Artiql has been commissioned by the City of Kyoto to carry out the “FY2026 Circular Economy Foundation Building Project.” As part of this project, Artiql launched the “Circular Business Design School Kyoto” in August 2026 for businesses and other organizations based in the city. The program consists of a learning program (Basic Course and Advanced Course) designed to help participants acquire knowledge of the circular economy and create circular business models, a business acceleration support program aimed at social implementation, and networking events.
Building on the circular ecosystem, knowledge, and network created through last fiscal year’s (FY2025) program, this year’s program has evolved into a more practical and comprehensive support system, spanning from the creation of circular business models through to their commercialization.
Background of the Program
In recent years, the shift from a one way economic model (a linear economy) built on mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal, toward a “circular economy” (hereafter “CE”) that generates added value through the sustainable, efficient, and circular use of resources, has become a global trend. Governments have also positioned the realization of CE as a national strategy and are accelerating related initiatives.
Kyoto City has long worked together with citizens and businesses to reduce waste and promote resource circulation. Building on these strengths while keeping pace with global and national trends, the city has been working toward a shift to a “circular economy,” in order to realize “a society that can develop sustainably while reducing the burden on the environment,” through the efficient use of limited resources.
This program was first held in FY2025, in which 20 businesses from within Kyoto City took part, completing all six sessions, from prototyping circular business models through to the final results presentation. A circular business ecosystem was formed among the participants. Building on these results, FY2026 will further accelerate Kyoto City’s shift to a CE, through the enhanced staged design of the learning program and the establishment of new business acceleration support.
Program Concept
Decode Culture, Design Future: Unraveling wisdom, crafting innovation.
Kyoto is home to assets that continue to shine across the ages, cultivated over 1,200 years of history, including the spirit of “shimatsu no kokoro,” a circular way of life, and a culture of craftsmanship. Realizing a circular future calls for the creativity to bring this wisdom to life today and carry it into the future.
Participants will learn about advanced practices within Kyoto City as well as world leading circular design and circular business models, reexamine their own strengths from newly gained perspectives, and, together with the peers they connect with, generate new innovation. This program is a place for learning and creation, where participants combine the circular wisdom rooted in the city of Kyoto with a future oriented outlook grounded in cutting edge circular economy knowledge, to envision the future they want together and take the first steps toward realizing it. Anyone interested is warmly encouraged to apply.
Program Overview
- Name: Circular Business Design School Kyoto (CBDSK)
- Program period: August 6, 2026 (Thu) to December 2026 (planned)
- Program structure:
① Learning Program “Circular Business Design Program” (Basic Course: 3 sessions total; Advanced Course: 3 sessions total + results presentation)
② Business Acceleration Program “Circular Business Acceleration Program” (newly established in FY2026)
③ Networking Event “Circular Gathering Kyoto” - Capacity: Basic Course: approximately 20 people (selection if applications exceed capacity)
Advanced Course: approximately 12 people (selection if applications exceed capacity)
Business Acceleration Program: 2 companies (selected through review) - Participation fee: Free
- Eligibility:
- Companies and sole proprietors with a head office or place of business in Kyoto City (including those planning to start up or relocate a business within Kyoto City in the future)
- Students and researchers affiliated with universities, graduate schools, or research institutions in Kyoto City (Basic Course)
- Those who want to work on developing a business, product, or service themed around the circular economy, whether just starting out or already working on one and looking to solve existing challenges
- In principle, those who can attend all sessions of each course
- Organizer: City of Kyoto, Environment Policy Bureau, Environmental Planning Department, Environmental General Affairs Division
(Program management contractor: Artiql Inc.) - Application period:
- [Basic Course / Business Acceleration Program]
The application period was open from Thursday, July 2 to Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 5:00 PM. - [Advanced Course]
The application period will be open from Monday, August 24 to Monday, September 14, 2026, 5:00 PM.
- [Basic Course / Business Acceleration Program]
- Official website / application URL: https://cbdskyoto.jp/ (in Japanese)
Program Details
For details on each program, please refer to the official CBDSK website.
https://cbdskyoto.jp/ (in Japanese)
Program Partners
Circular Business Design School Kyoto is seeking companies, organizations, investors, and media outlets who want to work together on business creation, investment, and ecosystem building in the circular economy field within Kyoto City, as partners for this program. If you are interested in partnering with the program, please feel free to contact us.
About the IDEAS FOR GOOD “Kyoto City Circular Economy Feature”
To coincide with this program, IDEAS FOR GOOD, the web magazine Artiql operates, continues to publish feature content related to CE in Kyoto, including a report on last fiscal year’s CBDSK and case studies of businesses promoting the circular economy within Kyoto City.
Feature URL: https://ideasforgood.jp/kyotoce/ (in Japanese)
About IDEAS FOR GOOD
IDEAS FOR GOOD is a web magazine that gathers ideas for making society “even better.” From cutting edge technology with the potential to change the world, to advertising and art that raise awareness of social issues, to small design details that change people’s behavior, it delivers social good ideas from around the world.
URL: https://ideasforgood.jp/ (in Japanese)