FUNDAMENT 4 CIRCULARITY– PRE-STUDY

About the project

SMEs in life sciences, biotech, and foodtech have the potential to contribute to a shift toward a more circular economy in minimizing waste and preserving the value of raw materials. However, a regional analysis for Skåne-Blekinge shows that SMEs’ investments in research have been decreasing in recent years, and at the same time, their innovation capacity is also declining. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen SMEs’ capacity in research and innovation. Against this background, SmiLe will carry out a preliminary study aimed at creating better knowledge and understanding of the needs, obstacles, opportunities, and fundamental conditions that exist for implementing initiatives that can strengthen the development toward a more circular economy within the life sciences, biotech, and foodtech sectors.

The project is co-financed by EU via the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket).

Purpose

The project goal is to have created knowledge about companies’ conditions for driving development towards a more circular economy, as well as identified and recruited potential collaboration partners among innovative startups within the life science, biotech and foodtech sectors. The purpose is to have created conditions for a follow-up project that has the potential to benefit participating companies contributing to the development of a more circular economy within these sectors, which in turn will contribute to more sustainable regional development.

Short description

The pre-study will work towards answering the following questions: What projects exist or have been carried out in this area? How can efforts be scaled up, complemented, and meet needs in relation to ongoing initiatives? Which organizations/key people should be linked to the project? What does the project’s target group look like from a gender equality and diversity perspective? The goal is to develop concepts and partnerships that can form the basis for an application for an implementation project where SmiLe coordinates the project and selected startups take part as partners.

Duration

2026-04-01 – 2026-09-30

Project Manager

Malin Sjöö, SmiLe Venture Hub

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.