CinnovatE

CinnovatE is a pan-European initiative that aims to empower higher education institutions (HEIs) to become key drivers of circular economy innovation and sustainability in urban environments. The project brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of HEIs, industry partners, and public institutions to align education, research, and entrepreneurship in support of circular economy transformation.

Through new structures, targeted training, and startup acceleration, CinnovatE will:

• Implement innovation support and technology transfer units in participating HEIs;
• Launch training and mentoring programmes on circular economy and entrepreneurship for students, academic and non-academic staff;
• Establish student incubators to support circular business ideas;
• Run an acceleration programme for start-ups focused on sustainable city solutions;
• Build long-term stakeholder alliances to ensure the sustainability of activities.

Led by IE University, the consortium includes institutions from Spain, Norway, Lithuania, and the UK, with a strong emphasis on female entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary education, and cross-sector collaboration. By equipping HEIs with the tools and networks to bridge the gap between knowledge and market, CinnovatE aims to foster a new generation of circular economy innovators and establish HEIs as key contributors to sustainable urban development across Europe.