Activities

Project Management

Objective: Ensure smooth coordination, quality assurance, and effective communication among all SYMBIOS partners while maintaining strong project visibility at the European level.

Main Activities:

• Strategic planning, coordination, and continuous monitoring of project activities;

• Implementation of a comprehensive quality control and risk management plan;

• Execution of the promotion and communication strategy to maximise outreach and impact.

Research on Industrial Symbiosis

This Work Package builds the scientific, methodological, and skills foundation for the SYMBIOS Digital Platform, focusing on the agri-food and leather/fashion sectors.

WP 2.1 – 2.2: Focus Groups
Led respectively by IATA-CSIC (ES) and SPIN360 (IT), the focus groups bring together multiple stakeholders to explore sectoral trends, production challenges, waste management practices, and opportunities for industrial symbiosis. They also help identify research topics for the subsequent survey phase.

WP 2.3: Needs Analysis
Coordinated by CISITA Parma (IT) with all partners’ participation, this phase involves 60 interviews and surveys with local, national, and EU stakeholders (30 per sector). The analysis addresses production needs, environmental impacts (water and soil use, chemicals, waste generation), and the feasibility of establishing symbiotic networks.

WP 2.4 – WP 2.5: Sectoral Reviews
Each sector will be analysed through data processing, statistical interpretation, and literature review on industrial symbiosis and waste management. The reviews also include analysis of EU and national legislative frameworks relevant to each sector.

WP 2.6: Symbiosis Modelling
Partners jointly develop two sector-specific models describing how each industry can connect with others to exchange resources and implement symbiotic practices. The models identify:

• Possible resource and waste synergies between sectors;

• Best practices and governance frameworks;

• Required knowledge and skills for professionals and graduates to operate effectively in a circular economy context (e.g., waste/resource management, regulatory literacy, and business networking).

All WP2 outputs will be published as open-access resources (OERs) on the SYMBIOS website (Creative Commons 4.0 Share Alike).

SYMBIOS Digital Platform

WP3 transforms research outcomes into a digital environment for learning, collaboration, and innovation in industrial symbiosis.

Learning Section – SYMBIOS MOOC
An open-access online course designed for self-paced learning. It includes:

• A general module on industrial symbiosis within the Green & Circular Economy;

• Two sector-specific modules (agri-food and leather/fashion), each with at least four learning units featuring videos, presentations, reading materials, and self-assessment tools.
  Topics include sustainable resource use, waste valorisation, chemical and water management, circular business models, and case studies on cross-sector synergies.

Testing & Revision
Pilot sessions and blended learning events will engage target users from each sector to test the MOOC and collect feedback. Content will then be refined based on results and sector-specific insights.

Community Section
An interactive online database that enables stakeholders to connect, exchange resources, and identify symbiotic opportunities. Registered users can:

• Create an organisational profile and share available/required resources;

• Search for partners by sector or country;

• Engage in networking and collaboration across the SYMBIOS community.

Final Events & Dissemination
A series of national and European events will present the platform, its functionalities, and its impact. These sessions will serve as validation panels to gather feedback on the platform’s usability, quality, and scalability.