EU Circular Economy Resource Centre (EU CERC) Circular Business Awards 2026 (Up to €10,000 fund )

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Applications are open for EU Circular Economy Resource Centre (EU CERC) Circular Business Awards 2026. African SMEs and startups working to embed circular-economy principles have a compelling opportunity to gain recognition and support through the 2026 Business Awards by the EU CERC. These awards are aimed at businesses whose products or services embrace reuse, resource efficiency, and innovation, helping you build visibility and credibility in sustainability circles.

The EU CERC, co-funded by the European Commission and the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and managed by Sitra (Finland) together with Enabel (Belgium) is designed to boost circular-economy policies and business models across the globe.

The Business Awards component specifically invites micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to demonstrate how their operations embrace circular economy frameworks, this includes waste-to-resource flows, remanufacturing, circular design, material recovery, or business models that extend product life-cycles. By participating, African entrepreneurs can:

Increase their visibility among international networks of funders, partners and policymakers
Access tailored exchange opportunities, coaching and potentially prize funding (up to €10,000)
Position their business model as part of a growing global movement toward circular economy, which may unlock new markets and partnerships

EU CERC Circular Business Awards Benefits

Prize fund (up to €10,000) plus participation at the annual World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) event and tailored coaching.
Dedicated visibility: finalists and winners receive promotion through EU CERC channels and partner networks
Access to peer-learning and an international platform to benchmark your circular business model
Networking with other circular-economy actors, including from Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia

Eligibility Criteria

A business (registered entity) operating in the circular economy or moving toward circular-economy practices
Micro, small or medium-size enterprise (MSME) — typically defined by staff size, turnover or balance-sheet thresholds
The business should have an existing model or pilot with measurable circular impact (e.g., reuse rate, resource efficiency, waste reduction)
For the 2026 edition, two tracks are emphasised:
- A Young Woman Entrepreneur Award targeted at a circular-economy company led by a woman founder/CEO.
- A Sectoral Award for an MSME in the electronics & ICT sector demonstrating a circular business model.
Businesses from eligible partner countries (including many in Africa) are invited.
Applicants must adhere to the submission guidelines and deadlines specified by Enabel (Business Lab manager) and EU CERC.

Evaluation Criteria

They aim to identify companies that contribute to the circular economy, leading to a reduced need for resources, with inspiring business models that have good potential to be replicated and be linked to EU markets. We include in the assessment the aspects of innovation and gender equality.

The questionnaire will pose these seven questions, each time followed by an open question to further explain.

What circular business model is your company implementing?
- circular design, avoiding or reducing consumption before use,
- optimal use, extending the lifetime of products during use, or
- value recovery, recovering of product or recycling of materials
Is your company tracking its reduction of resource use?
Does your company have linkages with the European market (as supplier, off-taker or other)?
To what extent is your circular business replicable outside its initial market?
How innovative are your company’s technology, product or service, processes, or collaboration with partners?
How actively is your company promoting gender equality?
What percentage of women are in managerial positions in your company?

Based on the answers to these questions, the jury will make a shortlist of companies to be invited for online video or audio interviews. These interviews will be crucial for determining the winner in each category.