The DICE Network+ is a three-year programme led by the University of Exeter with partnership from the University of Sheffield, and will focus on revolutionising the sustainability of digital and communication technologies by integrating circular economy (CE) principles. Through collaborative research and innovation, the network will focus on developing CE-driven design and manufacturing practices for digital devices, while leveraging digital advancements to facilitate a broader sustainable economic transition.
Specifically, the research will apply CE strategies to extend the lifespan of digital devices, enhance recyclability, and minimize waste. This approach, which prioritizes continuous reuse and recycling, promises substantial economic and environmental benefits across various product and material sectors.
DICE’s activities will include mapping exercises, co-creation workshops, feasibility studies and demonstrator projects, and the development of a 10-year roadmap towards a digitally enabled circular economy.
Professor Ashutosh Tiwari, Deputy Vice-President for Innovation and University lead, said: “The Network+ offers exciting opportunities to investigate how digital technologies can be leveraged to enable a circular economy across a range of sectors. We look forward to participating in this interdisciplinary collaboration involving digital manufacturing, circular economy, materials science and social sciences.”
The DICE network comprises 11 investigators from nine UK universities: Exeter, Swansea, Salford, Surrey, Open University, Southampton, Sheffield, Queens University Belfast and Nottingham.