UKRI Circular Economy Hub (CE-HUB)

What UKRI Circular Economy Hub (CE-HUB) does

The UKRI National Circular Economy Research Hub (CE-Hub) is the coordinating body for the £30 million, four-year National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) Programme, established in 2020 and hosted by the University of Exeter Business School under Co-Directors Professors Fiona Charnley and Peter Hopkinson. It coordinates five specialised CE Research Centres covering textiles (Royal College of Art), construction materials (UCL), chemicals (Loughborough), technology metals (University of Exeter), and circular metals (Brunel University London), spanning 34 UK universities, 100+ academics, 60 PhD students, and 200+ industrial partners. Core platform assets include the Knowledge Hub (research repository), CE Stories (case study showcase), CE Observatory and Circular Economy Data Observatory (national material flow tracking tools built with DEFRA and UKRI), the NICER Life podcast, and a £500,000 Flexible Fund for feasibility studies. Selected industrial beneficiaries include Revolution-ZERO working with 55+ NHS Trusts on circular medical textiles and 100+ companies trained through the Exeter-EMF Masterclass.

The CE-Hub operates a publicly funded research coordination model with no commercial revenue stream. Its £3.5 million direct UKRI grant underwrites coordination activities, knowledge dissemination, community events (CE Showcases 2022, 2024; webinars; summer schools), and policy engagement. All outputs (research, data tools, events, funding calls) are provided free of charge to academic researchers, policymakers, industry/SMEs, and civic society. Marketing and community-building channels include the website, quarterly newsletter (800+ members across 20 countries), Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and the NICER Life podcast. Strategic positioning has expanded internationally via the 2024 UNECE partnership, the world's first UN-backed Centre for CE Research, and UNFCCC engagement at COP28. There is no GTM motion beyond event-driven community engagement and no pricing model; sustainability beyond the four-year NICER window is not documented in available sources.

Name

UKRI Circular Economy Hub (CE-HUB)

Legal name

UKRI National Circular Economy Research Hub (CE-Hub)

Website

https://ce-hub.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The UKRI Circular Economy Hub is a publicly funded research coordination body at the University of Exeter Business School that coordinates the £30M NICER Programme across five UK CE Research Centres, 34 universities, and 200+ industrial partners, delivering the national evidence base for UK circular economy policy and implementation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Circular Economy Research Coordination

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM), Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Circular economy research
• Sustainability coordination
• Material flow tracking
• Knowledge sharing platform
• Research funding programme

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: The CE-Hub is funded through UKRI via the Strategic Priorities Fund (£3.5 million for the Hub). The broader NICER Programme is a £30 million, four-year investment sponsored by DEFRA. The CE-Hub also operates a £500,000 Flexible Fund for feasibility studies to accelerate CE research. No commercial revenue model is described; the hub operates as a publicly funded research coordination body.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

The CE-Hub coordinates the £30 million NICER Programme — the UK's largest national circular economy research investment — bringing together 34 universities, 100+ academics, 60 PhD students, and 200+ industrial partners across five specialised Circular Economy Research Centres. It provides the CE Observatory for tracking UK material flows and stocks, a Knowledge Hub for disseminating CE research, CE Stories showcasing implementations, and a Flexible Fund for feasibility studies. All activities are delivered free of charge as a publicly funded research coordination body.

Product overview

The UKRI Circular Economy Hub (CE-HUB) is a coordinating research hub, not a traditional product company. It operates as a unified platform consisting of the CE-Hub coordinating entity and the NICER Programme with its five specialized research centres (Textiles Circularity Centre, ICEC-MCM, CircularChem, Met4Tech, and CircularMetal). The offering includes the Knowledge Hub repository for accessing research, CE Stories showcasing circular economy implementations, the Flexible Fund for research funding, the NICER Life Podcast for knowledge dissemination, and the Circular Economy Data Observatory for tracking UK material flows. Together these components form a comprehensive research coordination and knowledge-sharing ecosystem for circular economy research and innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NICER Programme: National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research Programme - a four-year £30 million investment programme coordinated by the CE-Hub
• CE Observatory
• NICER Life Podcast

Products and services

• NICER Programme Coordination National coordination and integration of five UKRI Circular Economy Research Centres covering textiles, construction materials, chemicals, technology metals, and circular metals. Aims to provide the evidence base needed to deliver a resilient and restorative Circular Economy for the UK by bringing together academics, industry practitioners, policymakers and civic society.
• Circular Economy Data Observatory A national tool to support decision-making on the circular economy by helping track material flows and stocks in the UK. Developed in partnership with DEFRA, UKRI and NICER programme centres to provide a foundation for real-time, forward-looking, reusable data systems aligned to policy and industry needs.
• Knowledge Hub A resource centre for policymakers and businesses to access the latest research and knowledge on the circular economy, supported by high-level synopsis and grounded in academic rigour. Offers a repository and signposting service to share and disseminate CE learning and activity.
• CE-Hub Flexible Fund A funding programme providing opportunity for speculative and high-impact feasibility research to accelerate innovative circular economy solutions across academia and SMEs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 practitioners trained through the Exeter-EMF Global online Masterclass 'Closing the CE Implementation Gap' since April 2018
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• University of Exeter Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CE-Hub is led and hosted by the University of Exeter Business School. Co-Directors Professor Peter Hopkinson and Professor Fiona Charnley are based at Exeter. The CE-Hub Core Team manages and moderates the website from Exeter.
• Textiles Circularity Centre (TCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five NICER Programme CE Research Centres, led by the Royal College of Art. Focused on circularity of textiles as a resource flow. Shares programme with CE-Hub as part of the NICER Programme.
• Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-based Construction Materials (ICEC-MCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five NICER Programme CE Research Centres, led by University College London (UCL). Focused on improving the circular use of aggregate, cement, brick, plasterboard, stone, and glass in infrastructure. UK's largest material resource flow at over 500,000 tonnes per day.
• Interdisciplinary Centre for the Circular Chemical Economy (CircularChem)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five NICER Programme CE Research Centres, led by Loughborough University (and Surrey University as PI). Focused on transforming the UK chemical industry into a more resource-efficient system through recovery and reuse of chemicals from end-of-life products, particularly olefins.
• Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Technology Metals (Met4Tech)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five NICER Programme CE Research Centres, led by the University of Exeter. Focused on critical metals essential for renewable technologies such as wind turbines, mobile phones, and electric vehicles, with current recycling rates below 1%.
• Interdisciplinary Centre for Circular Metals (CircularMetal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five NICER Programme CE Research Centres, led by Brunel University London. Focused on creating a fully circular metals economy by 2050, covering steel, copper, and aluminium.
• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Exeter CE-Hub is a partner in the world's first UN-backed Centre of Excellence for Circular Economy research. Co-ordinated by a government-funded UNECE research manager based in Geneva, the coalition will explore circularity in metals, construction, and critical minerals, developing data systems, technological innovation, finance models, and policy. UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean welcomed the establishment.
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCE Hub PhD students attended COP28 (28th Conference of the Parties) in December 2023, representing the University of Exeter with a Virtual Pass. This engagement connects the NICER Programme with global climate action and sustainability agendas.
• The Ellen MacArthur FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a key thought leadership partner. Rob Opsomer from EMF participated in the CE Observatory Roundtable. Dame Ellen MacArthur gave a keynote at the NICER Programme launch. EMF is a leading international organisation in CE thought leadership.
• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MTC is a CE-Hub partner, collaborating on a funded PhD project investigating opportunities for sustainable manufacturing practices through digitalisation. Represents one of over 200 industrial partners in the NICER Programme.
• 34 UK UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NICER Programme comprises 34 UK universities participating in the five CE Research Centres and coordinating Hub. These institutions collectively contribute over 100 academics and 60 PhD students to the programme.
• 200+ Industrial PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 200 industrial partners engage with the NICER Programme across its five CE Research Centres. Partners collaborate on research, provide industry perspectives, and support the translation of research into industrial implementation.
• Design Museum (London)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with AHRC to launch Future Observatory, a national design research programme. In its foundation year, Future Observatory aligned with the 'Waste Age: What can design do?' exhibition at the Design Museum, focused on net zero and environmental issues.
• World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe fifth World Circular Economy Forum was attended by CE-Hub representatives. Organised by the Government of Canada and Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, supported by African Circular Economy Alliance, UNEP, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and European Commission. Featured themes on indigenous knowledge, inclusivity, and CE implementation.
• Sitra (Finnish Innovation Fund)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSitra co-organised the fifth World Circular Economy Forum with the Government of Canada. Sitra's Laura Järvinen shared Finland's National CE Roadmap experience at the NICER Programme launch. Sitra is an international leader in CE policy and research.
• Connected Everything Network (EPSRC-funded)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Connected Everything network, funded by EPSRC, produced the Digital World 2050 report with CE-Hub co-authors from the Universities of Exeter, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Cambridge. The six-year study explored digital manufacturing's role in achieving net zero and creating a digitally-enabled circular economy.
• British Fashion CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA new partnership between AHRC and British Fashion Council supports sustainability in the fashion industry. AHRC funded BFC to recruit two arts and humanities researchers for 12-month fellowships, translating research into changes to policy and business practices.
• Circular Revolution WalesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Exeter helped design and deliver Circular Revolution, a £2.3m innovation centre for Wales part-funded by European Regional Development Fund through Welsh Government (£1.5m+). Spearheaded by Riversimple, it is the first business-led CE hub in the UK focused on sustainable business models for SMEs in West Wales and the Valleys.
• Business in the Community (BITC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBITC collaborated with the University of Exeter on the 'Circular Fitout Lab' feasibility study (Round 3), focused on using purchasing power to drive change in fitout and retrofit projects in the construction sector.
• Revolution-ZEROmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Tom Dawson, founder of Revolution-ZERO, joined the Exeter Centre for Circular Economy (ECCE) as a Visiting Research Fellow. Revolution-ZERO has designed the world's first circular economy system to replace single-use PPE in the NHS, working with over 55 NHS Trusts. It reduces carbon footprint by over 80% and solid waste by over 90%.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Chatham House: International affairs think tank convening policymakers and producing policy-relevant research. Comparable as a convening and policy research organization, though not CE-specialized.

Broad incumbents

• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization working on sustainability across climate, energy, food, water, and cities. Comparable in producing CE-related research and metrics (e.g., Resource Productivity) at much larger scale and global footprint.
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme): UN system entity setting global environmental agenda, including International Resource Panel work on CE. Comparable as a public-sector CE evidence and policy body; broader in scope and global reach.

Direct peers

• WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme): UK-based not-for-profit working with governments, businesses, and citizens on circular economy and resource efficiency. Closest UK analogue to the CE-Hub in mission and DEFRA-funded status, with overlapping remit in materials, textiles, and CE policy evidence.
• Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership: University-based institute operating at the intersection of sustainability research, executive education, and policy advisory. Comparable as an academic-policy interface body delivering research, training, and convening for CE/climate leadership.
• Mistra (Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research): Swedish government-backed research foundation funding strategic environmental and sustainability research. Directly comparable in operating model — public funding, multi-year research programmes, academic–industry partnerships.
• Green Alliance: UK environmental think tank producing independent analysis and convening stakeholders to influence policy on sustainability. Comparable in producing CE evidence and policy briefings that shape UK government decisions.
• Catapult Network (UK): UK government-funded network of innovation catapults supporting translational R&D in areas like materials and energy. Comparable in funding structure (Innovate UK / UKRI) and mission to bridge academic research with industry deployment.
• Sitra (Finnish Innovation Fund): Finnish parliamentary-funded fund that co-organizes the World Circular Economy Forum and develops national CE roadmaps. Comparable as a publicly funded research and policy body advancing CE in partnership with government.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global leading circular economy foundation producing CE thought leadership, training (Dame Ellen MacArthur delivered NICER launch keynote), and convening networks. Comparable as a mission-driven CE knowledge and convening body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CEHubUK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrvShZSwQVGxelYMYIaM92A/featured
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uk-circular-economy-hub-ce-hub
• Instagraminstagram.com/ce_hub_uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UKRI Circular Economy Hub (CE-HUB)