TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. General
The purpose of the Nordic Circular Design Programme Terms & Conditions is to confirm the expected commitment from and intellectual property rights of the Participant within the Nordic Circular Design Programme, hereinafter referred to as the NCDP.
The NCDP is managed by five leading circular economy organizations: Ethica Oy (Finland), Cradlenet (Sweden), Danish Design Center (Denmark), Norwegian Center for Circular Economy (Norway), Festa (Iceland) and is co-financed by Nordic Innovation.
2. Scope of Application
These Terms and Conditions apply during the participation in the Nordic Circular Design Programme from the date of the acceptance to the programme and will remain in effect until the end of the programme by 31.5.2026.
3. Programme Fees and Payment
The Participant agrees to pay the programme fee without delay according to the pricing information and payment terms provided at the programme web-page and other communications materials. The programme fee will be invoiced by Ethica Oy upon confirming the acceptance of the participant company to the programme. Invoicing details must be given in the programme application form.
4. Cancellation Policy
In the event of cancellation, the participant must notify the programme organisers in writing. Please note that the programme fee is non-refundable under all circumstances, regardless of the reason for cancellation. This policy ensures the continued planning and delivery of the programme across all participating organisations.
5. Participant Commitments
The Participant commits to assign at least 2 representatives and a maximum of 6 representatives who will jointly provide at least 200 work hours to the NCDP to ensure active participation in the programme. This commitment may include participation in live and online workshops, meetings, possible pre-assignments, homework and other activities aimed at developing individual circular economy plans and concepts for the participating company during the programme. The overall working time contribution per company has been calculated based on the NCDP learning modules, exercises and estimated joint working time on the company specific cases. The actual realized working time will not need to be reported.
6. Code of Conduct
All Participants are expected to engage in the programme with professionalism, respect, and openness to collaborative learning. Discriminatory, disruptive, or unethical behaviour may lead to removal from the programme. The Consortium reserves the right to take appropriate measures to ensure a safe and productive learning environment for all.
7. Data Handling
The Participant consents to publishing the name of the Participant on the project website along with all other participating companies. The personal data of the Participant during the NCDP may be shared with The Consortium all partners of the programme (Ethica, Cradlenet, Danish Design Center, Norwegian Center of Circular Economy, Festa and Nordic Innovation) in accordance with the EU GDPR regulation. Information may be stored throughout the programme period and for as long as it is needed for reporting and communication purposes. All rights of the data subjects will in all cases be complied with in accordance with the GDPR.
8. Communication Channels and Platform Access
The primary platform for programme-related communication and materials is the Howspace online workspace. It is the responsibility of each participant to ensure that their representatives can access and use the Howspace platform. Failure to access the platform does not exempt the participant from obligations under these Terms & Conditions.
9. Sensitive and Confidential Information
Selected cases and results developed during the NCDP will be presented in the final event to a public audience and reported to Nordic Innovation. It is the sole responsibility of Participant and its representatives to ensure that communications and any information provided to NCDP, The Consortium, and representatives of other participants adhere with the Participant’s company specific policies and do not include any sensitive or confidential information.
NCDP, The Consortium and its individual representatives may not be held liable for any sensitive or confidential information about the Participant that the Participant or its representative has made public via the programme. The Participant indemnifies and will hold harmless The Consortium and its representatives against any and all claims, demands, damages, fines, losses, liabilities, and expenses of whatever kind resulting from such release of sensitive or confidential information to the public by the Participant as a result of the execution and facilitation of NCDP and dissemination of its results.
10. Results
The concrete end results of the programme are Participant specific circular business goals and product/service concepts. However, as NCDP is an extensive capacity building programme, the format of the end results may vary according to the specific needs of each Participant. The results belong to the ownership of the Participant that has created/produced the result and can be company confidential. However, it is recommended by NCDP that some public content about the end results is prepared by all Participants to inspire wider interest in circular design and business development.
11. Intellectual Property Rights
The intellectual property, such as trademarks, service marks, copyrights, patents or any other intellectual property owned by any Consortium member or Participant of NCDP (”Programme Party”) at the beginning of the programme, shall not be transferred to any other Programme Party during the programme but shall remain the sole property of the Programme Party to whom it originally belonged (”Owned IP”).
The intellectual property rights related to any and all methods and tools (“NCDP Methods & Tools”) used during the programme belong to The Consortium, unless otherwise specified.
During the course of NCDP, each Programme Party may create intellectual property ("Created IP"), including, but not limited to, notes, documents, plans, drawings, specifications, reports, advice, analyses, designs, methodologies, code, artwork, or any other intellectual property as required to achieve the objectives. Any such Created IP generated by a Programme Party shall be the sole property of the creating Programme Party.
12. Limited right to use IPR and Results
The Participant can freely use NCDP Methods & Tools during and after the programme for the purpose of developing the Participant’s business and circular economy related practices.
The use of NCDP Methods & Tools for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited. The Participant may not under any circumstance share NDCP Methods & Tools with third parties.
The Participant grants The Consortium the pre-emptive right to use the final case and public presentation of the Participant to disseminate the results of NCDP in the format separately agreed with and/or produced by the Participant. The Participant reserves the right to withdraw the right to use for The Consortium should the Participant opt-out of the programme or for any other reason.
13. Liability
No Programme Party shall be liable to other Programme Party for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive or similar damages or losses, including without limitation loss of profits, revenue, data, business opportunity or use. This limitation of liability does not apply in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct by a Programme Party or claims related to Intellectual Property.
14. Force Majeure
The Consortium and Participants shall not be held liable for any failure or delay in fulfilling obligations under these Terms & Conditions due to causes beyond their reasonable control. This includes but is not limited to natural disasters, acts of government, pandemics, strikes, or internet service interruptions. In such events, reasonable efforts will be made to minimise disruption and resume programme activities as soon as feasible.
15. Amendments to Terms
The Consortium reserves the right to update these Terms & Conditions as needed to reflect changes in programme delivery, regulation, or practical requirements. Participants will be notified of any material changes in writing. Continued participation following such updates constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.
16. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms & Conditions shall in all respects be governed by, construed and interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of Finland. Any disputes shall be resolved by arbitration under the Rules of the Arbitration Institute of the Finland Chamber of Commerce, with proceedings held in Helsinki in English.