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Scaling Up ReUse: CBI Booster Idea Submission

Challenge Metadata

Challenge Description

Please read the entire text before submitting your idea and answer all provided questions in a consecutive order.

The Circular Building Industry Innovation Booster (CBI Booster) aims to enable the transition towards a circular building industry through systemic, radical, and joint innovation.

Who do we address?​

You are a Swiss company (start-up, SME, or corporate), non-profit (public institution, NGO, etc.), or a research group interested in developing an idea on reuse in the construction industry, or testing its viability, desirability, and/or feasibility.

What are we looking for?​

Do you want to develop, test, and refine your idea for a product, service, process, or business model relating to the circular building industry?​ For this call, we invite ideas that address challenges in scaling up reuse in the building sector (more details outlined below).

Challenge: Scaling up ReUse

In collaboration Cirkla, we have outlined the following challenges:

• Tools and Innovations for Urban Mining and Reuse Logistics

Examining how we can enhance the efficiency of material recovery from existing buildings and optimize logistics for reuse, from inventory management to material tracking.

• Rethink Education Towards ReUse

Exploring new educational models to teach the skills essential for reuse, including deconstruction techniques, effective logistics, and reuse-oriented construction.

• Technical Reuse Innovation – Multiple Loops, No End of Life

Developing products and methods to extend their lifecycle through multiple reuse cycles, ensuring that building materials and components are continuously repurposed, creating a circular flow without waste.

Who can apply?

If your idea fulfills the following criteria, then you are in the right place:​

  1. You have an idea that responds to at least one of the published challenges.
  2. Your idea meets the following criteria:
    • Impact: Your idea has the potential to significantly reduce environmental harm, contribute to long-term economic prosperity, and improve societal well-being through innovative and systemic solutions.
    • Innovation: Your idea is bold, radically innovative, and explores untested concepts that support the transition toward a circular building and construction industry.
    • Collaboration: Your team is diverse, adaptable, and actively engages stakeholders across the value chain to bring the idea to life with the support of experts.
  3. You are a Swiss start-up, SME, large company, a not-for-profit, or a research team looking with partners to test the feasibility, viability and/or desirability of your idea.
  4. You can attract 10% of the total funding amount in third-party funding (= 2'000 CHF).
  5. You have at least one implementation partner and one research partner.
  6. You will have attended at least one of the open innovation workshops by theidea submission deadline.

What's in it for you?

  1. 4 to 5 teams within this specific challenge will be awarded with a direct cash contribution of 20,000 CHF to develop ideas, concepts, and prototypes. The funds can be used flexibly (e.g., pay salaries, buy equipment and material, etc.). The cash contribution is split in 2 payments of 15’000 CHF at the project start and 5’000 CHF when 3rd party funding has been secured by the team.
  2. Methodological and technical support from topic experts
  3. A Swiss-wide network of companies, researchers, and public institutions

How to be eligible for selection and funding?

What to attend?

To be eligible for funding, teams must have at least attended one open innovation workshops listed below. The open innovation workshops serve as complementary components in the innovation journey. All events are free of charge, registration is mandatory (limited space).

What to submit?

When submitting your project idea, start with a brief overview of your idea. Subsequently, address all the following questions in consecutive order. Please copy/paste these questions into the application form. Your application will not be considered if it does not answer these questions. You can find a detailed guide on how to submit your idea in the attachments below.

[Brief introduction of the idea]

    1. What challenge in the circular building and construction industry does your idea address? (max. 50 words)
    2. What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem? (max. 200 words)
    3. How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future? (e.g., circularity, reducing waste, improving health, creating opportunities) (max. 100 words)
    4. What assumptions or ideas do you want to test? What do you plan to work on during the booster program, and what is your goal to deliver at the end? (e.g., feasibility testing, prototype development, testing desirability) (max. 200 words)
    5. Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested? (max. 100 words)
    6. Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring? (max. 150 words)
    7. How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required? (max. 100 words)

Please note, that the project application is done through the open innovation platform JointCreate and will be visible to the CBI team and the jury.

You can submit your application in English, German, French, or Italian.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS 9th OF APRIL 2025, 23:59.

Further details on participation can be found on the website www.cbi-booster.ch.

If you have any questions, contact info@cbi-booster.ch.