Calling All Innovators: Prolong the Lifecycle of Products!
Mirka Innovation Challenge
A Key to a Sustainable Circular Economy
Do you have an innovation that has the potential to accelerate remanufacturing into an industry that is good for people, planet, and society? How might your innovation contribute to prolong the lifecycle of products? Does your innovation transform the prioritization from newly manufactured products to prolonged product lifecycles?
Prolonged lifespan of products is a key strategy in implementing circular economy and is said to be not only one of the most efficient ways to address carbon footprint, biodiversity loss and resource efficiency, but to obtain increased levels of sustainable production.
Ready to Change the Game?
Join the Mirka Innovation Challenge! Together, we can make prolonged product lifecycles mainstream.
Who can participate?
Innovators, individuals, change-makers, early-stage startups and other commercial projects and initiatives, start-ups in early phases
How do I apply?
Submit your idea no later than 21.7 2024 by filling in the application form.
Prolonging Product Lifecycles: The Path Forward
Core processes to prolong product lifecycles include repair, refurbishment and remanufacturing. While repair and refurbishment have become established businesses, remanufacturing is still in its early stage towards a rising industry.
Remanufacturing offers an approach to extend product lifetime beyond its first use. After restoring products to their original quality, they are reintroduced to the market. Remanufacturing business is expected to grow from € 30 billion to € 90 billion within the EU until 2030. Speeding up this growth requires transition.
In this challenge, Mirka is looking for innovations that will make this possible.
Shortcuts
What are we looking for?
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For i.e. new industry areas and service entities, both for the industrial and consumer context.
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automation, robotization, 3D printing, laser cladding, AI, IoT and data etc.
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Functional coatings and surfaces, superhard materials, surface finishing for biobased materials etc.
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Servitization, product as a service concepts, outcome-based business models etc.
What’s in it for me?
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Your idea could become a viable business opportunity.
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Create your market solution pitch and design your idea with help of Mirka experts.
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Partner with Mirka, SHAPE Ecosystem, Mirka’s customer and suppliers to become a frontrunner in sustainability and circularity.
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Together, we can create a more sustainable future. The winner might get the opportunity to further develop their innovation in the Mirka Incubator M.INC®, as well as financial prizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Core processes to prolong product lifecycles include repair, refurbishment and remanufacturing. While repair and refurbishment have become established businesses, remanufacturing is still in its early stage towards a rising industry.
Remanufacturing offers an approach to extend product lifetime beyond its first use. After restoring products to their original quality, they are reintroduced to the market. Remanufacturing business is expected to grow from € 30 billion to € 90 billion within the EU until 2030.
Speeding up this growth requires transition. In this challenge, Mirka is looking for innovations that will make this possible!
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Innovators, individuals, change-makers, early-stage startups and other commercial projects and initiatives, start-ups in early phases.
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Register by filling in the application form.
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The deadline for submission is July 21, 2024, at 11:59 PM EEST (Eastern European Summer Time, UTC+3).
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Deliverables for the challenge include a pitch deck, background materials and resumes. Read more here: instructions.
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To participate in the Innovation Challenge, please complete and submit the application. Note that we do not accept applications via email. All information must be submitted through the form.
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Financial prizes and the winner might get an opportunity to further develop the idea in Mirka incubator, M.INC®. The winner will be awarded €10,000 and the second prize is €5,000.
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If you have any questions, please contact us at m.inc@mirka.com
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Participation in the innovation challenge is free of charge. However, please note that M.INC does not cover any expenses that may occur during participation.
Who are we?
Mirka Ltd is a world leader in surface finishing technology. We think that surfaces matters and are relevant in the booming remanufacturing industry.
With our wide range of solutions for surface finishing and precision sanding we enable the prolonging of product lifecycles and we see that behind every refurbished device lies a story of resilience, resourcefulness, and renewal.
Together with our partners at the SHAPE Ecosystem, we want to build a remanufacturing and refurbishing technology ecosystem.