Center of Excellence (COE) on Circularity and Resiliency

1. Background

HICCER’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Circularity and Resiliency is an umbrella program conceived and developed under the Mission Circular India project initiated by HICCER – Hariterde International Council of Circular Economy Research, Kerala, India, for embedding circular thinking and extending support to create a successful circular thematic working groups. The programme would align with the HICCER’s priorities and national climate and sustainability goals. Its focus would be to build an innovation-driven circular thinking ecosystem to make our critical infrastructure sectors (CISs) circular, sustainable, and resilient.

2. Objectives of HICCER’s CoE on Circularity

• To provide a platform for circular economy capacity building at the host institution through education, research, and advocacy
• To build vibrant circular thematic working groups or verticals at the host institution
• To scale up existing/new ideas developed by the host institution targeted at seeding and supporting entrepreneurship in the circular economy area
• To provide cost-effective and value-added services to students and faculty at the host institution in line with HICCER’s capacity in the circular economy-related areas

3. Eligibility for Submission of a Proposal of HICCER’s CoE on Circularity

3.1. Eligibility in general

The proposal is to be submitted by an existing institution, which has been in existence for at least two years. The host institute is supposed to provide active support and adequate infrastructure for building HICCER’s CoE on Circularity and Resiliency.

• In academic institutions, it should be a legal entity registered in India with the explicit purpose and objective of promoting education, research, and advocacy (mainly through student activities).
• In non-academic institution, it should be a legal entity registered in India with the explicit purpose and objective of promoting research, innovation and an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• The support for establishing a HICCER’s CoE on Circularity and Resiliency would be extended to a not-for-profit legal entity registered as a society/trust/section 8 company.

3.2. Mandatory requirements to be eligible to host HICCER’s CoE on Circularity and Resiliency

• Membership for the institution
• Minimum of 12 Bachelor's students
• Minimum of 6 Master’s/Higher degree research students
• Minimum of 4 faculty members, preferably from Science, Technology and Innovation, Engineering, Arts, Business, and Medical streams

4. Target and Outcome

HICCER’s CoE on Circularity and Resiliency would create a space for student training and faculty skill development in the related areas of the circular economy. The programme would also attract research funding through projects and consultancy by submitting joint proposals with the host institution in the circular economy-related areas.

5. Review and Monitoring

The continuation of support to the HICCER’s CoE on Circularity and Resiliency at the host institution is entirely performance-based and up on the condition of meeting mandatory requirements. This will be reviewed by the HICCER’s Accreditation Committee (HAC) every year. The performance is monitored both quantitatively and qualitatively by the HAC. Suppose there are no shortfalls in progress; the HICCER’s CoE on Circularity and Resiliency at the host institution will be accredited. As and when it is felt necessary, the HAC team constituted by HICCER may be sent for monitoring the progress. In case of a significant shortfall in progress, the support may also be terminated mid-term upon the recommendation of HAC, and accreditation will be revoked. It is expected that the HICCER’s CoE on Circularity and Resiliency at the host institution attains self-sustenance at the end of five years.