Circular Innovation City Challenge
CLOSED: NYC-CPH Dual Urban Water Challenge
04/02/2021
Watch the Kick-off Webinar for the NYC-CPH Dual Urban Water Vision Challenge
08/03/2021
| City: | Copenhagen, New York City, Toronto, Amsterdam, and Glasgow |
| Challenge Title: | Circular Innovation City Challenge |
| Challenge Owner: | The Circular Innovation City Challenge is made possible through the collaboration between the cities of Copenhagen, Glasgow, Amsterdam, New York, and Toronto, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and World Circular Economy Forum. The challenge is facilitated by the Danish Business Authority, the Danish Design Centre and Leaderlab. |
| Challenge Website: | https://www.circularinnovation.city/ |
| Challenge Award: | If you are among the challenge winners, you will work with one or more partner cities to explore how your solution can help solve the cities’ challenges. This can lead to participating in an innovation and development project with the city. As a winner, you will engage in an exploration phase that will consist of one or more workshops with key city experts and stakeholders. If shared interest and common ground are found, this can be followed up by a joint process to develop and define an impactful on-the-ground pilot project together. |
| Theme / Sector: | Circularity/Smart cities |
| Challenge Blurb: | Do you have an innovative digital or data-driven solution that can help create a circular city? A city where businesses and people work together to make the most of our resources? An inclusive city, in which designing for circularity means providing new jobs and opportunities for all communities and citizens? If your circular solution can create an impact socially and lower the carbon footprint for cities globally. |
| Challenge Description: | By 2050 close to 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. Cities emit 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, and account for 50% of the global waste production. But we are determined to change that because we love our cities – and our planet. The transition to a circular economy is key in helping cities reach their climate targets, and a sustainable future in line with the Paris Agreement and the UN global goals. A transition that will help us build back better towards more green, resilient, and inclusive cities in the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Cities in which designing for circularity means providing new jobs and opportunities for all communities and citizens. The radical changes needed will not come without better use of data and insights on the materials and products we use, new circular business models, and new ways of engaging all city communities. We believe that emerging technologies and digital solutions are key to accelerate this transition. Can your innovation drive this change? Do you have an innovative digital or data-driven solution that can help create a circular city? A city where businesses and people work together to make the most of our resources? An inclusive city, in which designing for circularity means providing new jobs and opportunities for all communities and citizens? We are looking for early prototype to market-ready innovative solutions, with the potential to help create circular and thriving cities. Your solution can be cross-sector or focus on specific areas such as plastics, food, construction, textile, or others. It can focus on direct material reductions or on business and consumer behaviour. The most important thing is that your solution is digital or data-driven at its core and responds to one or more of the innovation areas. The challenge is a global call to action for innovators and entrepreneurs, businesses, and organisations. We invite and encourage all types of innovators globally to apply and to help us find the answers to create better and more circular cities. So, if your circular solution can create an impact socially and lower the carbon footprint for cities globally, for example by Providing data on product and material flows in the city that will help design out waste in businesses and communitiesFacilitating circular business models e.g., through digital platforms enabling product-as-a-service, leasing, or take-back systemsMaking it easier for small and medium-sized businesses in the city to support product and material reuse, repair, and recyclingFacilitating circular living for citizens and thriving neighbourhoods through digital platforms enabling local action and engagementCreating and supporting local resource loops in the city between different businesses, sectors, and communities … or if you can surprise us with something completely different? |
| FAQs | https://www.circularinnovation.city/faq |
| Open for Submissions: | 23 February 2021 |
| Deadline for Submissions: | 23 April 2021 |
| Winner Announcement: | 7 June 2021 |
| Who Can Apply? | We are seeking from early prototype to market-ready innovative solutions, with the potential to significantly strengthen our ability to create a circular, climate neutral, and thriving city. Your solution can be cross-sector or focus on specific areas such as plastics, food, construction, textile, or others. It can focus on direct material reductions or on business and consumer behaviour. The most important thing is that your solution is digital or data-driven at its core and responds to one or more challenge areas. The challenge is a global call to action for innovators and entrepreneurs, businesses, and organisations. We invite and encourage all types of innovators globally to apply and to help us find the answers to create better and more circular cities. Given the global COVID19 situation the challenge program and activities are designed to be based on virtual participation, so travel will not be mandatory. |
| Registration Details: | https://challenges.dk/en/challenge/circular-innovation-city-challenge |
For application assistance, please contact Climate-KIC or Jakob Stolt, Senior Project Manager, at
