Depending on your situation, you can do the following:
Have you ever inquired with the industry association to which your organization is affiliated? They often have programs, networks, or focus groups that help make chains more sustainable. You can also share your ideas on this.
Are you an SME entrepreneur with an idea to realize a circular product or service within the chain? Take a look at the Circular Chain Projects subsidy.
Are you working on a breakthrough with multiple parties and links in the chain, which could transform the entire chain into circularity? Is the project scalable? Does the market want to adopt the idea and invest in it? Does the project align with the Transition Agenda for Plastics, Construction, Consumer Products, or Manufacturing? Then a Moonshot might suit you – these are breakthrough projects for circular chains. You can read more about them here.
Both are circular chain projects in which companies collaborate to design, produce, or organize a product, process, service, or business model in a more circular manner. The distinction between Moonshots and Circular Chain Breakthrough Projects is characterized by the phase they are in.
Moonshots: Circular chain projects in the exploration phase. A consortium of companies is involved, and there is a circular ambition. However, this ambition needs further elaboration. Research and/or overcoming obstacles are required to develop an action plan for implementation. This phase typically lasts 6 months to 1 year.
Circular Chain Projects: Circular chain projects in the execution phase. There is a committed ambition from chain partners, and there is an Action Plan to achieve this ambition. During this execution phase, the steps outlined in the Action Plan are implemented to achieve a circular breakthrough, establishing a new normal throughout the entire chain upon project completion. This phase typically lasts 3 to 5 years.
To qualify for a Circular Chain Project, several criteria must be met. For instance, there needs to be a committed elaborated ambition from chain partners and an Action Plan on how to achieve it, enabling the initiation of the execution phase.
The development of such an Action Plan can take place through a Moonshot or elsewhere in the circular landscape. Going through a Moonshot first is not a mandatory requirement. Refer to the comprehensive instructions (in Dutch) for all criteria that apply to qualify for support through a Circular Chain Project.
The project contributes to the circular economy.
The project aims for a market-driven business proposition.
The project is ready for scaling.
The project commits multiple parties in the chain.
The project has (inter)national allure or impact.
The project makes a tangible contribution to the Transition Agenda.
Investments are needed to realize the project.
It falls within the product group's goals and processes.
It is also vital that potential breakthrough projects can count on sufficient support from the market, and multiple parties and links in the entire chain.
No, the provided support is not a grant. Versnellingshuis offers support to a consortium of chain parties by providing chain management. To do so, Versnellingshuis, through a transparent process, selects a specialized party to be commissioned for providing this support.
The Circular Chain Projects subsidy allows SME entrepreneurs to realize circular projects within their chain. This can involve a circular product, service, or business model. You can read more about it on this page of the RVO website.
An application for chain support through a Moonshot or Circular Chain Project can only be submitted by a consortium of chain parties that collectively share the ambition to make the chain circular. However, one party can act as the lead applicant on behalf of the consortium.