Reuse, repair, recycle, reduce: UK debuts new Circular Economy Hub Share New research hub based at the University of Exeter aims to co-ordinate national research efforts to advance the development of circular economy business models Some of the UK's leading academics and researchers are to spearhead national efforts to create a 'circular economy' through the launch this week of a major new Circular Economy Hub. Led by the University of Exeter, the National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Hub is being funded by £3.5m from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and forms part of the wider National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) programme, a £30m UKRI investment comprising 34 universities and 200 industry partners all working towards the creation of a circular economy in the UK.