Financing the Digital Circular Economy: Business Models, Risk, and Economic Perspectives in Industry 5.0

Dear Colleagues,

The move towards a circular economy is not only a technological or environmental transition—it is also a financial and economic transformation. Businesses adopting circular strategies must rethink how they create and capture value, while investors, financial institutions, and policymakers face new challenges in assessing risks, allocating capital, and supporting sustainable growth. At the same time, digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, IoT, and data analytics are shaping new forms of financing, risk management, and performance evaluation.

This Special Issue of JRFM is an attempt to bring together cutting-edge research that explores the intersection of circular economy and digital innovation, highlighting both the economic opportunities and the financial, managerial, and regulatory risks involved.

We particularly encourage contributions that combine strong theoretical foundations with practical insights for business, investors, and politics.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

• Financing models and investment strategies for circular and digitally enabled businesses.
• Risk assessment, valuation, and performance measurement of circular economy projects.
• The role of capital markets, banks, and venture capital in supporting Industry 5.0 business models.
• Digital finance and FinTech solutions (e.g., blockchain, tokenization, green bonds) as enablers of circular innovation.
• Case studies linking digital transformation, financial performance, and circular strategies.
• Policy, governance, and regulatory frameworks for financing sustainability transitions.

The aim of this Special Issue is to bridge business finance, economics, and digital innovation in order to better understand how financial systems can accelerate the transition to a digital circular economy while ensuring competitiveness, resilience, and long-term value creation.

Dr. Tetiana Gorokhova
Prof. Dr. Zaneta Simanaviciene
Guest Editors

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