1. Can you briefly introduce your team? What’s your story and what drives you?
We are Epanekkinisis and Lesvos Solidarity (LESOL) — two Greek social innovators united by a simple mission: to give technology a second life and people a fair chance in the digital world. Epanekkinisis specializes in ICT refurbishment and green repair, while LESOL runs the Mosaik Support Center in Mytilene, empowering refugees and vulnerable groups through education and skills. Together, we combine technical expertise with community outreach to create tangible environmental and social impact. What drives us is the belief that circularity and inclusion go hand in hand — that every refurbished laptop can open doors to learning, work, and participation.
2. In simple words, what is your project about and how is it linked with CIRCULOOS?
REboot EQuality (REQ) gives discarded laptops a second life. We collect unused or broken devices, repair and upgrade them through our regional hubs, and redistribute them to refugees, unemployed youth, and low-income women.
Through CIRCULOOS, we’re not only extending hardware lifecycles — we’re digitizing the
entire process:
- RAMP ensures traceability of each device;
- The CIRCULOOS Data Platform gathers repair and reuse data;
- GRETA measures our CO₂ and material savings.
This digital backbone makes our circular supply chain transparent, measurable, and
replicable across Europe.
3. How did you come up with this project idea/concept and what innovative benefits will it bring to the end users?
The idea was born from what we saw every day — piles of still-functional laptops thrown away, while thousands of people lacked access to a basic computer. We asked ourselves: What if every obsolete laptop became an opportunity for inclusion?
The innovation lies in merging environmental repair with social repair:
- Technically, we extend a device’s life by 3–5 years, cutting CO₂ emissions and preserving critical materials.
- Socially, we empower vulnerable users with digital tools for learning, employment, and
participation. End users benefit from reliable, affordable devices — and communities benefit from
green jobs and new circular skills.
4. What type of synergies do you want to explore/are already exploring with other circular economy partners?
We are already collaborating within the CIRCULOOS network to share repair protocols, data
methodologies, and LCA insights.
Looking ahead, we plan to:
- Partner with Digital Innovation Hubs and academic institutions to expand technical
training and data analysis. - Work with local refurbishers and recyclers in other EU countries to scale our decentralized model.
- Engage CSR-driven companies that can donate ICT equipment or co-fund refurbishment for social impact.
Our goal is a pan-European ecosystem of circular ICT hubs connected through shared CIRCULOOS data standards.
5. What are your plans for the future when it comes to the development of your ideas & projects?
In the next phase, we plan to scale the REQ model through Open Call 3.2, onboarding new refurbishment partners across Europe.
We will also integrate AI-assisted diagnostics and semi-automated repair tools to increase throughput and quality.
Beyond technology, we envision a Circular Learning Network — where refurbished laptops become the entry point to digital literacy, coding, and green jobs.
Our long-term vision is simple: to make reuse the default in ICT and to prove that social innovation can power Europe’s transition to a truly circular economy.