19 June 2026
From idea to impact: NOVA solutions for waste take shape at the Circular inNOVA(tion) 2.0 final
Turning waste into value, changing behaviours, and testing new ways of managing what we throw away. This was the ambition that brought four teams to the stage of the final Demo Day of Circular inNOVA(tion) 2.0. Among them, L.ai Holistic Management stood out as the overall winner of this edition, with a solution that could help redefine waste management in the hospitality sector.
The final, held on June 15, marked the culmination of a journey designed to address real-world circular economy challenges, in an initiative promoted by NOVA University Lisbon, in partnership with Sociedade Ponto Verde.
The winning proposal, L.ai Compensa, is based on a simple yet transformative idea: to create a system where generating waste is no longer just a cost, but also an opportunity to create value, if waste is properly separated.
Developed by João Guilherme Sáágua, Francisco Pais de Sousa, João Pedro Coelho and Nuno Ventura (alumni of NOVA School of Business and Economics), the solution combines technology, data and incentives to drive behavioural change in the HoReCa sector. By integrating Pay-As-You-Throw and Receive-As-You-Throw models, the project proposes a more conscious, fair and efficient relationship with the waste we produce.
With this win, and a 5,000 € award, the team now takes the next step: moving beyond the prototype stage to test the solution in real-world conditions, in collaboration with Sociedade Ponto Verde and other partners, bringing it closer to practical implementation.
Also on stage, other ideas demonstrated how innovation can emerge from everyday challenges. This was the case of ReCapsule, awarded an honourable mention and 1,000€, which focused on a common waste stream ( meaning coffee capsules) and sought to rethink its entire lifecycle.
The team, made up of students from NOVA FCT and Instituto Superior Técnico, presented an intelligent collection system that goes beyond simply “receiving” capsules: it identifies them, classifies materials and collects data to optimise the entire recycling process. The goal is clear — to increase recovery rates and ensure these materials are effectively valorised.
The projects were evaluated by a jury bringing together representatives from academia and industry, including Isabel Rocha, Vice-Rector for Innovation, Value Creation and Global Affairs at NOVA, Tomás Ramos (Professor of NOVA FCT), and Luísa Pinheiro, Director of the Innovation and Compliance Unit at Sociedade Ponto Verde.