Funded project – Victorian Circular Activator
The Victorian Circular Activator will provide a physical circular economy hub and lead catalysing activities including research, a business data platform, frameworks to support business collaboration, four business-focused capability-building programs and innovation showcases.
Background
A circular economy transition relies on cross sectoral collaboration, quality data and wide-range business support.
The Victorian Circular Activator (VCA) provides a physical space and digital infrastructure to support the Circular Economy (CE) transition in Victoria.
It will be physically located at RMIT, complementing the RMIT Activator. This hub will strengthen and complement existing digital platforms such as ACE Hub and CEBIC by providing a physical hub, where stakeholders can come together to create impact;
The VCA creates practical support pathways for CE innovation by connecting businesses, entrepreneurs, researchers, government, and the community to transition to CE. Key support activities include:
- Mapping the CE landscape across the state to identify opportunities and gaps.
- A data platform and knowledge-solutions infrastructure. This will be open and accessible for businesses, government and community and supports businesses in navigating internal and external circular economy barriers and create the capacity for ongoing learning and adaptation that enables existing business models to mature into circular economy business models.
- Empower stakeholders across the economy to capture circular innovation benefits through structured programs and service offerings, focusing on awareness and training, networking, sharing best practices, incubating, and accelerating innovative circular business models.
Objectives
- Increased access to circular economy products and services for businesses and consumers.
- New circular business models, materials markets that incorporate environmentally sustainable business practices.
- Innovative and commercial solutions.
Project updates
Mapping Victoria’s circular economy ecosystem
The VCA have published the first iteration of their research to understand the current circular economy (CE) landscape in Victoria. Objectives arising were to identify the opportunities and gaps to be nurtured over the short term to support CE transition in the State of Victoria. This report represents a milestone point of the ecosystem mapping.
Read and contribute to the ongoing research.
Circular Economy Innovation Frameworks
The VCA have published the first iteration of their CE Innovation Frameworks that were developed to support businesses to navigate the emerging circular economy body of knowledge and identify a pathway to accelerate both disruptive and iterative innovations.
VCA Impact Agency Program
From March to June 2022, RMIT Activator delivered a program called Impact Agency as part of the Victoria Circular Activator. Impact Agency is a program that provides RMIT students and industry clients the chance to work together on real world challenges – specifically related to environmental and social issues. Industry partners included Bega Cheese, Forkful, Hyyro, Salvos Stroes, Coreo, Dexus, Circular Economy Victoria and Karen Drumville.
This year's cohort of RMIT students were invited to pitch their ideas to a panel. Watch the Impact Agency Showcase.
Learn more
View the Victorian Circular Activator website.