Call4Circular Solutions | Shaping Italy’s Circular Future

The transition to a circular economy represents a strategic lever for the revitalisation 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 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 objective in mind, Call4Circular Solutions | Shaping Italy's Circular Future was created, a circular open innovation project by the Italian Circular Economy Alliance with the support of the Circular Economy Lab – an initiative of the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Centre and Cariplo Factory – with the aim of identifying and supporting projects that propose circular innovations. This initiative aims to involve entrepreneurs, start-ups and innovative SMEs that are ready to contribute ideas and solutions that can bring added value to the Italian industrial fabric.

ITALIAN ALLIANCE FOR THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Italian Alliance for the Circular Economy is a private initiative launched in 2017, composed of a pool of organizations operating across various economic sectors. It is committed to supporting the excellence of national enterprises in order to make Italy an international benchmark in Circular Economy, through the dissemination of best practices to a wide range of stakeholders (institutions, the business world, and communities).

The Alliance is made up of nine major players in the national landscape: A2A, Aquafil, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, CISCO Italy, Enel, Ferrovie dello Stato, Hera Group, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Touring Club Italia.

The Alliance’s vision includes redesigning the theory of corporate value, transforming value chains through the creation of new products and services, optimizing resources and reducing waste—generating jobs and wealth that do not deplete the country’s natural capital but regenerate it, while also reducing the economic system’s exposure to geopolitical and environmental risks. For the Alliance, Circular Economy is not merely a sustainability strategy, but must become a critical success factor for the Italian economy and a key driver of innovation.

The Alliance promotes active and integrated involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including those who represent and protect the environment, ecosystems, and natural resources, as well as the younger generations, who will play a leading role in completing the transition to a circular economy. Since this transition requires a profound cultural shift, the Alliance recognizes the crucial role of civil society as a whole: citizens, consumers, clients, and third-sector organizations are essential levers for spreading and consolidating sustainable and circular behaviors in everyday life.

Scouting

Call4Circular Solutions | Shaping Italy’s Circular Future targets innovative startups and SMEs, both Italian and international, with the goal of selecting high-potential solutions in three strategic areas:

Technologies for the recovery of Critical Raw Materials from end-of-life products (e.g., batteries, household/professional WEEE);
Digital solutions for supply chain traceability;
Innovative models for the management and enhancement of underutilized real estate assets, with a focus on environmental, social, and tourism regeneration.

Following an initial scouting phase of the applications received, the most promising projects will have the opportunity to participate in the Demo Day. During the event, selected organizations will present their solutions to representatives of the Alliance’s partner companies, with the aim of developing technological synergies in subsequent phases through pilot projects or Proofs of Concept, commercial collaborations, or Corporate Venture Capital investments.

AREAS OF INTEREST

Technologies for the recovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRM) supporting the ecological and digital transition.

Critical Raw Materials (CRM) are essential resources for strategic sectors such as energy, electronics, and mobility. The recovery and reuse of CRM from industrial, electronic, and urban waste (urban mining) are crucial to reducing dependence on imports and fostering a more autonomous and sustainable transition.

The desired solutions may include:

Innovative technologies for sorting and identifying CRM and rare earth elements from end-of-life goods and assets;
Technologies for the extraction, separation, and purification of CRM and rare earth elements from WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) or from waste treatment plant residues.

Digital technologies enabling traceability along the supply chain

Traceability is a key factor in ensuring transparency, reliability, and sustainability across production supply chains. Digital technologies such as blockchain, IoT, and artificial intelligence enable the monitoring of material flows, process certification, and the implementation of more advanced circular economy models.

Examples of relevant solutions include:

Blockchain-based digital platforms to track materials and components throughout the supply chain
IoT and RFID systems for real-time monitoring of production flows
Tools to build and update the Digital Product Passport, aggregating environmental, technical, and circularity data
Artificial intelligence algorithms to validate, standardize, and analyze supply chain data
Collaborative solutions to facilitate the collection and sharing of information among suppliers, customers, and stakeholders, with the goal of enabling integrated short supply chain models and promoting circular practices such as closed-loop systems

Innovative models for the enhancement of underutilized assets and properties with a focus on environmental and social regeneration, including for tourism purposes.

The regeneration of unused spaces and structures is a powerful lever for sustainable local development. Through circular and inclusive models, it is possible to restore value to underutilized and/or abandoned assets, creating new environmental, social, cultural, or tourism-related functions that benefit communities and territories.

Examples of sought-after solutions include:

Solutions for assessing potential alternative uses (environmental, social, cultural, or tourism-related) based on the asset’s identifying variables (location, size, context, etc.);
Repurposing solutions for spaces, buildings, and infrastructure based on innovative business models (eco-hostels, coworking spaces, social housing, green infrastructure, etc.);
Modular and low-impact systems for circular building renovation (use of recycled materials, reusable components, reversible construction);

TIMELINE

October 30, 2025 – November 23, 2025 | Scouting and application collection

November 23, 2025 - December 5, 2025 | Assessment activities

December 2025 - January 2026 | Demo Day

January 2026 | Launch of use case definition and Proof of Concept design

Opportunities & Project Developments

Participation in Call4Circular Solutions | Shaping Italy’s Circular Future offers the opportunity to:

Gain visibility among the member companies of the Alliance
Accelerate the development of innovative projects with the support of leading national supply chain companies
Facilitate access to direct investments provided by the Alliance’s member companies
Stimulate the definition of collaborative use cases and design Proofs of Concept (POC) with the Alliance’s member companies

Selected startups will also have the opportunity to be presented to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation with the possibility of free access to an online masterclass delivered by the University of Exeter Business School’s Centre for Circular Economy, and supported by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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