Apply for the Green Alley Award. Deadline 27th July 2016

The Green Alley Award is looking for start-ups and young entrepreneurs from all over Europe to submit their ideas and concepts for this year’s Award by 27th July. The Award looks for business models focused on the circular economy, the conservation of resources and recycling.

Founders can submit their application online at www.green-alley-award.com.

The establishment of a circular economy is very high on the European Commission’s agenda – not least because it estimates the annual savings from waste reduction, eco-friendly design, recycling, and similar measures at 600 billion euros. By the end of 2016, the Commission thus intends to adopt a new EU circular economy package with ambitious goals. To achieve this, investment and innovation will be necessary – meaning out-of-the-box thinkers with good business ideas stand to profit.

This year, the Green Alley Award is focussing on Finland, the model of a green economy. Not only do the Finns boast a high level of environmental awareness, the country is also one of the few in Europe that has already developed strategies for more efficient use of resources, as revealed by a new report from the European Environment Agency.

“Engineers and technicians, as designers and makers of the future, will be at the forefront of thinking about things like a circular economy and a greener future,” says Naomi Climer, President of Britain’s Institute of Engineering and Technology and patron of the 2016 Green Alley Award. “The Green Alley Award is therefore a great way for young engineers and entrepreneurs to engage and develop green ideas that will affect our future economy and I’m delighted to be involved.”

From Climer’s many years of experience at the Sony group – where, among other things she was Vice President for Professional Solutions Europe and responsible for a start-up project – the engineer also brings know-how in the international establishment of new business models.

The strongest applicants for the Green Alley Award will be invited to participate in the finals in Berlin in October 2016. In individual workshops with experts from the circular economy, founders will receive valuable advice on financing and business development. The start-up with the most compelling approach will be selected by an international jury and receive a package of benefits and services worth 30,000 euros, including a chance at financing through investment and crowdfunding.