CECOLAB - Collaborative Laboratory Towards Circular Economy

CECOLAB – Collaborative Laboratory Towards Circular Economy is a private, non-profit institution headquartered in Lagares, Oliveira do Hospital, in the Centro region of Portugal. Established as a collaborative laboratory (CoLAB), it brings together businesses, academic institutions, and public entities to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Portugal. The organisation focuses on applied research, technology transfer and innovation projects that help industries reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, and adopt circular production models. Its activities span sectors such as textiles, agri-food, construction and manufacturing, working closely with regional business associations including the Conselho Empresarial do Centro/Câmara de Comércio e Indústria do Centro. CECOLAB positions itself as a bridge between scientific knowledge and industrial application, supporting companies in redesigning processes and products to minimise environmental impact while maintaining economic competitiveness. It also engages in knowledge dissemination, events and training related to circular economy principles. As an institution rooted in Portugal's Centro region, CECOLAB plays a role in regional economic development by attracting investment, talent and expertise in sustainability-related fields. It regularly recruits environmental engineers and other technical specialists to support its growing portfolio of research and innovation projects, contributing to building local capacity in circular economy practices.