• The COSME CircularInnoBooster project announces the 30 candidates selected to take part in the CirCoAX acceleration programme.
  • The aim of the acceleration programme, which will start in March, is to implement the circular economy model in the fashion and textile industry.
  • Each selected project will receive €12,000 in funding, as well as mentoring, visibility and workshops.

After several months since the start of the COSME CircularInnoBooster project and hard work to identify the most disruptive circular European economy projects for the fashion and textile sector, the time has come. More than a hundred transnational partnerships from several EU and COSME associated countries have submitted their applications to the CirCoAX accelerator. After several phases of analysis and interviews, the team of experts that make up CircularInnoBooster has its final verdict on who will be the 30 selected candidates. 

In March 2022, the European fashion and textile industry transformation accelerator programme CirCoAX will start. Over 8 months, beneficiaries will receive €12,000 in funding, mentoring, visibility, workshops, networking and opportunities to apply for further European funding. The aim of this unique opportunity is to help scale these proposals and turn them into international benchmarks.

Meet the CirCoAX 30

These are the 30 transnational partnerships that will contribute to the sustainable reform of the second most polluting industry. The selection criteria were based on the quality of innovation of the proposal, the triple bottom line impact and the commitment to the need to transform the sector into a circular and regenerative model, among others. Undoubtedly, the most important thing to be part of the programme has been to reflect in the proposal an alternative in the circular economy and the need for change not for fashion, but for responsibility and ethics. 

You can meet below the 30 selected candidates, #CirCoAX30, divided into categories according to their work area. Before starting the CirCoAX acceleration programme, these consortia will attend an online ceremony with networking rooms. CirCoAX Startup Europe Awards will be launched, a European recognition to the best of the candidates participating in the final with the other projects of Nextextilegeneration Startup Europe Awards 2022 cluster.   

In addition, before the start of the accelerator, the CircularInnoBooster project will be presented on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 February at Transfiere, the European Forum for Science, Technology and Innovation in Malaga. Throughout these days Transfiere becomes a common space to share scientific and technological knowledge, promote innovation and connect science and business. There will be several panels showcasing European funding opportunities and success stories of European projects that are at the forefront of innovation, such as this one.

About COSME  

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 receive funds, and to internationalise. 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 and Rio de Janeiro). IED works in several EU and COSME countries through collaborations and arrangements with institutions, business support organisations, teachers, experts, and mentors. IED has an extensive network of connections in the fashion and textile sector (F&T).  

About Finnova Foundation  

Finnova is a foundation working to promote and develop innovation and entrepreneurship across the EU. Headquartered in Brussels, it works through collaborations and partnerships across all EU countries. Finnova’s experience in communicating and disseminating European projects is coupled with an extensive and grounded experience in creating businesses and programmes to support enterprises, such as accelerators, incubators, and the selection and organisation of ceremonies 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 an 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, specialised services, and leadership in sustainability focused on the circular economy.  

About Circulab  

Circulab is a laboratory and design studio specialising in developing transformation methods, tools and programmes to help enterprises adopt circular and sustainable business models. Circulab has designed several 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 as well as 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 with a wide array of Spanish, European, and Latin American institutions and enterprises.  

The Circular Project works with HumanNation to co-design and develop CirCoAX. HumanNation is a consultancy enterprise specialising in the development of transformative and disruptive ecosystems of innovation and companies for the ‘new economy’. It is based on the fourth economic sector, systemic thinking, and co-creation. It raises awareness in organisations and ecosystems to respect the planetary boundaries and the social fabric, creating resilient local economies with a global perspective. 

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