperation, we aim to facilitate the sum of efforts to bring a sustainable transformation to the textile and fashion industry, the second most polluting industry in the world.
COSME is the programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises by the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME).
This programme assists SMEs to develop their business models, to obtain funds and to internationalize. This scheme also supports public administrations to enhance the entrepreneurial environment and to facilitate the economic growth of the EU. During the funding period of 2014-2020, this programme allocated €2.3 billion to support SMEs.
About IED
Istituto Europeo di Design is an academic institution working in education, training, and the research of fashion, design, visual communication, and management. IED has offices in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), Italy (Milan, Rome and five other cities) and Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro). IED works in several EU and COSME countries through collaborations and arrangements with institutions, business support organizations, teachers, experts, and mentors. IED has an extensive network of connections in the fashion and textile sector (F&T).
About Finnova
Finnova is a foundation working to promote and to develop innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit across the EU. Headquartered in Brussels, it works and engages in partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s experience in leading communication activities and disseminating European projects is coupled with an extensive expertise in creating enterprises and entrepreneurial support programmes such as accelerators, incubators, and events.
About Texfor
Texfor is a leading textile association in Spain with roughly 400 members. Founded in 2010 and based in Catalonia, Texfor brings together enterprises from the textile value chain, i.e. from weaving to fabrics as well as accessories, textile finishing, printing, and dyeing for the dressmaking industry, textiles for households and technical and industrial applications. Texfor has extensive expertise as it has worked in relevant expert committees at an EU level: university and professional training, developing financial capacities, cross-cutting collaboration, fostering RDI, specialized services, and leadership in sustainability focused on the circular economy.
About Circulab
Circulab is a laboratory and design studio specializing in developing transformation methods, tools and programmes to help enterprises adopt circular and sustainable business models.
Circulab has designed a number of tools to implement a circular business model in enterprises. It works in 23 countries – 9 out of them in the EU – and it supports projects via 60 independent entrepreneurial consultants. It applies circular methodologies and tools.
About the Circular Project co-designed with HumanNation
TCP (The Circular Project) favours and promotes a circular and sustainable fashion in different areas, offering the fashion industry a communication strategy based on a cross-cutting and systemic approach of the circular economy. TCP combines social, ethical, environmental and economic aspects, and has a strong presence and connections in the sustainable fashion world.
TCP has promoted the Circular Sustainable Fashion Week Madrid, a one-of-a-kind event, and also serves as HQ for the Spanish Association for the Sustainability, Innovation and Circularity in the Fashion Industry. TCP is also ambassador of Sannas (Triple Bottom Line Business Association) and has collaborated in a wide array of Spanish, European, and Latin American institutions and enterprises.
The Circular Project works with Human Nation to co-design and develop CirCoAX. HumanNation is a consultancy enterprise specializing in the development of transformative and disruptive ecosystems of innovation and companies for the ‘new economy’. It is based on the fourth economic sector, the systemic thinking, and co-creation. It raises awareness in organizations and ecosystems to respect the planetary boundaries and the social fabric, creating resilient local economies with a global perspective.
