RIVCircular is part of the European Innovation Valleys (RIV) initiative under the Horizon Europe Programme (Pillar III – European Innovation Ecosystems) and is coordinated by the Community of Madrid.

The project aims to foster the creation of efficient, open, inclusive and interconnected innovation ecosystems in seven European regions with different levels of innovation development through the sharing of experiences, knowledge and exchange of good practices.

To achieve this, calls for proposals will be launched for a total of EUR 16 million to fund innovation projects in RIVCircular's five main areas:

• Circularity in construction and demolition, 
• Textile industry, 
• Recycling of electric vehicle batteries, 
• Resource recovery from waste, and 
• Enhancement of digitalisation in the circular economy.

A new call has now been opened. Participants from the seven eligible regions are urged to submit their applications and present innovative solutions that contribute to the transition towards a circular economy. The participating regions are: Innlandet (Norway), Madrid (Spain), Kyiv-Oblast (Ukraine), Haut-de-France (France), Extremadura (Spain), Vienna (Austria) and Greece.

Funded projects should focus on the development and/or deployment of technologies in the circular economy area, including breakthrough and disruptive innovations, through cooperation between actors from the seven participating regions.

Funded projects should propose activities to establish new knowledge or to explore the feasibility of a new or improved technology, product, process, system, service or solution. 

Deadline: 17 September. More information here.