The extraction of raw materials, for example for making new products, often leads to environmental damage. And processing those raw materials usually costs a lot of energy. At the same time, the incineration of waste still produces a lot of CO2 emissions. That is why, from April 22, €20 million in subsidies will be available for smaller innovation projects by entrepreneurs and partnerships that contribute to a circular economy.
Testing or demonstrating innovations with a subsidy
Entrepreneurs and partnerships can receive subsidies for pilot and demonstration projects aimed at recycling waste, reuse and the use of raw materials from biomass ('biobased'). Reuse is about products or components that are not waste and are reused for the same purpose for which they were intended. Biobased raw materials involve replacing raw materials of fossil and/or mineral origin with sustainable biobased raw materials.
With the subsidy they can test or demonstrate new techniques for this within a company. They apply for the subsidy under the Demonstration of Energy and Climate Innovation (DEI+): Circular economy scheme. The budget comes from the Climate Fund.
Also for smaller projects
- Subsidies are now also possible for smaller projects. These are valuable innovative projects that require less than €3 million in subsidy and can be completed in the short term. Entrepreneurs and partnerships have a maximum of 4 years to implement their project. The grant is open for applications from 09:00 on 22 April 2024 and closes at 17:00 on 1 November 2024.
- For large-scale projects with a subsidy of more than €3 million, entrepreneurs and partnerships could already apply for a subsidy within the current DEI+ subsidy. This closes for applications on 9 August 2024 at 17:00.
Apply circular economy in your business
In his keynote at the Holland High Tech NETWORK EVENT on Wednesday 3 July, Jan Jonker, emeritus professor of Sustainable and Circular Entrepreneurship at Radboud University, will speak about the context, concept and possible business models of the circular economy using concrete business examples and he will make connections between the top sector High Tech Systems and Materials and the (manufacturing) industry.
