Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Industrial symbiosis is a key circular economy strategy that relies on collaboration among diverse actors to turn residual streams into new value. Although prior research acknowledges supportive public‐sector involvement, there is a lack of understanding of how public organisations' roles evolve over time as industrial symbiosis initiatives develop. This study addresses this gap through a qualitative case study of a regional industrial ecosystem in northern Sweden. Drawing on 25 interviews with public organisations, support actors and producers, five distinct public‐sector roles are identified (policymaker, facilitator, knowledge broker/data provider, participant and financier). The study shows that roles shift across industrial symbiosis development phases, and a framework is developed that links role configurations to phase‐specific barriers. The study contributes by conceptualising public organisations as dynamic ecosystem actors and by offering a practical framework that helps public organisations to align roles with evolving ecosystem needs to support long‐term circular economy transformation.
DOI: 10.1002/bse.71681
Authors: Henrik Drugge, Wiebke Reim
Institution: Luleå University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,480
Award: G1060344542
OpenAlex ID: W7221615262