The City of Turin has opened a public notice that makes available over 1.8 million euros to support innovative projects in the field of the circular economy. The initiative, called “Culture and entrepreneurship hinged on the circular economy and the urban fabric”, is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises and non-profit entities, also in the form of partnerships, to develop solutions capable of preventing waste production, promoting reuse and recycling, and creating economic and social value in the area.
The notice is part of the PN METRO Plus National Program, the tool with which the Italian Government and the European Union support the main urban areas of the country in the implementation of strategic interventions. Specifically, the call is part of Priority 2 dedicated to environmental sustainability and contributes to Turin’s path towards climate neutrality by 2030, in line with European principles in terms of sustainability, inclusion and beauty.
Candidate projects must focus on at least one of the three strategic areas identified in the notice. The first concerns the creation and strengthening of circular urban supply chains through collaborative projects to enhance pre- and post-consumer materials, preventing them from becoming waste. Examples include: recovery and regeneration of durable goods such as furniture, household appliances or textiles, urban industrial symbiosis where waste from one company becomes input for others, transformation of food waste into services such as urban gardens with composting or value-added products.
The second area is dedicated to the promotion of local infrastructures for reuse, repair and recycling, through the development or enhancement of organizational and infrastructural solutions, including digital ones, to facilitate reuse and recycling. The project possibilities include urban reuse centers for free transfer and restoration of goods, platforms for exchange or rental, micro hubs for reverse logistics and community composting plants, in coordination with waste managers.
The third focus concerns circular design and eco-design, with initiatives that introduce criteria of durability, repairability, modularity and recyclability from the design phase, for closed-loop models. It means the development of new products from waste or recycled materials, reusable packaging and repair services integrated into the products sold.
To be funded, projects must demonstrate innovation, territorial impact in terms of waste reduction and extension of product life, active community involvement and, to a limited extent, training or awareness-raising activities. The evaluation will reward the solidity of the processes, the clarity of the monitoring models and the ability to activate citizenship through educational, training and dissemination initiatives.
Councillor Chiara Foglietta said: “This call is an investment in the innovation capacity of our territory. We want Turin to become a true laboratory of circularity, supporting companies and Third Sector entities that transform waste into resources. The circular economy is not an option, but one of the most effective tools to reduce waste and make the city more resilient and consistent with European climate goals“.
The public contribution will be able to cover up to 80 percent of eligible expenses, with funding between 70,000 and 120,000 euros per project, providing for a minimum co-financing of 20 percent by the beneficiaries. The projects, with a maximum duration of 10 months, must be carried out mainly in the territory of the City of Turin, with a possible impact on the entire metropolitan area.
The notice is part of the policy framework of Torino City Lab, the city platform dedicated to technological experimentation and urban innovation. The selected realities will be able to count on an accompanying path that starts from the animation phase of the call and continues throughout the field experimentation, with opportunities for networking and discussion with public, private and third sector actors. The technical and methodological support will be provided by Mercato Circolare, a benefit company appointed by the City of Turin to support the beneficiaries in the development, monitoring and enhancement of the projects.
Applications must be submitted by 12 noon on 16 February 2026 according to the procedures indicated in the Tenders and Tenders section of the City of Turin and as reported on the official page of Torino City Lab.
