STAND Up! OPEN CALL for green & circular textile and fashion project in Italy.

Is now open the call number 1 for the European project STAND Up! on Capacity Building Program for the support of circular/eco-innovative ideas, prototypes and business projects, that bring out and support eco-sustainable fashion ideas.

Priority to women and young people under 35.

SUMMARY DOCUMENT

The Textile Museum of Prato invites young innovators, students, designers, entrepreneurs (aspiring or budding), startuppers or new company spin-offs in the textile and fashion sectors to present their eco-innovative, sustainable business idea, project or prototype and / or circular, to be transformed into a consolidated green business model, ready to enter the market.

This is the heart of the multilevel business support program, created as part of the activities of the European Project “STAND Up!“, Funded by the European Union under the ENI CBC Med Program, which kicks off with the opening of the call for participating in the “Capacity Building Program – Call for the support of circular / eco-innovative ideas, prototypes and business projects“, as part of a broader initiative which, in the following months, will include the launch of other calls offering specific benefits and services.

The call ensures priority of access to projects presented by women (without age limits) and young people under 35; is addressed to Tuscany but also to the other regions involved in the ENI-CBC Med Program (Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Lazio, Liguria, Puglia, Sardinia, Sicily) and offers an advanced training program lasting about 8 weeks (spring 2021) implemented through an innovative methodology – the Green Business Methodology – recently developed as part of United Nations projects funded by the European Union, as well as a series of interesting benefits, including:

• a contribution of 500 euros for the 4 best classified in the selection of the 40 participants, aimed at developing the business project.
• participation in a dedicated elevator pitch, designed at the end of the course with the participation of renowned professionals from the fashion and communication sector.
• international visibility, thanks to the entry into the community of 200 young eco-innovators from the Mediterranean area selected by the STAND Up!
• Access to a voucher system for internationalization of about 2000 euros each
• the possibility of accessing the subsequent activities envisaged by the project including: a path of true business incubation, vouchers for specific expertise and systems for accessing investments and financing.
• international networking activities thanks to participation in face-to-face and online events.
• the opportunity to consult the exclusive sustainable fabrics section of the Textile Library of the Textile Museum.
• an exhibition/presentation of the best selected projects (the presentation method will be evaluated on the basis of the current pandemic situation and related restrictions).

The call for applications to participate in the program is open until March 26th.

Information on the program and application form available at the link: www.museodeltessuto.it/standupcall

Entirely free and aimed at the transition from the design phase to a sustainable and validated business model, the program will start simultaneously in the five Mediterranean countries that are partners of the STAND Up! (Italy, Egypt, Lebanon, Spain, Tunisia) and is designed to involve about 200 young eco-innovators and stratuppers, of which 40 are based in the indicated Italian geographical area.

Through online and face-to-face sessions conducted by professionals and experts (within the limits and methods allowed by the state of spread of the pandemic), meetings with innovative companies and presentations of relevant business cases, individual work sessions assisted through the use of platforms will be organized dedicated and moments of confrontation and exchange between the participants, both locally and internationally.

In particular, the topics of the training program will be among others: the in-depth analysis of the context and the reference markets at European level; the design and development of green and circular products, the creation of eco-sustainable and responsible added value; the study of international good practices; the creation of a green business model canvas, circular and eco design, circular production and consumption systems and chains, business planning and evaluation tools and methods, international certification, the system of standards and legislation related, the blockchain and the study of the Big Data system, marketing and commercialization, eco-sustainable packaging and distribution.

The “STAND Up! Action on Sustainable Textiles for the Development and Networking of Circular Economy Enterprises in the Mediterranean”, kicked off in July 2020 to meet the need for a transition to an environmentally and socially responsible circular model in the textile sector, a traditional key industry in the Mediterranean. It aims to promote replicable and inclusive circular economy initiatives in the region, developing an ecosystem of business support, innovation and technology transfer that will lead to the creation of sustainable jobs for young people and women.

For more information:

Progetto STAND Up!

www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/stand-up

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