LAUNCH Nordic issues “Closing the loop” challenge

LAUNCH Nordic, invites applications for its Innovation Challenge 2016, a global call for innovators and entrepreneurs, companies and organizations to find solutions to this question: How can we, through new types of closed loop solutions or recycling technologies, shape a more sustainable future of materials and manufacturing?

The partnership, hosted by IKEA Group, Novozymes, Kvadrat, The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (3GF), The Danish EPA & and Region Skåne, helps to scale disruptive, sustainable innovations within materials and manufacturing. The alliance is interested in early stage, scalable technologies and innovative business models with potential to disrupt current material and resource flows by impacting what and how we recycle; the disruptive business models that spur new recycling and reuse incentives; and the projects that enable new ways of setting up or operating closed loop solutions.

The evaluation of submitted innovations is based on four parameters:

• The sustainability impact of the innovation
• The business feasibility of the innovation
• The scalability potential of the innovation
• The team or organisation’s ability to carry the innovation through.

Established in 2009, LAUNCH is a network-centered innovation platform founded on the belief that the problems of today are too big to be solved by any one organization alone. Its approach is to convene and curate networks of individuals and organizations to forge pathways for change together.

It was founded by NASA, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of State and NIKE Inc., who joined together to identify, showcase and support innovative approaches to sustainability challenges.

This year’s challenge is open to individuals, teams, startups, and established companies. The deadline for applications is September 1; in November the top five innovations will be selected to take part in a unique acceleration program that provides support, networking and mentoring from influential business and government leaders.