What's Involved
Interactive learning opportunities with circular economy experts and industry leaders
An innovation competition for students to find scalable, circular solutions for problems on campus*
Knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities for universities, innovators and industry experts
*Students of participating universities are welcome to register as individuals to participate and learn from our programme toolkit and webinars, even if they do not intend to join a team for the competition.
Participating Universities
We're excited to announce the 2021 founding cohort of universities from across the Asia-Pacific region!
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Bataan Peninsula State University, Philippines
Singapore Management University, Singapore
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia and Vietnam
JK Lakshmipat University, India
Quest International University, Malaysia
National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan
*We are no longer accepting universities into the 2021 founding cohort.
If you’re interested in bringing this programme to your university next year, please get in touch.
We’ll introduce you to our approach to circularity in the urban context — combining circular economy principles, lean innovation, design thinking, and systems thinking to foster new ideas and solutions that reimagine university campuses as ecologically sustainable, highly liveable and resilient ecosystems.
Timeline
October 3
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR INNOVATION COMPETITION
To enter the competition, student teams must submit the competition application form by this date.
October 18
SHORTLISTED TEAMS ANNOUNCED
We will announce the shortlisted teams and email them with next steps to prepare for the competition finals event.
October 27
INNOVATION COMPETITION FINALS EVENT
The finalists pitch their circular ideas to the jury, and by the end of the virtual event the winners of the boot camp prize will be announced!
September 9
STUDENT REGISTRATION CLOSES
Students and recent alumni of the participating universities (aged 18-25) must submit the programme registration form by this date.
September 13 - October 15
PROGRAMME CONTENT DELIVERY
Registered participants will receive invitations to attend our circular innovation workshops and webinars, and gain access to programme materials.
October 4 - 17
SHORTLISTING OF APPLICATIONS
Participating universities and the Circular Cities Asia team will review the applications and shortlist 10 teams to pitch at the competition finals event.
October 18 - 23
MENTORING WEEK
The shortlisted teams will receive mentoring from industry experts to craft their pitch for the finals.
August - Early September
PROGRAMME REGISTRATION OPENS
Participating universities promote the programme on campus to students, faculty and staff.
Programme Activities & Webinars
Introducing Circular Concepts: Circular Cities Asia’s Framework
by Shiva Susarla (Founder of CCAsia and RENERGii)
SEPT 14, 2021
1:30pm IST / 4:00pm SGT / 6:00pm AEST
There’s an urgent need to reimagine how our key urban systems can be regenerative, rather than exploitative; how new urban products, solutions and services can be created to keep materials and nutrients at their highest possible value; and how pollution can be designed out to close our waste loops. In other words, how can our cities become more circular, less wasteful and more sustainable — leading to better health and quality of life for its residents? Circular innovation holds the key!
University campuses are not just microcosms of larger cities, but also flag-bearers of new innovation and new ways of doing things. A bottom-up approach to creating change, therefore, is to make university campuses circular and create pockets of excellence that can then be adapted to the larger urban canvas. This webinar will introduce the Circular Cities Asia Framework, which identifies three main attributes of a circular city/campus: performance-driven, nutrient-aware and nature-inspired.
The Economic, Social and Environmental Benefits of a Circular Economy in Indonesia
by Bingxun Seng (Principal at Alpha Beta Consulting)
SEPT 16, 2021
1:30pm IST / 4:00pm SGT / 6:00pm AEST
A circular economy is more than just an opportunity for Indonesia to reduce waste and improve the environment. Our report with the UNDP, Bappenas, the Embassy of Denmark in Jakarta, and a consortium of partners details how a circular economy can be an important tool for Indonesia to “build back better” from the pandemic.
Circular Innovation Workshop 1: Problem Identification
by Shiva Susarla (Founder of CCAsia and RENERGii) & Angeli Recella (Co-Executive Director for Operations at Makesense Asia)
SEPT 20, 2021
1:30pm IST / 4:00pm SGT / 6:00pm AEST
Duration: 2 hours
The Problem Identification workshop focuses on uncovering and investigating challenges that exist on university campuses. We’ll guide participants through the process of identifying a problem on campus, understanding the key stakeholders and processes involved, gathering meaningful data from potential users/customers about their pain points, and interpreting findings to figure out if it’s a problem worth solving.
Value Proposition Canvas
by Vittorio Lepre (Venture Partner at RENERGii)
AVAILABLE WEEK OF SEPT 20, 2021
*pre-recorded webinar*
In this Value Proposition Canvas video, you’ll learn ways to identify the pains of your customer/user, their major “jobs to be done”, and what they’ll gain from having their problem solved. Vittorio will provide insight into how you can build a valuable offering that creates gains for your customers/users while also relieving their pain points.
Research and Innovation
by Jill Manapat (Co-Founder and CEO of Saliksik Inc.)
SEPT 22, 2021
1:30pm IST / 4:00pm SGT / 6:00pm AEST
This webinar will revolve around the crucial role that innovation adoption plays in bringing academic research projects out into the real world. It will also take a closer look at the major players in the innovation ecosystem, i.e. government, industry, academia, and the public, and how collaboration between them is integral in humanity’s efforts to address climate change. We will look at examples of climate-related technologies that have been successfully adopted and those that never made it to the market, or did so too late. Although the speaker will be coming from a largely Philippine-based perspective, the concept of innovation is universal. The goal of the webinar is to spark discussion, share best practices, and start working together in building a more circular economy, among other possibilities.
Circular Innovation Workshop 2: Ideation
by Shiva Susarla (Founder of CCAsia and RENERGii) & Makesense Philippines: Angeli Recella (Co-Executive Director for Operations), Carlos Hechanova (Co-Executive Director for Development) & Danielle Molina (Community Manager)
SEPT 27, 2021
1:30pm IST / 4:00pm SGT / 6:00pm AEST
Duration: 2 hours
The Ideation workshop focuses on the ‘what if’ or ‘what could be the future’. Participants will take all of the inspiration and knowledge they gained from the problem discovery phase, and come up with a circular solution that could be implemented on campus. We’ll guide participants through an ideation process that includes brainstorming, conceptualising circular ideas and making the business case for their solution.
Business Model Canvas
by Vittorio Lepre (Venture Partner at RENERGii)
AVAILABLE WEEK OF SEPT 27, 2021
*pre-recorded webinar*
In this Business Model Canvas video, you’ll learn about each building block of the canvas and the process of mapping out your business model. Vittorio will walk you through the right questions to ask when putting together the canvas and the importance of keeping it as a living document.
Circular Economy Case Study Workshop for Academics
by Chris Oestereich (Circular Economy Advisor at Linear to Circular/Faculty at Thammasat University),
Kah Wei Yoong (Co-Founder of PlayCloud Learning) &
Jett Virangkabutra (Adjunct Lecturer at Thammasat University)
OCT 7, 2021
7:30am IST / 10:00am SGT / 12:00pm AEST
Duration: 3 hours
The session will feature a short lecture on the circular economy followed by a short, multi-part case study that would cover a real waste challenge at the community level. Following the lecture, participants will have the opportunity to take part in facilitated discussions based on the case study circumstances and different perspectives.
Careers in the Circular Economy
by Martin Stavenhagen (Co-Founder and Director of Get Circular with SD Consulting) & Laura Grotenrath (Founder of Zero Waste Your Life/Member of Circular Berlin)
OCT 14, 2021
1:30pm IST / 4:00pm SGT / 6:00pm AEST
Are you interested, or engaged in the Circular Economy? Would you like to help go beyond linear risks of the traditional, wasteful take-make-use-lose model? Do you want to support business models that are more regenerative and redistributive? What jobs and what skills will be needed in this economy of the future? This webinar will explore:
What is the Circular Economy, and what changes are needed for today’s linear economy; How the Circular Economy changes products, business models, and systems; What circular job opportunities and skills are emerging in Europe; and what are implications for Asia.
Circular Innovation Competition Finals Event
Hosted by Circular Cities Asia
OCT 27, 2021
2:00-4:30pm IST /
4:30-7:00pm SGT /
6:30-9:00pm AEST
The teams shortlisted for the finals will pitch their circular ideas and have a live Q&A session with the jury. By the end of the virtual event winners of the boot camp prize will be announced!
Meet the Speakers
Shiva Susarla
RENERGii Asia / Circular Cities Asia
Shiva is the Founder of Circular Cities Asia and RENERGii, a venture studio and
innovation firm. He has a deep passion for building and scaling ideas through
urban circular economy principles and lean innovation.
Bingxun Seng
AlphaBeta
Bing is a Principal at AlphaBeta and leads its economic development practice. He also has strong experience advising governments and the private sector across sustainability topics, particularly on impact measurement and strategies to support the circular economy transition.
Angeli Recella
Makesense Philippines
Passionate about social impact, entrepreneurship, and people development, Angeli is currently leading Operations and Programs of Makesense Asia. She was formerly the Chief People Officer of STORM Technologies - one of the largest HR Tech startups in the Philippines. While she has spent the larger part of her career in People Operations and Human Resources, she has handled multiple roles that ranges from product development and marketing to e-commerce operations and sales development. She is now integrating and harnessing her vast experience across verticals and industries to further her consulting and teaching practice. Her other interests include productivity, applied psychology, reading, and coffee.
Carlos Hechanova
Makesense Philippines
Carlos Hechanova is the Executive Director for Development at Makesense. His work in Makesense focuses on driving multi-stakeholder partnerships to address systemic issues and he has collaborated with several multinational companies, philanthropic organizations, and academic institutions, to enable them to take more impactful action in their social and environmental responsibility work.
Through the Makesense Academy, an incubator for early-stage social startups, Carlos has supported and mentored social entrepreneurs in Asia tackling different causes such as health, climate, education, and urban sustainability.
Danielle Molina
Makesense Philippines
Dani is a Community Manager for Makesense working as an advocate for health equity and social impact. She currently manages the Health4All Coalition led by Makesense. Through this collaborative platform, she brings together national government departments, foundations, social enterprises, and people's organizations to address access to healthcare for the underprivileged. She coordinates the coalition’s actions on community development through the Imagining Healthy Futures program that empowers young health leaders in developing grassroots health initiatives and innovations.
Vittorio Lepre
RENERGii Asia
Vittorio Lepre is a startup enthusiast and passionate about improving people's lives with impactful products and services. He was a startupper in Italy for half of his career, and subsequently, he achieved an MBA at SDA Bocconi in Milan. He now leads the product development of digital platforms for the startup portfolio owned by the Venture studio Renergii in Singapore. Proud promoter of Agile and Lean, he believes in the strength of such methodologies even outside their traditional application environments.
Jill Manapat
Saliksik Philippines
Jill Manapat is the Co-founder and Chief Saliksiker (CEO) of the Philippine-based social enterprise Saliksik Inc. — a platform that brings together the government, industry, academia, and the public to facilitate a more efficient innovation adoption in society. She is the former Program Coordinator of the BS Materials Engineering program at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and currently a Senior Lecturer in the same institution. In 2017, Jill co-founded the Humanitarian Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Design (HEED) group in UP, which eventually led to a course that has produced award-winning startups in the past three years. Aside from her startup and academic work, Jill also serves as a technical resource person for USAID STRIDE, specifically in establishing the FABLABS PH’s Makerspace Management Academy. For more information, you may connect with Jill via LinkedIn.
Martin Stavenhagen
Get Circular, SD Consulting
Martin is Co-Founder and Director of Get Circular with SD Consulting. He is a policy consultant, coach and educator focused on building capacities for the circular economy, system innovation and sustainable development. He likes to engage with public and private sector decision makers as well as early-stage entrepreneurs and students to strengthen climate action and sustainable solutions, and to help design a zero-carbon economy. In the past, he has worked for the German government, for the National University of Singapore, and with Climate-KIC, Europe's largest climate innovation platform.
Chris Oestereich
Linear to Circular / Thammasat University
Chris Oestereich is a circular economy advocate, a publisher, and a university lecturer. He supports organizations in their shift to the circular economy through Linear to Circular, where he is also developing waste-to-value products like handbags made from materials that would otherwise become waste. Chris is the publisher of the Wicked Problems Collaborative, an independent press that focuses on humanity’s biggest challenges. He is a lecturer at the School of Global Studies at Thammasat University where he teaches courses related to sustainability and social innovation and a global ambassador for the RSA.
Kah Wei Yoong
PlayCloud Learning
Kahwei helps education organizations on developing their pedagogy, curriculum and learners' experience through PlayCloud Learning. Having worked in the field of management consulting, higher education, education technology and special needs education, Kahwei has taken up various roles that span from curriculum development, program design, facilitation, and coaching to branding, operations, and financial management. Kahwei has also spent a year writing case studies on social innovations In Thailand and Malaysia. Outside of work, Kahwei is curious about building sustainable societies through circular innovation and interdisciplinary thinking.
Laura Grotenrath
Zero Waste Your Life / Circular Berlin
Laura Grotenrath (born 1993) studied Literature, Politics and Journalism at TU Dortmund. She started her own sustainability consulting business “Zero Waste Your Life” in 2018, focussing on circularity for startups and SMEs. As a member of the Berlin-based NGO Circular Berlin, she was a lead in developing a zero waste concept for the Berlin district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg.
Jett Virangkabutra
Thammasat University / d.school
With a background in Industrial Design, specialising in Human Centered Design. He runs projects and conducts design thinking workshops and training sessions for both the private and public sectors. Currently his focus is on creating innovation for the public sector and he is a member of the teaching team at Stanford’s d.school.
Organiser
Programme Designers:
Sponsors
Suzanna Pomeroy, Platform Director
Roleen Sevillena, Programme Manager
University Partners
Programme Partners
