AA Receives Prestigious Grant to Lead Circular Innovation in Architectural Education

The AA is proud to announce its selection as a Full Partner in CinnovatE, a European-funded initiative aimed at embedding circularity, technological innovation and entrepreneurial capacity within higher education. The initiative is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) under its HEI (Higher Education Institutions) Programme.

Led by the AA’s Environmental and Technical Studies (ETS) department, CinnovatE is a 25-month project designed to generate systemic change in architectural design education. With a focus on circularity and the integration of advanced digital technologies, the initiative will support staff training, curriculum development and a suite of targeted activities that build upon the school’s existing structures while fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability.

The initiative is part of a broader consortium led by Universidad Instituto de Empresa (IE) University and includes Nord University, the Lithuanian Business School and South Summit. Together, the partners will implement the €1.34 million grant across two phases. The AA’s allocation of €283,000 will be used to:

• Deliver cutting-edge staff training in circularity, digital tools and entrepreneurial methods.
• Launch new ETS course updates and Visiting School Programmes led by ETS staff.
• Organise a Cinnovate Symposium in December 2025 to disseminate knowledge and showcase impact.
• Strengthen the AA’s capacity for circular and tech-driven design initiatives.

‘This initiative aligns perfectly with the mission of ETS to lead in sustainable and technologically advanced design education’, said Nacho Martí, Co-Head of ETS and project lead. ‘CInnovatE allows us to deepen our work on circularity, train a new generation of innovators, and position the AA at the forefront of systemic change in architectural education.’

The AA’s involvement is coordinated by Anna Mestre and Anna Font, with the support of senior leadership including AA Director Ingrid Schroder, Head of Research Mike Weinstock and Head of Visiting School Christopher Pierce.

The AA looks forward to collaborating with partners across Europe to shape a more circular, entrepreneurial and resilient future in architectural design.