The Circular Economy at Oxford

On 5 February, Massimiano Tellini – Director and Head of Circular Economy at Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center – delivered a lecture on the Circular Economy at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford.

Intesa Sanpaolo took part in the first Principal Circle’s Lecture of 2026, promoted by Green Templeton College of the University of Oxford, a meeting dedicated to dialogue between the academic and professional worlds on issues of sustainability and the evolution of economic models.
The collaboration between Intesa Sanpaolo and the University of Oxford has been active since 2017 and has strengthened over time through numerous projects in the educational, cultural, and social fields. Participation in the Lecture confirms the Group’s commitment to supporting partnerships with international academic institutions, with the aim of promoting the dissemination of new skills and approaches oriented toward sustainable growth.

The event, which took place on 5 February 2026 at the College, specializing in postgraduate and MBA programs in the fields of management and medicine, involved students, researchers, and professionals in an in-depth discussion on the role of the circular economy in redefining the global economy. In addition to the public lecture, a selected group of students took part in a moment of direct dialogue with the speakers, fostering an informal exchange of experiences and viewpoints.

The Circular Economy as a Factor of Resilience and Competitiveness

For Intesa Sanpaolo, Massimiano Tellini, Director and Head of Circular Economy at Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, delivered a contribution dedicated to the theme “How to rethink a global economy.” In his speech, he emphasized how major global challenges — from climate change to biodiversity loss, from supply chain vulnerabilities to geopolitical tensions — require an integrated approach capable of overcoming the traditional linear economic model.

According to Tellini, these phenomena can no longer be considered separately, but must be addressed in a systemic manner. In this context, the transition toward a circular economy is interpreted not only as an environmental objective, but above all as an economic strategy aimed at strengthening resilience, resource security, and the competitiveness of the industrial system. This is also the perspective through which Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center promotes the circular economy paradigm to companies and within Open Innovation programs: an approach that fosters the full integration of sustainability into processes and products and creates shared value for society as a whole.

This perspective involves the design of models capable of reducing waste and pollution, enhancing products and materials throughout their entire life cycle, and contributing to the regeneration of natural capital. The circular approach thus complements traditional climate policies, focusing on the material foundations of the economy and their sustainable use over the long term.