EUROPEAN CHAIR OF EXCELLENCE
CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND TERRITORIES
- Presentation
- News and events
- Research and expertise
- Resources and publications
- Partenariats
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Understand and analyze: Study, through concrete case examples, the barriers and drivers that shape the implementation of the circular economy across territories.
Identify: Spot, document, and promote the most relevant initiatives in responsible consumption, reuse, recycling, and waste recovery throughout Europe. - Support understanding: Inform the general public, policymakers, and economic stakeholders about the environmental, economic, and social benefits of the circular economy.
- Inspire and mobilize: Showcase successful projects and committed actors to encourage action.
- Train stakeholders: Offer training programs, specialized modules, and practical workshops to build local skills and support capacity-building.
- Shape public policy: Develop actionable recommendations based on research and insights to help evolve national and European legislative and regulatory frameworks.
- Guide public action: Support local authorities and decision-makers in designing and implementing measures that facilitate the circular transition.
- Create synergies: Encourage exchanges and collaboration among businesses, territories, researchers, and citizens.
The European Chair of Excellence on Circular Economy and Territories (Grant 101127124 - CLOLOCALL) is a Jean Monnet Chair funded by the European Union. Its core mission is to support the transition to a circular economy by equipping territorial stakeholders - including businesses, public authorities, and citizens - with the knowledge, tools, and guidance they need to implement circular practices effectively.
The Essential Role of Territories
As true catalysts, cities and regions play a crucial role in implementing the circular economy. By introducing incentive-based public policies, financing pilot projects, and providing suitable infrastructure, they create favorable conditions for the deployment of circular practices.
Yet within the European Union, only a handful of cities - fewer than 40 out of more than 800 with over 50,000 inhabitants - have formalized a dedicated circular economy strategy. This highlights the need to intensify efforts, strengthen support for local authorities, and overcome persistent barriers.
Missions
Research and Expertise
Awareness-raising and Promotion
Advocacy and Influence
Working with all territorial stakeholders
Policymakers
Support local governments in defining and implementing ambitious public policies that advance the circular economy.
Businesses
Help companies integrate circular economy principles into their business models and anticipate or understand shifts in public policy.
Citizens
Raise awareness among citizens about the impact of their consumption choices and encourage the adoption of responsible daily practices.
Meet the Team
PhD Excellence Award 2026: Outstanding Doctoral Research in the Circular Economy
- Academic recognition: Gain visibility for high-quality doctoral research within the circular economy research community.
- Scientific and professional exposure: Present your work to an audience of researchers and practitioners engaged in territorial and sustainability transitions.
- Career development: Strengthen your academic profile and broaden your professional network.
- €800 prize
- Research promotion through academic dissemination channels
- Invitation to present your work at a scientific conference (short talk in a dedicated session)
- Hold a PhD degree
- Have defended their thesis in 2025 (either in French or English)
- Have defended their PhD in a higher education institution located in the European Union or the United Kingdom
- Submit research related to the circular economy within the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) (including, but not limited to: governance, business models, public policy, supply chains, social innovation, territorial transitions). Research rooted primarily in the natural sciences or engineering is not eligible.
- Thesis title
- Supervisory team
- Defense date (2025)
- Final evaluation/grade (if applicable)
- Summary of research question, methodology, and main findings
- Prepare your summary and thesis PDF
- Submit your application before May 8, 2026
Have you recently completed your PhD? The European Chair of Excellence on Circular Economy and Territories invites applications for the PhD Excellence Award 2026.
The award recognises a doctoral thesis defended in 2025 that makes a significant contribution to knowledge and demonstrates relevance for real-world transitions.
Why apply?
Award
Eligibility
Applicants must:
Note: UK-based PhDs are eligible in light of the country’s reintegration into the Erasmus+ programme.
Application deadline
📅 May 8, 2026
Submission
Applications must be sent by email to: fnadou@em-normandie.fr
Required documents
Thesis summary (max. 500 words)
Please include:
Full thesis (PDF)
A complete digital version of the defended manuscript
Apply
- Implementing strategies to optimize the use of local resources.
- Developing actor networks to enhance economic attractiveness.
- Supporting public policies in their critical role in achieving local ecological transitions.
- Identifying success factors for inter-company collaborations.
- Analyzing barriers to cooperation (corporate culture, competition, regulation) and incentives to engage businesses (financial incentives, institutional support).
- Studying industrial synergies and resource sharing to strengthen territorial sustainability.
- Addressing specific territorial challenges: regulatory changes, increased extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, the growing complexity of waste collection and sorting, and barriers to circular economy deployment.
- Investigating inter-service collaborations, corporate engagement, and mechanisms to enhance the social acceptability of the circular economy.
- Researching and developing new circular economic models that balance value creation with planetary boundaries.
- Identifying innovation levers to transform traditional production and consumption chains.
- Developing logistical networks that promote the reuse of recycled materials.
- Examining deposit-return systems for reuse and recycling.
- Analyzing infrastructure requirements to support the transition to sustainable, circular logistics.
Services
Consulting
We offer tailored territorial diagnostics that provide a comprehensive overview of the circular economy in your area. These diagnostics highlight existing strengths and identify development opportunities, serving as a foundation for creating a roadmap to guide your actions.
Workshops and Frescoes
We organize interactive workshops and circular economy frescoes to help participants understand circular economy issues through collaborative and visual activities. These workshops engage businesses, educational institutions, and the general public.
Public Conferences
We organize conferences for a broad audience to spread knowledge and stimulate interest in circular economy topics. These events feature case studies, sector innovations, and expert debates.
Professional Training
We develop tailored training modules for local professionals and decision-makers to help them integrate circular economy principles into their daily practices.
Impact and Social Acceptability Studies
We conduct studies to evaluate how public policies are received by economic actors and to analyze practices and behaviors related to circular economy deployment. By identifying obstacles and action levers, we provide public and private stakeholders with operational tools and strategic recommendations for action.
Research Topics
Territorialization of the Circular Economy
Industrial Symbiosis
Public Policy Governance
Innovation in Business Models
Circular Logistics
Ressources and publications
- Bourdin, S. (2025). From Carbon Footprint to Circular Brainprint: Advancing Behavioral Foundations of the Circular Economy. Journal of Circular Economy.
- Bourdin, S., & Jacquet, N. (2025). The contribution of European cities and regions to the circular economy: An analysis of territorial strategies. Regional Studies.
- Bourdin, S., & Jacquet, N. (2025). Closing the loop at the local scale: Investigating the drivers of and barriers to the implementation of the circular economy in cities and regions. Ecological Economics.
- Bourdin, S., & Torre, A. (2024). Economic geography’s contribution to understanding the circular economy. Journal of Economic Geograpgy.
- L’économie circulaire, une simple variable d’ajustement budgétaire ?
November 21, 2025 ∙ Forbes -
Il faut sortir du procès en inefficacité pour construire une économie circulaire créatrice de valeur
October 27, 2025 ∙ Les Echos - Vieux vêtements, nouveaux problèmes : le recyclage ne règle pas tout
May 28, 2025 ∙ The Conversation -
Le grand malentendu du recyclage plastique : pourquoi la solution passe par le réemploi
March 21, 2025 ∙ La Tribune -
Recyclage en France : le déchet le plus propre, c’est celui qui n’a jamais été produit
March 17, 2025 ∙ Libération - Réparer plutôt que remplacer : un changement de mentalités s'impose
October 18, 2024 ∙ Libération -
Droit à la réparation : l’Europe s’attaque aux millions d’appareils électroniques qui dorment dans nos tiroirs
March, 24 2024 ∙ The Conversation -
L’économie circulaire est-elle vraiment plus coûteuse pour le consommateur ? Un appel aux entreprises
August 30, 2023 ∙ Forbes -
Le bonus réparation, un pas vers l’économie circulaire mais encore du chemin à parcourir
November 09, 2023 ∙ Forbes - Bourdin, S., Torre, A., & van Leeuwen, E. (2024). Regions, Cities and the Circular Economy: Theory and Practice. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Academic Publications
Medias
Books
- Privileged access to academic expertise and research on key topics related to the circular economy.
- Increased visibility for your company by aligning your brand with research.
- Direct contact with students through events like hackathons, case studies, and explorations of new business models, fostering lasting, meaningful relationships with future talent.
- Enhanced training for your managers through the delivery of educational modules, developed in collaboration with our team of researchers.
- Development and management of research and expertise programs.
- Valorization and dissemination of results and best practices through meetings (conferences, workshops, webinars) and academic and professional publications (white papers, expert reports).
- Design and management of educational tools.
- 60% of the donation amount is deductible from corporate tax, up to 0.5% of annual revenue, with a maximum annual payment of 2 million euros.
- 66% of the donation amount is deductible from income tax, up to 20% of taxable income.
A Chair of Excellence serves as a hub where academia, businesses, and society converge to advance expertise in teaching and research on critical societal issues. By fostering exchanges between the socio-economic sector and scientific research, a Chair of Excellence not only supports research activities but also enhances professional practices through the sharing of knowledge.
Becoming a Patron
By supporting us, you contribute to addressing tomorrow’s challenges and advancing knowledge in your sector. Your support enables:
Funding Modalities
The patronage of the Chair can take various forms:
Tax Benefits
Donations made are eligible for the tax reduction provided for in the French General Tax Code.
For Businesses Headquartered in France
For Individuals with a French Residence
Interested in supporting us? Contact us to learn more about our mutual collaboration opportunities.
Latest Study
Investigating the Drivers and Barriers to the Implementation of the Circular Economy in Cities and Regions
Ecological Economics
