Part of our Profiled Universities
Institution: University of Exeter
Location: Exeter, United Kingdom
Focus Area: CE Teaching & learning, (details below) CE research; CE transformation of legacy/existing materials; building and construction, food & drink, CE focused innovation and design of future systems; plastics, agriculture, RD&I, CE critical enablers; Data, Multi-disciplinary collaboration, Policy & engagement
Expertise: The Exeter Centre for Circular EconomyCircular EconomyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. (ECCE), Circular Economy Teaching & learning, MBA Circular Economy Corporate Challenge, Leadership and the Circular Economy
Key projects:
Leadership & Research
The Exeter Centre for Circular Economy (ECCE) - Established in 2017, the Centre is a part of the Business School’s Department for Science, Innovation Technology and Enterprise (SITE) which focuses on the innovation process within organisations using an interdisciplinary approach and drawing on insights from complex systems. As a fundamental part of a Russell Group University with world-class credentials, ECCE draws on the wealth of inter-disciplinary scientific, business, economic and social science expertise across the entire University. We are a multi-disciplinary team composed of economists, engineers, designers, sociologists, management academics and practitioners based in three locations, Streatham, Penryn and London. Read more.
The Circular Economy Hub (CE-Hub) - The National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Hub will be led by Professor Peter Hopkinson and Professor Fiona Charnley of the University of Exeter Business School. The CE-Hub brings together academics, industry practitioners, policymakers and civic society stakeholders committed to delivering circular economy research and innovation programmes in a joint and systemic way. It is focused on establishing the scientific evidence, tools and methods to support the implementation of a circular economy, knowledge sharingsharingThe use of a product by multiple users. It is a practice that retains the highest value of a product by extending its use period. and collaboration. Find out more here.
Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre in Technology Metals - The University is also one of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) interdisciplinary circular economy centres - part of a £22.5 million government investment. They will explore how reusing waste materials in the textiles, construction, chemical and metal industries could deliver huge environmental benefits and boost the UK economy. Find out more.
Teaching
The Circular Economy Masterclass – The Masterclass Introductory course is a 6-week, online, highly interactive programme aimed at those organisations and individuals looking to create and deliver commercial benefits from Circular Economy.
**NEW** The Open Market Masterclass - The Open Market Masterclass is a 6-week, online, highly interactive introductory course for businesses and organisations seeking to initiate change towards Circular Economy opportunities.
The Exeter MBA: - This is a one-week industry-focused module in which MBA students work in teams to respond to a specific Circular Economy Challenge set by one of our corporate partners. Over the last three years, we have collaborated with Unilever, IKEA and The Bodyshop and in 2020/21 we are excited to be working with McDonalds. Design Challenge: To support the learning journey the MBA also partners with the global design agency, IDEO, to deliver a formative design challenge that takes a deep dive using the very successful IDEO and Ellen MacArthur Foundation Circular Design Guide. Circular Business Projects - Students are also offered the opportunity to work with organisations on real-world circular challenges for their summer 'Business Projects'.
Executive Education: Company-specific and open executive-level blended programmes to support the acceleration of circularity within organisations
Research
The University of Exeter has a range of research projects featured on the ECCE website. A foundation of government and industrially funded research projects underpin the theoretical and practice-based leadership of ECCE.
Their activities currently focus on key sectors such as farming and food, building and construction, digital technology, wasteful flows of industrial materials, such as plastics and regional approaches to circular economic regeneration. Further details (or see list in section below).
Connect with:
The Exeter Centre for Circular Economy/Masterclasses: circular-economy@exeter.ac.uk
The CE-Hub: ce_hub@exeter.ac.uk
The Exeter MBA: mba@exeter.ac.uk
Executive Education: executive-education@exeter.ac.uk
Find out more:
To accelerate the transition to a circular economy requires ambition, strategic commitment and a collaborative approach to innovation. The University of Exeter works with industrial organisations, across sectors, to develop the required combination of skills and capabilities using tested tools and techniques to implement circular innovation at all levels of business, society and our surrounding environment.
- Professor Fiona Charnley
Research projects
‘Circular Revolution’ (2020 – 2023)
ESIF ‘Future Focus II’ (2020-2021)
EPSRC ‘Circular4.0: Data-Driven Intelligence for a Circular Economy’ (2019– 2022)
EPSRC ‘Connected Everything II: Accelerating Digital Manufacturing Research Collaboration and Innovation’ (2019–2022)
Interreg Seas to Seas Programme ‘FanBEST – Exploring the innovation potential within the Blue Economy across the Atlantic-Area of Europe’ (2019–2021)
EPSRC ‘Exeter Multidisciplinary Plastics Research hub: ExeMPLaR’ (2019–2020)
ERDF ‘TEVI’ enabling sustainable business projects (2018-2022)
EPSRC ‘New Industrial Systems: Manufacturing Immortality Self Healing Products and Materials’ (2018–2021)
2018 – 2019: ESRC ‘Circular Economy Policy Learning’
EU H2020 ‘Diverfarming - Crop diversification and low-input farming across Europe: from practitioners & engagement and ecosystems services to increased revenues and value chain organisation’ (2017–2022)
EU H2020 ‘Strength2Food’: assesses impacts, exchanges, knowledge, and informs policy making on regenerative food chains (2016-2021)
EPSRC REgenerative BUILDings and construction systems for a circular economy (REBUILD) (2016–2019)
EPSRC ‘Modelling supply chain optimisation in the food and beverages industry: Helping SME's in South West England work towards the circular economy' (2016–2018)
