DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Regional innovation enabler Upgrade Innolab Inc. has officially opened its Call for Proposals for Cohort 2 of the Circulab Acceleration Program, inviting circular economy enterprises across Mindanao to compete for equity-free grant funding and business scale-up support. The submission window, which officially opened on September 29, will run through December 31, 2026, offering eligible ventures up to €19,445 (approximately ₱1.3 million) in non-repayable grant capital to advance their sustainable solutions.
Implemented under the Green Up to Scale Up initiative, the program is funded by Expertise France as part of the European Union-Philippines Green Economy Programme (EU-GEP). The overarching €60 million (₱3.67 billion) EU-GEP framework spans from 2023 to 2028, targeting systemic circular transitions, waste reduction, and green job creation across the archipelago.
The launch of the second cohort follows the successful deployment of Circulab’s inaugural batch, which established a benchmark for waste-to-value business models in the southern Philippines.
Cohort 1 featured a diverse group of ventures, including Espoir School of Life Inc. (EcoUplift) in Siargao, which converts local agricultural discards like baliw leaves and coconut husks into sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics, and Anitu Forest Food Processing in Bukidnon, which processes agricultural by-products into high-value secondary raw materials for industrial manufacturing. Other standout enterprises included Lesstics Inc., which upcycles discarded coconut husks into industrial-grade timber substitutes; Lilamaya, an agri-tech social enterprise using native stingless bees for crop pollination and wellness products; Envirotech Waste Recycling Inc., which turns hard-to-recycle soft plastics into durable school desks and emergency shelter kits; Agrinex Solutions OPC, which converts organic waste into protein feed using Black Soldier Fly larvae; and GreenTAYO, a community refill network designed to curb single-use plastic sachet consumption.
The non-equity ₱1.3 million grant is structured to support five key operational deployment areas to help early-stage ventures overcome critical growth challenges. Selected enterprises can allocate funds toward Minimum Viable Product (MVP) validation and prototype testing, targeted research and development such as material characterization and life cycle assessments, commercial go-to-market and branding campaigns, live field trials in partnership with local government units and cooperatives, and regional market expansion across Mindanao.
To qualify for Cohort 2, applicant circular enterprises must be legally registered entities with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and hold valid local operating permits. Applicants must be currently registered and operating within Regions 10, 11, 12, 13, or BARMM, as expanding solely to qualify for grant funding is strictly prohibited. Additionally, ventures must possess a functional MVP with target customer validation, have at least one full-time founder leading operations, and actively integrate principles from the 10Rs Circular Economy framework. Proposals will be evaluated across key metrics, including circular economy impact, market opportunity, technical feasibility, team capability, scalability, and proposed grant utilization.
The selection timeline includes regional info sessions and proposal writeshops held across Mindanao throughout November and early December 2026, leading up to the final application deadline on December 31. Applications will then undergo eligibility screening, pitch presentations, and due diligence between January and February 2027, with the final cohort selection announced on February 24, 2027. Selected ventures will enter a comprehensive six-month acceleration cycle running from March through September 2027, culminating in a showcase to investors and ecosystem partners. Complete application packages must be submitted through the official Circulab portal prior to the deadline.
