Deshpande Startups, adelphi, and IKEA Foundation Host Workshop on Circular Economy
The 3-day event is being organized under the ‘Circular Economy Catalyst’ project funded by the IKEA Foundation.
Deshpande Startups, India’s largest business incubator, has partnered with renowned German company adelphi to host a 3-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on ‘Circular Economy Business Model Acceleration.’ This Indo-German collaborative workshop is being funded by IKEA Foundation and being held at Deshpande Startups, Hubli, India, from 25 to 27 April 2023.
Sustainability has become a key need for modern businesses, making developing advanced technology for best practices essential. In this light, the ToT program aims to enable business development service providers from various startup incubation and acceleration centers with Circular Economy Business toolkits and terminologies. Eventually, the knowledge gained will help strengthen their service portfolios to boost their business models.
CEOs of leading organisations including Dr. M.S. Shivakiran, CEO, ATAL Incubation Centre, Sri Krishnadevaraya University; Dr. Vinayak. S. Hosamani, COO, KRISHIK – Agri-Business Incubator; Nayaz Ahmed, CEO, Jain University Incubation Centre; Prahlad Tewari, Vice President, Ekonnect Knowledge Foundation; Shweta Uttam, CEO, AIC IISER Pune SEED Foundation; Vishnu Varadan V, CEO, Atal Incubation Centre – Pondicherry Engineering College Foundation will be attending the workshop.
Speaking about the workshop, Dr. Aravind Chinchure, CEO of Deshpande Startups, said, “The circular economy model assumes a lot of importance in the current scenario. This is where conservation and reducing wastage can help eliminate the need to extract new resources from the earth. Through this workshop, we aim to train people to design products and services that are durable, repairable, and recyclable. Apart from accruing environmental benefits, the circular economy business model will also benefit societies by creating new jobs, promoting innovation, and reducing the need for expensive raw materials. We are confident that such initiatives would help our planet breathe cleaner and combat climate change better.”
Additionally, Mr. Amar Munnolimath, Senior Manager, adelphi, said, “We are pleased to collaborate with Deshpande Startups and the IKEA Foundation for this workshop. It is great to see the growing interest in circular business models, which can contribute to a more sustainable future. Through this workshop, we are able to enable knowledge sharing with participants from across India, and we are looking forward to seeing the impact they will make in their communities.”
The workshop received about 50 applications, and 30 of them were shortlisted, mostly from business incubation and acceleration centers across Tier-II and Tier-III cities in India. The selected participants are being trained on the benefits and operational aspects of the regenerative economy by renowned German experts from Adelphi.
Circular business models will become a significant part of the global green economy in the years ahead. Through better waste management and disposal and lengthening the lifespan of products and materials through repurposing, recycling, or reusing, it is possible to reduce the environmental burden and ensure cleaner air and water for marginalized communities without slowing down economic growth.
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About Circular Economy Catalyst
The Circular Economy Catalyst unlocks the transformative potential of circular economy entrepreneurship to foster economies that are restorative and regenerative by design.
By supporting circular economy enterprises through targeted incubation and acceleration programs, the Circular Economy Catalyst helps entrepreneurs to transform their visions and ideas into profitable and sustainable circular economy businesses.
Adelphi and the IKEA Foundation, in collaboration with SEED, are working together to unlock the potential of circular economy entrepreneurship to design sustainable businesses and partnerships that foster inclusive and regenerative economies in India and Kenya.
About adelphi
adelphi is an independent think-and-do tank and leading consultancy for sustainability, climate, and development. Its task is strengthening global governance through research, advice, and dialogue.
About Deshpande Startups
Deshpande Startups is a unique incubation platform that supports mission-driven entrepreneurs with knowledge, resources, and network to start and scale their ventures by penetrating the markets of Bharat. It was initiated in 2016 and is currently India's largest and most comprehensive platform of its kind. Deshpande Startups is recognized by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, as a Technology Business Incubator. It is unique owing to its ground connect with Bharat and founder-first, collaborative approach. Over the years, they have helped create 3500 jobs, 17.11 crore investments made, 65 trademarks registered, 8.33 crore grants raised, 82 patents filed, 153 products commercialized, and 250 crores added to the local economy. Deshpande Startups has four programs – Yuva, Edge, Incubation, and Accelerator that are designed to support potential startup ventures through every stage of their life cycle, from conceptualization and pre-incubation to incubation and acceleration. These programs cater to student innovators, validate the ideas of aspiring entrepreneurs, and provide lab-to-market programs for startup founders.
