2025 EU|BIC Award finalist: Circular Makerspaces

Circular Makerspaces for Sustainable Business Support is a pioneering programme advancing circular economy principles for SMEs, start-ups, and creators across the Baltic Sea. The programme transforms makerspaces into circularity-driven hubs that support sustainable innovation and business development.

Organised by EU|BIC Associates Valmiera Development agency, the initiative includes practical workshops, circular economy training, access to equipment, expert mentoring, and a digital collaboration platform. This digital tool enables networking, resource exchange, a marketplace for eco-design products, and a self-assessment test on circularity. Since 2023, over 300 participants—SMEs, start-ups, freelancers — have joined the initiative, creating an entrepreneurial community committed to reducing environmental impact through reuse, eco-design, and sustainable manufacturing.

Limited knowledge, infrastructure, and funding make it challenging for many SMEs and makers to transition from linear to circular models. This programme directly addresses these challenges.

• A digital circular platform (makertech.com) used by 133 users from multiple countries. The platform provides matchmaking, a marketplace, a circularity-specialised forum, practical tips, and…

• A Circular Maturity Test helping businesses assess and improve their sustainability practices.

• A step-by-step guide for transforming makerspaces into circularity hubs.

These tools are readily available to everyone.

Karīna Vītiņa is a designer, artist, and innovation promoter working at “HiveDesign” – hivedesign.eu She is the company’s lead designer, specialising in product innovation, interactive exhibition stand design, complex model creation, brand development, and implementing unique design projects.

I often work in makerspace DARE together with my team. We created our product using plastic 3D printing waste accumulated in the makerspace, such as PLA plastic filament leftovers and plastic spools. To reach the final product version, we had to make a mould. The availability of equipment and technical experts’ knowledge helped us achieve it. The transformation of the makerspace DARE inspires us. Makers, businesses and start-ups have more room for creativity and experimentation. Cooperation with new partners provides access to secondary materials and by-products, thus leading to new circularity business projects.