01.01.2025
Korçë, Prrenjas, Pogradec
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Challenges
Urban Heat Waves
Circular Economy Challenges
Mobility Challenges
What is Circular Economy?
The Circular Economy is an economic model designed to minimize waste and maximize resource use by keeping products, materials, and resources in circulation for as long as possible. Unlike the traditional linear model, which follows a "buy, use, dispose" approach, the circular economy emphasizes durability, reusability, repairability, and recyclability. This approach is essential for managing the increasing volume of global waste, as it promotes reducing, reusing, and recycling materials. By extending product lifecycles and cutting down on raw material extraction, the circular economy helps conserve resources and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
About Zero City Labs – Korça, Pogradec, and Prrenjas
Zero City Labs (ZCL) is an innovative accelerator program aimed at tackling urban waste issues by fostering circular economy solutions.
ZCL is a program designed to find new and effective ways to manage waste and promote sustainability in cities. It is an accelerator program meaning it helps businesses and projects grow faster by giving them the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed. This initiative actively engages local SMEs and businesses while also involving research institutions, academia and civil society to drive innovation. By integrating these diverse stakeholders, the program not only tests cutting-edge circular economy systems but also aims to strengthen businesses. The goal is to create better, cleaner, and more livable cities by finding ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle so in the long-term we can push for the creation of Zero Waste Cities.
Who Should Join?
Zero City Labs - Korça, Pogradec, and Prrenjas is designed for businesses, startups, research entities and individuals across various sectors and industries, seeking to develop circular economy solutions falling in any of the following four main categories.
We especially encourage female founders and women-led businesses to apply, aligning with our commitment to feminist development policies.
Qualification Criteria
To be eligible for participation in the Zero City Labs - Korça, Pogradec, and Prrenjas accelerator program, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
How to Join?
Program Journey Applications:
Apply by August 15, 2025. Zero City Labs – Korça, Pogradec, and Prrenjas will select up to 20 teams based on their applications.
Hackathon:
Participate in an intense 3-days development session from the 8th to 10th of September, where a jury will select the teams that will continue in the accelerator.
Accelerator Program:
From the middle of September to the end of October 2025, selected teams will undergo a comprehensive accelerator program featuring training, workshops, and mentoring.
Pilot Implementation:
From November to April or May 2025, the most promising solutions will be piloted and tested in Korça, Pogradec, and Prrenjas.
What do you get
Tailored hackathon and accelerator program
(October - December 2024) with practical trainings, group coaching, and 1-to-1 mentoring sessions with local and international experts
Program Benefits
Teams that progress to the accelerator phase will receive:
Access to advanced startup tools, innovative methodologies, and development tools
To design and develop your solutions and go-to-market strategies.
Marketing and PR support
To enhance your startup's communications and market visibility within the region and beyond .
Networking and partnership opportunities
With EU4Innovation, EU4CELC, and other local and regional partners.
Access to financial support
To prototype, build and pilot implementation of the most innovative solutions (4 best teams will receive up to €50,000 each in grant-funding).
More about Zero City Labs
The Zero City Labs - Korça, Pogradec, and Prrenjas program is part of a broader initiative to transform Albanian cities into innovation-driven, circular, and knowledge-based economies. This program is supported by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the EU 4 Circular Economy and Livable Cities (EU4CELC) and EU4Innovation (EU4I) programs. It is implemented by Albanian ICT (ALBICT) in collaboration with Layer.
The initiative aims to empower local actors in the Korça, Pogradec, and Prrenjas region to design, prototype, test and pilot viable circular economy solutions that have the potential to scale, replicate and generate positive environmental and social impact. Four entities presenting the most effective solutions will be selected to be piloted in the market and will each receive an average award of EUR 50,000 in the form of grants.
The initiative aims to empower local actors in the Korça, Pogradec, and Prrenjas region to design, prototype, test and pilot viable circular economy solutions that have the potential to scale, replicate and generate positive environmental and social impact. Four entities presenting the most effective solutions will be selected to be piloted in the market and will each receive an average award of EUR 50,000 in the form of grants.
Why Participate?
If you have a groundbreaking idea or product that can drive circular economy practices while empowering women, we want to hear from you.
Join us and contribute towards a more livable and sustainable environment for the Korça, Pogradec, and Prrenjas region and beyond!
Our dedicated team of experts will provide you with the industry-insights, contacts and facilitate access to financial support to help you pilot your solutions and roll it out to the market.