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Work with UCL academics to explore innovative solutions to circular economy challenges. Projects can receive up to £5,000 in funding to support collaborative activity.
Companies, public bodies, charities and community organisations are invited to partner with UCL researchers to tackle challenges in the circular economy.
Small grants of up to £5,000 are available to support academic-industry collaborations to identify, develop and deploy solutions that support sustainable production, consumption and resource management.
The aim of the grant is to drive impact in the circular economy, and to develop opportunities for partnerships and collaboration in the field of the circular economy.
If you’re an external organisation interested in taking part, and do not already have a UCL collaborator, we can help identify potential academic partners for you to work with. Get in touch by completing the short expression of interest form.
If you’re a member of UCL staff, you can find out more about the grant on the UCL Innovation & Enterprise SharePoint site.
Funding details
Amount: Projects can receive up to £5,000.
Duration: The maximum length for projects is 6 months. The earliest start date is 1 March 2026 and all projects must be completed by 31 December 2026.
Funding is available for projects which:
- are collaborative and demonstrate an aspect of knowledge exchange
- address an aspect of the circular economy, for example:
- sustainable materials development or reuse
- product life-cycle extension and remanufacturing
- circular supply chains and logistics
- waste reduction, valorisation and resource recovery
- circular business models and behaviour change
- data-driven approaches to material tracking and resource optimisation
- community-led circular initiatives and repair networks
- environmental impact measurement, monitoring or certification
- local circular economy pilots or demonstrators
- circular solutions in construction, food systems, packaging or textiles
Who can take part: Only UCL academics and doctoral researchers can apply for funding, but all projects must be developed in collaboration with a non-academic external partner such as a company, public body, charity or community organisation. External partners are therefore essential to every project funded through this scheme.
Submit an expression of interest
If you’re interested in taking part, complete the expression of interest form.
Please complete the form by 5 January 2026.
After you’ve submitted your expression of interest, your organisation will be contacted by the UCL Innovation & Enterprise team, who will discuss your challenge and help identify suitable academic expertise within UCL. If a match is made, the UCL lead applicant will then develop and submit the funding application.