PS16 Start-up ecosystems for the circular economy​

PS16 Start-up ecosystems for the circular economy​

16 Sep 2026 at 14:30–15:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Growth
Focus: Business, Finance, Industry, Resilience, Africa, Asia
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production

This session will explore how innovative financing mechanisms and risk-mitigation approaches can accelerate the growth of circular economy start-ups in emerging markets. The conversation will then spotlight practical examples of value chain partnerships that have enabled circular businesses to scale. Participants will leave with an understanding of what makes circular ventures investable, how next-gen blended finance and guarantees can crowd in private capital, and what role large corporates can play in creating demand and market certainty.  

Organiser(s): World Economic Forum

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PS12 Waste as resource: Industrial symbiosis as an engine of circular growth​

PS12 Waste as resource: Industrial symbiosis as an engine of circular growth​

16 Sep 2026 at 11:30–12:30 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Growth
Focus: Governance, Industry, Materials, System change, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production

The session will explore practical pathways for advancing industrial symbiosis at scale by addressing the market, system and governance barriers that constrain resource exchange and collaboration among industries. It will examine how waste-to-resource exchange platforms, digital platforms for circular resource management, managed industrial cooperation networks, cluster-based circular economy models and Eco-Industrial Parks can unlock circular resource flows.

Organiser(s): Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC), Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund

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PS8 Financing circular growth: Mobilising private capital​

PS8 Financing circular growth: Mobilising private capital​

15 Sep 2026 at 15:00–16:00 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Growth
Focus: Business, Finance, System change, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia / Australasia / Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Climate action Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals Responsible consumption and production

Circularity is increasingly recognised not only as an environmental priority but as an economic necessity. While policy frameworks and taxonomies have laid the groundwork, the next challenge is to turn these foundations into scalable financial flows and practical implementation. This session demonstrates how unlocking circular economy finance will require complementary funding instruments and coordinated action by public and private actors across the value chain, leaving the participants with a clearer understanding of the drivers and tools for this.

Organiser(s): UNEP Finance Initiative, Observer Research Foundation (ORF)

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PS4 Application of AI: Next-gen tech for a circular economy​

PS4 Application of AI: Next-gen tech for a circular economy​

15 Sep 2026 at 12:00–13:00 (UTC+5:30)
Session type: Parallel
Track: Growth
Focus: Business, Data and AI, System change, Asia, Europe, North America
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Climate action Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals Responsible consumption and production

Artificial intelligence is emerging as the connective tissue of the circular economy, adding the visibility, prediction and optimisation needed to fragmented lifecycle data to make circular business models competitive. This session examines how AI can shift the economics in favor of circularity, using the automotive sector as the proving ground and India as the geography. 

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