"Circular Makerspaces" training program

By project DESICE

Published on 03 April 2025

Lithuania

Sostinės regionas

About this good practice

The "Circular Makerspaces" education program addresses the lack of practical knowledge and skills regarding circular economy principles among SMEs, start-ups, and innovators. Many organisations struggle to implement sustainable practices due to limited access to resources and training. This practice was introduced to bridge this gap by providing hands-on, adaptable education in makerspaces, which are creative environments that foster innovation and sustainability.

The program consists of nine training topics covering various aspects of circular economy implementation, such as sustainable product design, resource management, and policy development. These topics are delivered through theoretical training material, online resources, as well as workshop and seminar frameworks, allowing flexibility for trainers to tailor the content to specific needs. The hands-on approach ensures that participants gain practical experience, from repurposing materials to creating circular products.

Main stakeholders include makerspaces, business support organisations, educational institutions, and policymakers. The primary beneficiaries are local makerspaces and their community members, including makers, designers, students, residents, young companies, and local authorities or universities (as makerspace owners). The program empowers these groups to apply circular economy principles, fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable business practices across the region.

Resources needed

The practice was funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. The graphic design cost around €3,000 for development and updates. All 8 project partners contributed to content creation, with one leading the compilation. Human resources included circular economy experts and makerspace staff.

Evidence of success

Over 10 months, the "Circular Makerspaces" training program was implemented in 5 countries, with 300+ participants completing the course. Participants included makers, students, public servants, business consultants, and entrepreneurs. The training received positive evaluations from the majority, who were inspired to further explore circular economy concepts. These results highlight the program’s effectiveness in raising awareness, building capacity, fostering engagement in circular innovation.

Potential for learning or transfer

Makerspaces and other creative design spaces are gaining popularity and are often supported by municipalities, universities, or employment services. For regions with such publicly accessible spaces, transferring this training program is relatively easy, as all materials are readily available. The key success factor is having dedicated personnel to explore and adapt the content to local needs. The modular structure allows flexibility, enabling trainers to select relevant topics. Challenges may arise in securing funding for facilitation or finding skilled trainers, but collaboration with local sustainability experts can help overcome these barriers. Given the increasing focus on circular economy practices, this program provides a ready-made solution for fostering sustainable innovation in makerspaces across different regions.