What Nordic Circular Design Programme does

The Nordic Circular Design Programme (NCDP) is an eight-month business development programme launched in 2024 that prepares industrial manufacturers for the circular economy transition. It is built on Finland's National Circular Design Programme and structured around two parallel learning tracks: an Executive Track for CEOs, CTOs, business unit leaders, and strategy, innovation, supply chain and sales executives; and an R&D and Key Personnel Track for product managers and design professionals. The curriculum comprises five themed modules covering market transition, circular product design strategies, circular customer value, circular materials and chemicals, Life Cycle Analysis, circular value chains, leading circular change, and testing/prototyping circular concepts. Delivery combines online modules, a tailored online learning environment, a podcast series, and live workshops held in Nordic capitals (Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Oslo/Asker).

The programme is led by Ethica Finland in collaboration with national partner organisations — the Danish Design Centre (Denmark), the Norwegian Centre for Circular Economy (Norway), Cradlenet (Sweden), and Festa (Iceland) — and is co-funded by Nordic Innovation. Participation is free of charge; selected companies commit only their time and engagement. The programme recruits cohorts through info webinars, partner referrals, the programme website, and the European Enterprise Network, and accepts both SMEs and large enterprises with R&D and design functions.

Across its first two rounds (2024-2025 and 2025), the programme trained more than 200 executives and R&D professionals from over 30 companies, including named participants such as Atlas Copco, KONE, Konecranes, Sandvik, Planmeca/Planmed, ECCO, Helly Hansen, Lumene, Kalmar, Ateljé Lyktan, Once Upon, and Easy-Laser. Round 3 is open globally. The programme is positioned as a methodology, not a technology product; there is no proprietary software platform, AI/ML capability, or patent portfolio, and revenue is grant-based rather than commercial.

Name

Nordic Circular Design Programme

Legal name

Nordic Circular Design Programme

Website

https://circulardesignprogramme.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Nordic Circular Design Programme is a publicly-funded, eight-month business development programme that prepares industrial manufacturers for the circular economy transition. It serves Nordic and global companies through dual executive and R&D learning tracks, delivered by Ethica and four national partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Training and Circular Economy Development

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (541420)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM), Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Circular design programme
• Circular economy training
• Sustainability development programme
• Executive education services
• Industrial training programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Programme Funding (Nordic Innovation): The programme is co-funded by Nordic Innovation and there is no participation fee for companies. The programme is free for participants who invest only their time and engagement. This is a grant-funded initiative rather than a commercial revenue-generating programme.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Nordic Circular Design Programme is an 8-month development programme that prepares industrial manufacturing companies for the circular economy transition through a dual-track learning model. It combines an Executive Track for senior leaders (CEOs, CTOs, Strategy, Innovation, Supply Chain) and an R&D and Key Personnel Track for R&D and product development professionals, supported by an online learning environment, live workshops across Nordic capitals, podcasts, and peer networking. Participation is free for accepted companies; the programme is co-funded by Nordic Innovation and led by Ethica Finland with Nordic partners.

Product overview

The Nordic Circular Design Programme is a single unified 8-month development programme built around two parallel learning tracks (Executive Track and R&D Track) that are complemented by shared joint content including a podcast series, online learning environment, and live workshops. The programme is designed to prepare industrial manufacturing companies for the circular economy transition through strategic business development and practical circular design tools. Co-funded by Nordic Innovation and delivered by Ethica in collaboration with Nordic partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nordic Circular Design Programme An 8-month development programme that prepares industrial manufacturing companies for the circular economy transition through expert insights, case examples, concrete tools, and industry peer networking. Provides unique parallel learning tracks for strategic business development (Executive Track) and R&D professionals (R&D and Key Personnel Track), supported by an online learning environment, live workshops in Nordic capitals, podcasts, and a Final Showcase event. Co-funded by Nordic Innovation; free for accepted companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 executives and R&D professionals from 30+ companies trained across Nordic capitals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• European Enterprise Network (EEN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026European Enterprise Network partnered with the programme to organize matchmaking events, such as the Helsinki networking event bringing together participating companies and potential business partners.
• FestacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Icelandic partner joining in Round 2, representing the programme in Iceland and contributing to Nordic coverage.
• Ethica FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Programme initiator, lead organization, and coordinator. Ethica is a Finnish circular economy consultancy that developed and leads the programme based on Finland's National Circular Design Programme.
• Danish Design Centre (DDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Nordic partner for Denmark, representing the programme in Denmark and contributing to programme delivery and participant recruitment in the Danish market.
• Norwegian Centre for Circular Economy (NCCE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Nordic partner for Norway, supporting programme delivery and participant recruitment in the Norwegian market. Team includes Natalia Mathisen, Tina Wågønes, and Benedikte Bekkevold Hansen.
• CradlenetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Swedish partner and leading network for accelerating the transition to circular economy in Sweden. Team includes Sofia Sundström and Elin Bergman.
• BluugominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored the Practical Guide to Digital Product Passport together with Ethica, demonstrating collaboration on programme content development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• IDEO (Circular Design Practice): Design and innovation consultancy with active circular design practice and educational content serving corporate clients. Comparable on the dual executive+designer engagement model, with NCDP differentiating through its deeper regulatory/ESPR curriculum focus.

Direct peers

• Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: Operates a globally recognized circular product certification and training programme for manufacturers, paired with methodology frameworks for product-level circular design. Closely comparable to NCDP's focus on training industrial manufacturers in circular product/service design.
• Material Economics: Stockholm-based consultancy providing circular economy advisory to Nordic industrial firms and EU institutions — same geography and same enterprise customer profile as NCDP (Sandvik, KONE-type accounts), making it a near-perfect regional direct peer in delivery mechanism.
• Climate-KIC: EU-backed climate innovation community running multi-month accelerator and capability programmes for European businesses, with growing circular economy portfolios. Comparable in structure (multi-month cohort programmes, public co-funding, partner-network delivery) to NCDP.
• Circle Economy: Amsterdam-based impact organization running circular economy transition programmes for businesses, including the Circularity Gap Reporting framework and acceleration programmes. Operates like NCDP as an intermediary between government/funders and industrial companies on circularity capability-building.

Broad incumbents

• Anthesis Group: Global sustainability consultancy offering advisory, training, and capability-building to industrial clients, including circular economy service lines. Comparable in being a fee-for-service alternative for the same corporate buyers considering in-house circular design coaching.
• WBCSD: World Business Council for Sustainable Development: CEO-led organization of ~200 multinationals running circular economy working groups, capability resources, and training for large manufacturers. Overlaps with NCDP in serving the same audience (large industrials) with educational resources, but at a broader global scale.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global thought-leadership foundation promoting circular economy with educational content, corporate programmes, and policy engagement aimed at manufacturers and policymakers. Broader scope than NCDP but the dominant global brand for circular economy education/curriculum, against which NCDP's regional programme competes for mindshare.
• Systemiq: International systems-change consultancy with deep circular economy practices serving corporates and governments. Broader and better-capitalized than NCDP but addresses many of the same clients (large manufacturers seeking circular transition strategy), making it a competitive incumbent rather than a collaborator.

Regional players

• Sitra: Finnish Innovation Fund that originally incubated the National Circular Design Programme that NCDP is scaled from. Operates national-level circular economy programmes in Finland. Highly comparable as both a funder-adjacent organization and a parallel operator of circular economy capability programmes in the same Finnish ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nordiccirculardesign

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nordic Circular Design Programme