Good practice:

Agder Industrial Symbiose

To overcome the obstacles due to a well-established linear economic system, the transition to a circular economy necessitates a transformative process with many adjustments needing to happen coherently. A cross-sectoral approach is called for as required adjustments are in different system parts.

Agder Industrial Symbiosis (AIS) is a regional, cross-sectorial collaboration platform to facilitate the transition from linear to circular economy in the Agder region in a structured, coordinated, and inclusive manner.

AIS sprung out of a cluster-based industrial symbiosis project and realized that many barriers and opportunities to create value out of side-streams or wastes are beyond the scope or mandate of the industrial cluster.

To maximize the potential for new entrepreneurial ventures, the platform includes the most relevant regional actors that can facilitate the emergence of new partnerships and create new and sustainable jobs in the region. Consequently, in 2020, the regional Agder County Administration took ownership of the collaboration. This public/private partnership comprises the two largest cities in the region, the University of Agder and two industrial clusters.

The initiation, coordination and facilitation of activities supporting the transition towards a circular society are at the core of AIS's operations.

Two types of funding are deployed, funding for specific innovation actions and funding to facilitate the collaboration process.

We estimate at present that three full-time positions distributed in the network may be suitable.

Since 2017, the collaboration has evolved from 3 partners to a collaboration platform, including the entire region with its most relevant stakeholders. It has secured ownership of the county administration dedicated resources through the annual budget.

Innovation Actions valorisation from the Process Industries and value chain innovation will be implemented in 2022.

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The AIS approach is inclusive and ensures that all stakeholders can participate. This good practice has a high potential for learning and transfers to other industrial regions in Europe. Those regions face similar challenges during the transition from a linear to a circular society.