Stronger together: CIRCULÉIRE – Accelerating circular innovation across industry

Since 2020, CIRCULÉIRE — Ireland’s first circular innovation network, led by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) — has supported Irish industry to move from ideas to impact. By demystifying and supporting practical circular innovation, the programme is enabling members to move from ambition to real-world outcomes.

As circularity enters a decisive decade, the challenge is no longer about making the case for circularity — it is delivery.

‘From Ambition to Implementation’ IMR’s Circular Skills Insights Report highlights a persistent “implementation gap”. Many businesses have strong circular ambitions but remain stuck at pilot stage, with limited integration into core strategy and operations. This gap is driven by siloed expertise, limited capability to scale pilots, misalignment between strategy and incentives, and problems embedding circularity into decision-making.

Closing this gap requires more than technical solutions, it requires a rewiring of leadership, skills, and organisational practices.

Evolving CE skills leadership

CIRCULÉIRE’s skills agenda has evolved in response. Research shows that effective circular innovation depends on a “dual core” of capabilities: combining technical expertise with leadership, collaboration, and systems thinking.
Embedding circularity at scale requires leaders who can break down silos, align governance and incentives, mobilise resources, and build organisational capability.

IMR is strengthening CIRCULÉIRE’s training and leadership supports —moving beyond awareness toward execution-focused capacity building. This includes CPD-accredited training (developed with in-house L&D specialists), applied tools, and industry-validated insights ensuring we monitor emerging skills gaps and trends.

Re-positioning membership for greater impact

CIRCULÉIRE is continually evolving to act as both an incubator and engine of circular innovation — adapting to changing industry needs. This is reflected in how its three core pillars have been adapted to deliver targeted, practical support:

Circular business support and technical advisory offers tailored, hands-on guidance from circularity metrics experts – including opportunity mapping, GHG hotspot assessments, and circular maturity assessments. Complementing this, our 1:1 expert-led policy clinics support members to navigate relevant standards, regulations, and policy developments; ensuring their voices inform policy.

Innovation pathfinders and scale-up supports help transform ideas into fundable innovations. Through structured Innovation Sprints, led by IMR’s RD&I experts, members develop early-stage concepts into robust proposals. Key agencies — like Enterprise Ireland — and funding specialists demystify access to finance. High-potential ventures are supported through the Circular Ventures Accelerator, alongside the All-Island Circular Ventures Award, spotlighting best-in-class innovators.

Networking, capacity building and training remains the backbone of CIRCULÉIRE. Our growing network enables collaboration, partnership development, and the formation of RD&I consortia – complemented by initiatives like our “Leading for Circular Innovation” CPD training and an integrated pipeline approach — linking advisory, innovation and capacity-building into a pathway from idea to impact.

Together, these pillars position CIRCULÉIRE as a dynamic platform for experimentation, learning, and scaling circular solutions.

Our call to action

CIRCULÉIRE is working with our network to turn the promise of a circular economy into reality. Together with our 50+ industry members we invite business leaders across organisations of all sizes and sectors to join us and collaborate to deliver circular change at scale.

We are stronger together

W: www.circuleire.ie