Ideation to Action: A global community accelerating the circular economy

A/Prof Glen Croy, Prof Amrik Sohal and A/Prof Martin Geissdoerfer, 2026

Purpose

The Circular Economy Graduate Research Training Summer School 2026 and the International Workshop on Circular Economy and Sustainability 2026 were designed as connected initiatives to accelerate research impact and facilitate the transition to a circular economy. The summer school, co-hosted by Monash Business School and the University of Padua, addressed a clear need: PhD researchers are generating knowledge essential to circular economy transitions, but that knowledge must be translated into forms that policymakers, industry and educators can adopt. The subsequent Bergamo workshop extended this ambition by bringing an established international circular economy community together under the theme “Ideation and Action for Circular Impacts”, shifting from ideas toward collaborations, funded projects and practical pathways for change.

Practice

The summer school was held at the University of Padua from 18–19 June 2026, supported by a preceding teaching-team day and online pre-school small-group networking. Thirty PhD students, representing diverse countries and disciplines, worked with an international teaching team from Monash, Padua, Manchester, Bergamo and Poznań. The program combined network-building, a keynote by green chemistry pioneer Professor John Warner, and applied sessions with industry, policy and education experts. Students worked on real circular economy challenges with Arper, Atlantis Headwear and Tecnica Group; engaged with European Commission and Joint Research Centre policy perspectives; and developed teaching-case approaches for translating their research into education. The international workshop followed from 21–24 June 2026 at the University of Bergamo, building on prior workshops in Prato and Bologna, and convened academics, practitioners and partners from institutions including Monash, Bergamo, Bologna Business School, Nyenrode, WU Vienna and Loughborough. Activities included research presentations, project-development workshops, funding-opportunity discussions, networking events and an industry site visit.

Output

The immediate outputs were strengthened relationships, sharper research-translation capability and concrete project ideas. Summer school evaluations showed high satisfaction in research-translation capability development, and network development. Participant reflections repeatedly highlighted the value of moving beyond disciplinary or academic boundaries: they described learning how circular economy becomes real through company challenges, policy discussions, teaching cases and conversations with people from different fields. The Bergamo workshop extended these outputs through quick-fire research presentations, new funding discussions, and the formation of collaborations around circular business models, ecosystems, policy innovation, artificial intelligence, remanufacturing, urban manufacturing and circular value creation.

Outcome

For the PhD students, the combined program built confidence, international peer networks and clearer pathways for applying their doctoral research beyond the thesis. Many left with draft teaching cases, new collaborators, stronger communication skills and a deeper understanding of industry and policy constraints. For Monash Business School, Padua and partner universities, the events demonstrated a scalable model for doctoral research training and strengthened the collaborative base for future initiatives, including a circular economy teaching-cases book.

Impact

The wider impact lies in building an international circular economy translation ecosystem. By connecting early-career researchers with senior scholars, European policy leaders, companies and educators, the events helped convert circular economy research into more usable knowledge for business, regulation and teaching. Industry stakeholders gained fresh analysis of real circularity challenges; policy actors engaged researchers capable of supporting evidence-based transitions; and universities strengthened a recurring platform for collaboration. Over time, this network contributes to more effective circular practices, better-informed policy, and education that prepares future professionals to design, manage and scale sustainable and regenerative systems.