In Germany, the Circular Valley initiative has recently launched a new round of funding with the goal of establishing a ‘Silicon Valley of the circular economy’ in Europe. Founded in 2021 by the Circular Valley Foundation, the initiative aims to close material loops along existing value chains, create policy recommendations, and educate the public about the circular economy.
Among its current members are major companies like BASF, Bayer, Evonik, Knipe, and Vorwerk, as well as renowned scientific institutions such as the Fraunhofer Umsicht Institute, the Max Planck Society, and the Wuppertal Institute. Over 100 start-ups from around the world have been supported by Circular Valley since its inception.
The latest cohort of start-ups comprises 15 teams from countries like Egypt, Chile, India