1. Strengthening Circular Academic Collaboration South – North: Designing Frameworks and Solving Real Societal Problems
*Amaral, W. A. N; *Ometto, A.; *Costa, J.; **Buch, R., **Marseille, A.
* University of Sao Paulo (USP), Brazil
** Arizona State University (ASU), USA

2. The Context
CE is the “new black” – gaining attention from multiple stakeholders
EU: Long-term regulatory frameworks driving CE
Brazil and in the USA: Mixed bag of approaches
Single and isolated solutions generating short and reduced impacts
Pioneer Universities: USP and ASU in Americas have identified common ground for collaboration
Systemic and ecosystem approaches
Raj

3. How might we collectively accelerate the implementation
of a circular economy?

4. CE Ecosystem Stakeholders
Business/industry
Government (Federal, State, Municipal)
Universities
Entrepreneurs
Consumers
Communities
Funders/Philanthropy
Civil Society/Community-Based Organization
Others?
Raj

5. Collective Impact 5 conditions for true alignment and powerful results
Common agenda
Shared measurement
Mutually reinforcing activities
Continuous communication
Backbone organization support
Raj
Common agenda: a common understanding of the problem and a joint approach to solving it through agreed upon actions.
Shared measurement: Collecting data and measuring results consistently on a short list of indicators at the community level and across all participating organizations not only ensures that all efforts remain aligned, it also enables the participants to hold each other accountable and learn from each other’s successes and failures.
Mutually reinforcing activities: The power of collective action comes not from the sheer number of participants or the uniformity of their efforts, but from the coordination of their differentiated activities through a mutually reinforcing plan of action.
Continuous communication: continuous communication is necessary to develop trust between organizations, to ensure that common vocabulary is developed and understanding of partner’s motivations. Must be with organizations decisio-makers and common understanding of attending all meetings is needed.
Backbone organization support: Creating and managing collective impact requires a separate organization and staff with a very specific set of skills to serve as the backbone for the entire initiative. Coordination takes time, and none of the participating organizations has any to spare. The expectation that collaboration can occur without a supporting infrastructure is one of the most frequent reasons why it fails.
Kania and Kramer (2011). Collective Impact. Stanford Social Innovation Review

6. Key factors for collaboration
5 activities needed to launch and sustain effective collaborations
Clarifying purpose
Convening the right people
Cultivating trust
Coordinating existing activities
Collaborating for systems impact
Raj

7. RISN – Model for a Regional Partnership

8. Partnership Development
To minimize our impact and enable economic development, we know this can’t be achieved through residential programs alone. We need to leverage and work with our community and industry leaders.
To date, the city has entered into partnership with these organizations – which all have strong commitments to sustainability and reducing their consumption.
As part of the last focus area we are also working on creation of a sustainability platform broken into two areas:
1. Delivery of Solutions
2. Economic Development

9. Economic Viability of Forest Thinning

10. Regional Circular Organic Resource System
Tree Canopy and Vegetative Cover
Current GO Waste Sheds and Processors
2050 Modelled System

11. Our Goals Partners How it works Councils Ventures Design Challenge
PARTNERS – ASU, City of Phoenix and federally funded by EDA
GOALS – To accelerate the Circular Economy through entrepreneurship and innovation
HOW IT WORKS – This is a 6 month customized program for early stage companies in the space of circular economy. The RISN Incubator provides technical assistance, access to technical experts including university faculty and departments like the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering for their advancement, workshops and training, business plan and growth strategy development, access to feedstock from Phoenix’s waste transfer station, and a process for continuous evaluation and pre-qualification for funding opportunities with introductions to funders.
DESIGN CHALLENGE – We designed a workshop around the EMF Circular Design Guide. Is an engaging educational workshop that is also used to market CE in the community.
COUNCILS – We have an Advisory Council and Selection Committee. These help to select the ventures and advise the incubator.
Design Challenge

12. Incubator Impact Launched in September 2017
First Cohort of 10 ventures finished March 2018

13. University of Sao Paulo - USP circular economy timeline
Innovation Center launched
USP signed MoU with
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
2014 I
First projects in
Circular Economy at USP
2008 I

14. CE opportunities in Brazil:
The National Confederation of Industry case - CNI using the lenses of innovation and competitiveness

16. CE opportunities in Brazil and collaboration
Business demands from multiple value chains: Food and agriculture; Fashion – textiles; Advanced manufacturing; Circular cities
But Brazil was lacking a place and a “framework”
The Circular Economy Innovation Center (CIEC) at USP was launched to address these needs and challenges, adding two other pillar: creation of capacities and competences and tackling new business models
But collaboration with other Pioneer Universities is essential to address the complexities for the transition towards CE with positive impacts at societal level
USP and ASU are about to start a project-based collaboration on circular cities and nutrient flows

18. The Circular Economy Innovation Center

19. Elements of an effective framework for collaboration
Beyond reverse cycles
Integration
Multiple stakeholders
Mind set change
Project-based solutions: kick-wins and scale-up
Engage

20. Contact - authors Prof. Weber Amaral wana@usp.br Prof. Aldo Ometto
Dr. Raj Buch
Alicia Marseille