The LIAISE COST Action is proud to announce the successful development and launch of its collaborative Technology Watch and Competitive Intelligence Platform dedicated to Industrial Symbiosis and Circular Economy topics. The platform, now accessible online at https://vinciindustrialsymbiosis.liaise-action.eu/, represents an important milestone in the Action’s efforts to strengthen knowledge exchange, collaboration and strategic intelligence generation across the European Industrial Symbiosis community.
Industrial Symbiosis is increasingly recognised as a key strategy for accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable, resource-efficient and circular industrial system. However, the implementation of Industrial Symbiosis initiatives often requires access to updated and reliable information related to technologies, policies, funding opportunities, industrial ecosystems and emerging business models. In response to this need, the LIAISE COST Action has developed a dedicated collaborative platform capable of supporting continuous monitoring and dissemination of relevant information for researchers, industries, policymakers, clusters and innovation stakeholders.
The platform has been developed using the VINCI Technology Watch software and specifically adapted to address the challenges and priorities associated with Industrial Symbiosis. Through automated monitoring functionalities combined with collaborative expert validation, the system allows users to identify emerging trends, analyse technological and regulatory developments, and access strategic information relevant to circular economy implementation.
The monitoring framework of the platform is structured around four main Critical Watch Factors that reflect the multidisciplinary nature of Industrial Symbiosis:
• Policy and Regulatory Intelligence
• Data and Resource Flow Intelligence
• Collaboration Ecosystems and Key Actors
• Enabling Technologies and Business Models
By organising the monitoring activities around these thematic areas, the platform facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the Industrial Symbiosis ecosystem while supporting evidence-based decision-making and innovation processes.
The platform integrates a wide range of information sources, including technological and environmental news portals, scientific publications, patents, European and national regulations, funding opportunities, project databases and event announcements. Through automated retrieval processes, the system continuously identifies new information associated with the selected monitoring criteria and keywords.
One of the main added values of the platform is its collaborative review methodology. Retrieved information is not disseminated automatically but instead undergoes a validation process carried out by responsible users and experts associated with the different monitoring factors. This collaborative approach improves the quality and relevance of the disseminated information while fostering active participation and knowledge sharing within the LIAISE community.
The platform also includes several dissemination and interaction functionalities designed to facilitate user engagement and accessibility. Users can subscribe to specific thematic interests, configure personalised alerts and receive periodic newsletters containing validated monitoring results. In addition, the front-end consultation environment allows users to browse and filter information according to monitoring factors, dates, keywords and content types.
Beyond its technical functionalities, the platform aims to strengthen networking and collaboration among stakeholders involved in Industrial Symbiosis and circular economy initiatives across Europe and beyond. By creating a shared digital intelligence ecosystem, the LIAISE COST Action contributes to improving visibility of relevant developments, promoting interdisciplinary cooperation and supporting the scaling-up of Industrial Symbiosis practices.
The implementation of this collaborative Technology Watch and Competitive Intelligence platform demonstrates the commitment of the LIAISE COST Action to fostering innovation, knowledge transfer and sustainable industrial transition through cooperation and shared intelligence generation.