Circular economy workshop series brings cross-university collaboration

In light of the increasingly prominent role of multi-disciplinary collaboration across Aalto University, there is, more than ever, the need to build capabilities in this domain. 

“Bridging Circular Economy Technologies and Business Models” is a cross-disciplinary project bringing together the Schools of Business and Engineering. It includes a series of three workshops that aim at building knowledge in circular economy business model development and cross-disciplinary communication. The workshops are primarily designed for researchers and faculty members in the engineering and business fields, who are welcome to participate in any or all of the series’ three parts.

The workshops will provide a forum for cross-disciplinary researchers to exchange knowledge, practices and ideas related to circular economy study. You may choose to learn about applying business model logic to the circular economy, what disassembling an electronic device actually is like, or cross-disciplinary circular economy language skills.

This project is funded by Aalto University and works as an initiation for permanent multi-disciplinary collaboration across the university.

Workshop I: Business Hooks for Closing Loops

Are you interested in the circular economy but wonder how technological solutions can be turned into working business models? What even is a business model?

“Business Hooks for Closed Loops” is an exploration of the business case for the circular economy. Innovative technical and technological circular economy solutions require a solid business rationale to be attractive for research and academic funding. This hands-on workshop is designed to help you better understand what a business model is, and how a product’s value chain may be made circular. Let’s get straight to business with the circular economy.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 1, 2019, 13:30-16:30

WHERE: Väre F102

This workshop is targeted at engineers, but anyone is welcome to participate.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/business-hooks-for-closing-loops-tickets-63479905105

Workshop II: The Dilemmas of Disassembly

WHEN: Tuesday, November 5, 2019, 13:30-16:30

WHERE: Sähkömiehentie 4 J (a group will be leaving from Väre in front of Brooklyn Cafe at 13:10)

Learn how to sort materials into different streams through a hands-on device disassembly workshop. We will talk about the challenges of material disassembly and how different materials are valued after their use lives.

This workshop is targeted at business researchers, but anyone is welcome to participate.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-dilemmas-of-disassembly-tickets-63480085645

Workshop III: Building Circular Economy Language Skills

WHEN: Tuesday, November 12, 9:30-12:30

WHERE: Väre M202

Bringing the technical and business sides together to learn how to understand and speak each other’s “circular economy language”.

This workshop is targeted at engineers and business researchers, but anyone is welcome to participate.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-circular-economy-language-skills-tickets-63480916129

Light bites and beverages will be served at all three workshops. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Miller at [email protected].