Current business practices are based on an approach to take, make an dispose products. This leads to the depletion of natural resources (materials, water, energy, land). In order to sustain our economic growth, companies will have to move away from this approach to a circular economy. In a circular economy, production and distribution requires less resources, products are made to last and can easily be reused. This requires new business solutions and offers many opportunities to start up new businesses.

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During this semester you will work in international groups of about 4 to 5 students. As a project group you will start-up a new company based on your own circular productor develop new business activities for an existing company. The goal is to present a 3D printed prototype of your circular product together with a sound business plan for your start-up to potential investors. The study program starts with a series of guest lectures of entrepreneurs in the circular economy. The aim of these quest lectures is to inspire and motivate you to develop your own circular product. Subsequently you then start to develop a circular product and business yourself. Various courses will provide you with the latest developments on the circular economy:-Sustainable Marketing: this course will focus on how to develop an innovative product that is consumer-oriented and has value for environment and society.

The course specifically focuses on identifying market segments in which there are high chances of success for circular products, the marketing of a ‘product as a service’ and the opportunities to grow your business with a limited budget.-Circular Finance: ‘Product as a service’ and incentives that stimulate consumers to return their products after use, influence the cash flow and thus the financing of your business. This course will focus on valuation methods of reused materials, reporting guidelines and specific financing solutions for your circular business. -Sustainable polymers: this course will focus on design and development of a prototype with state-of-the-art sustainable polymers. The course will focus on the choice of materials within your design; circular design, 3D printing and Life Cycle Analysis.