Circular Economy Solutions for Livable Cities
Accelerating Innovation in Organic Waste, Packaging Waste, Textile & Garment Waste, and Other Circular Economy Solutions
About Circular City Labs Shkodra
CCL Shkodra is an innovative accelerator program that aims to empower local businesses and entrepreneurs in Shkodra region to design, prototype, test and pilot viable circular economy solutions that have the potential to scale, replicate and generate positive environmental and social impact. Read More …
Do you have a groundbreaking idea or product that can drive positive change in organic wastes, packaging wastes, textile or garment wastes, or other circular economy practices?
Join us and contribute towards a more livable and sustainable environment for Shkodra region and beyond!
What's in it for you?
The teams that make it through the accelerator phase will receive:
- Tailored 2-month accelerator program (October – December 2024) with practical trainings, group coaching, and 1-to-1 mentoring sessions with local and international experts
- Access to advanced startup tools, innovative methodologies, and development tools to design and develop your solutions and go-to-market strategies
- Marketing and PR support to enhance your startup’s communications and market visibility within the region and beyond
- Networking and partnership opportunities with EU4Innovation (EU4I) and EU for Circular Economy and Livable Cities (EUCELC) as well as other local and regional partners
- Access to financial support to prototype, build and pilot implementation of the most innovative solutions (4 best teams will receive up to €50,000 each in grant-funding)
Who Should Join?
Circular City Labs Shkodra is designed for businesses, startups, and individuals across various sectors and industries, seeking to develop circular economy solutions falling in any of the following four main categories:
Food and Agriculture Waste Solutions
It may include developing business models that address organic waste from sources such as HoReCa, farmers, and other producers. Solutions may include composting systems, waste-to-energy technologies, or innovative methods for repurposing organic waste into valuable products.
Packaging Waste Solutions
It may include creating solutions to manage and reduce packaging waste generated by catering companies, retail and grocery stores, supermarkets, HoReCa businesses, and other packaging producers. Potential solutions could involve reusable packaging systems, or alternative packaging materials.
Textile Waste Solutions
It may include (i) post-industrial textile waste (leftover textiles from manufacturing processes, creating new products from textile waste, etc.); and/or (ii) post-consumer textile waste (i.e. leasing and reuse models to minimize waste or other models to reduce overall consumer wastes.
Flexible Circular Economy Solutions
It may include proposing diverse and adaptable circular economy solutions that address various other waste streams and sustainability challenges. This typology is open to innovative and creative solutions not covered by the specific categories above, encouraging novel approaches and solutions.
For more information, download and read the Open Call Guideline
Program Journey
The road map of Circular City Labs Shkodra
> Open Call
Apply by September 29, 2024. Circular City Labs Shkodra will select up to 20 teams based on the quality of the submitted applications.
> Hackathon
Participate in an intense 3-day collaborative sessions, from the 8th to 10th of October, where a jury will select the teams that will continue in the accelerator.
> Accelerator Program
From the mid-October to mid-December 2024, the teams will undergo a comprehensive accelerator program featuring training, workshops, mentoring and networking.
> Pilot Implementation
From January to June 2025, the most promising teams will pilot and test their solutions in real life conditions in the Shkodra region with financial support from the program.
Examples of Success Stories in Circular Economy
Powered by:
Implemented by:
In collaboration with:
Disclaimer: This website was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Its contents are the sole responsibility of Circular City Labs – Shkodra and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, BMZ, or other supporting partners.