Circular economy showcase to celebrate achievements of NICER programme

The UK’s largest circular economy research programme will culminate in a showcase event in London this week.

Business leaders, policy-makers and academic experts will gather to celebrate the achievements of the NICER programme (National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research) at the exclusive one-day event in Westminster.

The NICER showcase, which will be livestreamed, will look back at the lessons learnt from the past four years and engage in discussions on how to take ideas and solutions for a circular economy forward.

In a series of expert panel sessions, presentations, Q&As, specially-commissioned films and fireside chats, expert speakers will focus on issues such as the role of technology in accelerating the transition to a circular economy, the importance of data in driving circular business models, the impact of NICER on policy, and the role of behaviour, culture and mindset in enabling a circular economy. 

Keynote speeches will be delivered by Dario Liguti and Nadejda Khamrakulova from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, as well as Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The event will also be hearing from Professor Gideon Henderson the Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

NICER was launched in 2020 with a £30 million investment from Defra and UKRI and for the past four years has been at the forefront of circular economy research and innovation, bringing together the academic community and industry partners to build the evidence base for a resilient circular economy in the UK.

The programme, comprising 34 universities and 200 industry partners, consists of five circular economy centres, each with a specialised focus, ranging from textiles to technology metals.

The University of Exeter has played a key role in the programme through the Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Technology Metals (Met4Tech) – based at the Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall – and through the co-ordinating CE-Hub for the programme, based at the University of Exeter Business School. 

This year the CE-Hub is releasing sector reports assessing the current state of – and future potential for – circular business models in medical technology, solar energy, hospitality and finance.

Professor Peter Hopkinson and Professor Fiona Charnley are the Co-Directors of the NICER CE-Hub and comperes of the showcase event. 

In a joint statement, they said: “We are looking forward to a dynamic and fast-paced day and invite our delegates at the showcase event as well as those following online to help us celebrate the achievements of the past four years as we look ahead to future collaborations that will help drive the transition to a circular economy.”

The NICER Programme Circular Economy Showcase is on Wednesday 25 September at Church House, Westminster, London.

Register and watch online here.