The transition to a circular economy represents a strategic lever for the revitalization of the Italian system, capable of combining environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and economic development. In an increasingly unstable and interconnected global context, reducing dependence on natural resources, extending the life cycle of goods, and enhancing the value of what is currently considered waste becomes a priority.
The circular economy is not only an ethical choice, but also a concrete opportunity to address the vulnerability of supply chains, strengthen the competitiveness of businesses, generate quality employment, and regenerate territories. Promoting solutions that integrate efficiency, traceability, and regeneration is essential for building a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable development model.
With this goal in mind, the Call4Circular Solutions | Shaping Italy's Circular Future was launched by the Italian Circular Economy Alliance, created with the support of the Circular Economy Lab (an initiative of Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center and Cariplo Factory), with the aim of identifying and supporting projects that propose circular innovations. The initiative aims to involve entrepreneurs, start-ups, and innovative SMEs that are ready to contribute ideas and solutions capable of bringing added value to the Italian industrial fabric.
The call for solutions
The Call4Circular Solutions is aimed at Italian and international innovative start-ups and SMEs to select high-potential solutions in three strategic areas:
- technologies for recovering critical raw materials from end-of-life products (e.g., batteries, household/professional WEEE, etc.);
- digital solutions for traceability along the supply chain;
- innovative models for managing and enhancing underutilized real estate assets, with special attention to environmental, social, and tourism regeneration.
After an initial phase of scouting the applications received, the projects with the highest potential will have the opportunity to participate in a Demo Day: during the event, the selected companies will be able to present themselves to representatives of the Alliance's partner companies, with the aim of developing technological synergies in subsequent phases through the implementation of pilot projects or Proof-of-Concepts, commercial collaborations, or corporate venture capital investments.
The phases and timeline for the initiative are as follows:
- November 23, 2025: closing date for applications;
- November 24 - December 5, 2025: assessment of applications received;
- January 2026: Demo Day;
- from February 2026: start of definition of collaboration use cases and design of Proof-of-Concepts.
Participation in Call4Circular Solutions | Shaping Italy’s Circular Future offers several opportunities:
- visibility among Alliance member companies;
- accelerate the development of innovative projects thanks to the support of leading companies in the sector at national level;
- facilitate access to direct investments made available by Alliance member companies;
- stimulate the definition of collaboration use cases and design POCs with Alliance member companies.
The selected start-ups will also have the opportunity to be presented to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation with the chance to access a free online masterclass held by the Centre for Circular Economy at the University of Exeter Business School and supported by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The Italian Alliance for the Circular Economy
The Circular Economy Alliance is a private initiative launched in 2017, consisting of a pool of entities operating in various economic sectors and committed to supporting the excellence of national companies in order to make Italy an international benchmark in the circular economy through the dissemination of best practices to various stakeholders (institutions, the business world, communities).
The Alliance is composed of nine major Italian companies: A2A, Aquafil, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), CISCO Italia, Enel, Ferrovie dello Stato, Gruppo Hera, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Touring Club Italiano.
The Alliance's vision includes redesigning the theory of corporate value, transforming value chains by creating new products and services, optimizing resources, and reducing waste, thereby creating jobs and wealth that do not erode the country's natural capital but regenerate it, while reducing the economic system's exposure to geopolitical and environmental risks. For the Alliance, the Circular Economy is not just a sustainability strategy, but must become a critical success factor for the Italian economy and a fundamental driver of innovation.
