EIT Climate-KIC launches new series of circular economy courses

As companies and practitioners around the world are looking towards more sustainable business models to reduce the devastating impacts of climate change, the concept of a circular economy is arising as a key model to help reach our goals and targets. However, rethinking our current economic model and moving towards a more circular approach requires support, and especially capacity building.

EIT Climate-KIC has launched a new series of training programmes aiming to support participants in developing thinking around circularity and create circular strategies within their businesses and organisations.  The trainings, which have been delivered yearly since 2019 by EIT Climate-KIC and partners, are based on the tools and research from Professor Dr. Fenna Blomsma, Chair of Circular Economy and Systems Innovation at the University of Hamburg.

“Train-the-trainer” courses on Circularity Thinking

The trainings, that will be delivered throughout Autumn 2021, will kick off with two “train-the-trainer” courses starting on 1 and 3 November 2021, will aim to help participants create a circular mindset and understand how to develop circular strategies, to in turn become leaders in training colleagues and stakeholders on this topic. The course uses practical tools developed for the programme including the Circularity Compass and Circularity Grid.

Due to the popularity of the “train-the-trainer” course, the November 2021 slots are fully booked and two additional sessions will be planned early 2022, with waiting lists available below.

Click here to join the waiting list for the train-the-trainer course (all participants – worldwide)

Click here to join the waiting list for the train-the-trainer course (EIT RIS countries)

Circularity Thinking courses for the food and manufacturing sectors

Two additional training programmes have now been launched, focusing on the use of the Circularity Thinking tools within the manufacturing and food sectors within EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) countries. The new courses will allow participants to analyse material flows within their activities and create solutions that reduce resource use, including challenge identification, case studies and tools to understand real-life circular needs.

The training for the manufacturing sector will start on Monday 22 November 2021 and will run on Monday and Wednesday afternoons for three weeks. The food sector training will start on Tuesday 23 November 2021 and runs on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for three weeks. The course is open to participants from EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) countries only and costs 50 euros.

Who is the course for? 

The online training courses are open to RIS country participants with an interest in circular economy and who want to develop circular solutions in either the food or manufacturing sectors, including practitioners, project managers, entrepreneurs, researchers and business representatives.

Programme outline

Six half-day workshops, from 13:00 to 17:00 CET. Participants will be working in groups using the Circularity Thinking tools to create circular solutions to problems in their sectors.

Duration and study level

25-30 hours of study including 2-3 hours of self-study for each of the workshop modules, as well as offline and group activities. Detailed knowledge of circular economy strategies is not required to take part, although a keen interest is desirable.

Gain approved trainer status

The courses will cover the competencies needed for participants to apply to be part of EIT Climate-KIC’s approved pool of users for future use of Circularity Thinking tools. A final assessed submission will be required to gain this status. For participants wishing to apply to be an approved user, there is the need to submit evidence of your case study showing how you have implemented a Circularity Thinking example, as well as an additional cost of 100 euros.

Click here to register for the food sector course (RIS countries)

Click here to register for the manufacturing sector course (RIS countries)

RIS courses are eligible for residents of the following countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain).