Adam Smith Business School

The Business School is an ecosystem partner for the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) innovation challenge to source early-stage tech start-ups across different sectors and industries to help drive the circular economy.

The ‘Traceability for Circularity Challenge’ is a global call for data and traceability solutions that provide business insights on value chain data and/or bring value to new circular business models focusing on common everyday materials and consumer goods.

It has been launched by UpLink, the World Economic Forum’s open innovation platform, alongside Accenture. Adam Smith Business School is working alongside as an ecosystem partner given the research expertise of its faculty on digital entrepreneurship, social impact, and sustainability.

Professor Sreevas Sahasranamam, one of the expert mentors of the challenge said: “The convergence of emerging digital technologies with circularity is going to be critical in accelerating our progress towards meeting the net-zero target. I’m keenly looking forward to engaging with startups globally tackling this and jointly, to power a more circular economy.”

Winners of the challenge will join an active network of business partners dedicated to scaling purpose-driven start-ups, as well as gain access to selected events, projects, communities, and visibility opportunities. Other ecosystem partners of the challenge include Circularise, GIB Asset Management, Gobi Partners, H&M Foundation and HSBC.

Additionally, winners may get the chance to join a data and traceability working group and be considered for financial or non-financial support from members of the UpLink Innovation Ecosystem.

The call for submissions is open until June 12, 2024. Please visit the challenge page to learn more and apply. 

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First published: 23 May 2024