Summary: Industrial symbiosis is presented as a systems approach for creating a more sustainable and integrated industrial system by identifying business opportunities from underused resources such as materials, energy, water, capacity, expertise and assets. It involves companies from different sectors engaging in mutually beneficial exchanges, where waste or by-products from one organisation become inputs for another, generating both environmental and economic benefits. The study distinguishes between self-organised industrial symbiosis, which emerges directly between companies, and managed networks, where a third-party intermediary coordinates the process. Managed networks may be facilitated, by raising awareness and supporting existing companies, or planned, through purpose-built developments with shared infrastructure and services. The study aims to provide an overview of the market potential of industrial symbiosis in Europe, mapping major initiatives, their results and the role of intermediaries in supporting successful implementation.
Keywords: industrial symbiosis, market potential, good practice, policy actions
