LIAISE COST Action workshop

The two-day workshop, served as a platform to explore industrial symbiosis as a means for achieving circularity in industrial parks and introduce the LIAISE COST Action, fostering discussions on its objectives, activities, and expected outcomes. The event featured interactive workshops, expert presentations, and networking sessions to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange. The event targeted local and international stakeholders, including representatives from industrial clusters, policymakers, academia, industry park managers, and industrial symbiosis facilitators.

The primary objectives of the workshop were

• To introduce the LIAISE COST Action to relevant stakeholders.
• To encourage collaboration between industrial stakeholders in the pursuit of industrial symbiosis.
• To promote best practices for circular economy implementation.
• To explore potential synergies among participants.

The workshop featured in-depth discussions, stakeholder presentations, and hands-on sessions aimed at identifying actionable strategies for implementing industrial symbiosis.

• Hubs4Circularity European Community of Practice (H4C) Framework: James Woodcock from International Synergies introduced the H4C framework, detailing how European regions could establish zero-waste industrial parks through structured industrial symbiosis approaches.
• Regional approaches to sustainable development: Lillian Strand from Trøndelag County discussed regional response to the national mission on industrial symbiosis, emphasizing cooperation across industries.
• Haugalandet Industrial Symbiosis: Marie Solgard presented know-how on establishing IS based on a practical example of cross-industry collaboration in Norway, highlighting best practices and key success factors in realizing industrial symbiosis, and potential synergies identified.
• Hands-on exercise: A dedicated session was conducted utilizing SYNERGIE® software platform, which facilitates resource mapping and synergy identification, to explore synergies and encourage collaboration between industrial participants.
• European industrial symbiosis network: Pawel Krzeminski from NIVA presented the LIAISE COST Action highlighting its role in sharing knowledge and best practices.
• Upcoming funding opportunities in the EU Horizon Europe Programme.

The workshop successfully facilitated the dissemination of the LIAISE COST Action to participants from various sectors, including decision-makers, industrial parks, industry cluster networks, and innovation companies previously unaware of the initiative. The LIAISE COST Action was introduced both formally through presentations and informally via direct discussions with participants.

The presentation covered

• An overview of the COST programme and LIAISE’s mission.
• LIAISE’s specific objectives, working groups, ongoing activities and expected impacts.
• A detailed introduction to WG1 on technical synergies, its upcoming activities, deliverables.
• Information on opportunities for new stakeholders to join the LIAISE COST Action.

The event significantly contributed to fostering knowledge exchange, collaboration, and the promotion of industrial symbiosis. Key outcomes included:

• Enhanced understanding of industrial symbiosis and circular economy best practices.
• Increased collaboration among stakeholders, building stronger partnerships and networks.
• Exploration of feasibility for symbiotic opportunities in resource sharing and waste exchange.
• Development of know-how on establishing IS within industrial parks.
• Training and resource-matching exercises to support practical implementation.
• Identified key actions and tools needed to advance industrial symbiosis.

In conclusion, the 7^th Stakeholder Workshop of the LIAISE COST Action successfully advanced the dialogue on circularity and industrial symbiosis, equipping participants with valuable insights and fostering synergies essential for a greener industrial future.