Open call for applications!

WE.Circular Innovation Contest

The WE.Circular Innovation Contest is an initiative under the WE.Circular project, co-funded by the Interreg Danube Programme. The contest seeks to empower women entrepreneurs in 12 Danube Region countries by supporting innovative circular business ideas and models, fostering collaboration, and accelerating the transition to a sustainable circular economy.

Key Objectives

Encourage the transformation of businesses from linear to circular models.
Provide expert support for implementing circular practices.
Increase visibility and networking opportunities for women-led businesses.
Promote environmental sustainability by reducing waste and protecting natural resources.

Eligibility Criteria

To participate, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Geographical Eligibility: The business must be registered in one of the listed countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, or Slovenia.
Business Stage:
- Businesses must not exceed 5 years of registration as of the application date or the circular economy - related project/ business idea was initiated within the last 5 years
- Applicants must qualify as SMEs, with 1–250 employees, an annual turnover not exceeding €50 million, and a balance sheet total under €43 million.
Focus Area: Every business sector is eligible to apply. Businesses must demonstrate the use of circular economy principles within their operations. Priority areas include:
- Secondary Raw Materials
- Production and Consumption
- Waste Management:
- Digital Solutions: Applications or technologies that enhance circularity through digital integration.
Ownership: Businesses must be founded or co-founded by women, with at least one female founder owning 30% or more of the company.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online via the OnePass platform in English. Only complete applications received before the deadline will be considered.

Important Dates:

Open Call for Applications: December 10, 2024
Submission Deadline: February 27, 2025 (23:59 CEST)
Evaluation Period: March 2025
Finalists Announced: March 31, 2025

Benefits for Finalists

36 finalists (three from each participating country) will gain:

A digital certificate recognizing their achievement.
Free participation in the WE.Circular Business Model Development Program, which includes:
- National co-creation workshops (April–May 2025).
- Market potential evaluations (May–June 2025).
- Business model development with expert support (June–August 2025).
- Peer-reviewed feedback from international experts (September 2025).
- Implementation support for the developed business model (October 2025–February 2026).

Top 12 finalists (one from each country) will also:

Showcase their business at the Pop-Up Store Event in Bratislava, Slovakia, in March 2026, with travel and accommodation expenses covered.

This event provides a platform to present innovative solutions, network with industry stakeholders, and gain international exposure.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

Alignment with circular economy principles and key focus areas.
Innovation potential and business strategy for circularity.
Quality of performance indicators for circular success.
Digital maturity and strategy for implementing advanced technologies.

Selected participants will be notified by email and must commit to all program activities, including attending workshops and the Pop-Up Store Event.

How to Get Involved

Join the WE.Circular Innovation Contest and gain access to expert support, networking opportunities, and a platform to showcase your circular business model.

For more details and to apply, visit the official application portal (OnePass).

Contacts for inquiries:

General Information: blizman-servilova@sbagency.sk, paluskova@sbagency.sk
Technical Issues: gemmeke@bwcon.de, janek.bence@mgfu.hu

This is your chance to lead the transformation toward a sustainable and circular economy in the Danube Region.

FAQs

Question #1: My company is registered in Spain. Am I eligible to apply?

Answer #1: Unfortunately, your application will not be considered eligible if your company is not registered in one of the countries listed in the call.

Question #2: If my application becomes a finalist or winner, will I need to pay any fees for the implementation of activities?

Answer #2: No, participation for finalists and winners is completely free of charge. All support-related costs are covered by the local partner responsible for implementing the activities, including travel and accommodation expenses for attending the Pop-up Store in Slovakia.

Question #3: My company was registered seven years ago, but I have been working on a circular economy project for the past two years. Am I eligible to apply?
Answer #3: The “five years of official company registration” requirement will not be applied automatically. If the company, despite being registered for more than five years, has initiated a circular economy-related project or business idea within the last five years, the application may be considered eligible. However, this must be explicitly stated in the application, specifying the year (or date) when the project/business idea began. This information should be included under the section “Economic and circular impact created by the company” as part of the strategy for improving the applied business model.