Launch your own circular innovation program with the CIC Program Guide
What’s inside the guide?
The CIC Program Guide is a tried-and-tested approach for helping local governments and ecosystem builders turn circular ambitions into action. It offers step-by-step instructions for scoping, designing, and executing circular innovation programs tailored to regional needs.
The guide is structured across three in-depth reports, each focused on a critical phase of building a circular venture support program.
Get free access to the guide at the bottom of the page.
GUIDE PART 01
How to identify innovation gaps based on circularity targets
Learn how to apply a systemic, data-driven approach to choose a target value chain and define the most relevant local innovation opportunities.
You’ll learn how to:
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Select a high-impact value chain
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Develop a shared circular vision
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Build a Theory of Change
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Map stakeholder interests and influence
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Identify circular innovation opportunity areas
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Set up a monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework
GUIDE PART 02
How to set up a venture support program
Discover how to design and execute a tailored venture support program for entrepreneurs or existing circular ventures that address the identified innovation gaps.
You’ll learn how to:
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Design a targeted circular accelerator or support program
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Recruit and select high-potential talent and startups
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Execute a multi-stage accelerator
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Build and nurture a local innovation community
GUIDE PART 03
How to secure impact finance for the program and early-stage ventures
Find out how to mobilize financing for both the CIC program and the cohort of early-stage ventures, while aligning expectations with mission-aligned investors.
You’ll learn how to:
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Map financing needs across the value chain
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Identify and engage relevant financiers
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Facilitate funding deals for selected ventures
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Track impact and strengthen stakeholder relationships
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Secure initial program funding for your region
About the Circular Innovation Collective
The CIC (Circular Innovation Collective) is a consortium of impact-driven organizations—Impact Hub Amsterdam, Metabolic, and Bankers without Boundaries—supported by the City of Amsterdam (Amsterdam Impact), the DOEN Foundation, and the Goldschmeding Foundation.
Together, we’ve developed a multi-phase approach to drive systemic change in the textile sector, aiming to achieve 70% circular textiles in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA) by 2030. The CIC approach is targeted at early-stage ventures tackling issues in sectors like food, fashion, and consumer goods. Through it’s 2023 textiles flagship pilot, proving the real-world feasibility, and showcasing how cross-sector collaboration and systems thinking can unlock scalable circular innovation.
