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Industrial Symbiosis

A System Perspective

Industriell symbios
A by-product in one industry can be a useful resource in an other. Photo credit iStock.

The research at LiU focuses on how long-term cooperation between local and regional actors make it possible to use materials, energy and other resources more efficiently, not just in Norrköping, but also in other locations in Sweden and around the world.

Industrial symbiosis means that a number of companies collaborate so that surpluses or by-products become a useful resource for one of the others.

Examples are heat, wood refuse, waste materials, distiller's waste, etc. Industrial symbioses exist in many parts of the world, but especially in the area around LiU. The objective is for the research to contribute to the development of new industries and urban symbioses.

In Östergötland, there are several notable examples of industrial symbiosis, for instance in Händelö in Norrköping.

Research

Biogas fueled car at the fueling station.

Biogas Solutions Research Center

BSRC is a national competence center for biogas research administered by the LiU. It's base for the development of innovative and resource-efficient biogas solutions often with positive local and regional effects on the environment and the economy.
Industrial buildings by the water under pink and blue skies

Resource productivity and sustainable business growth

Industrial and Urban Symbiosis (IUS) mitigates economic and environmental problems by creating more value with fewer resources and emissions. Regenerative businesses can enhance IUS practices and benefits.
Ethanol production plant.

Industrial and Urban Symbiosis

Research is conducted into how local and regional collaboration that involves private and public organisations, and actors from different sectors, can bring opportunities for more efficient flows of material and energy, and other synergy effects.

News

Mapping Industrial Symbiosis

Successful practitioner trainings across the Baltic Sea Region

Linköping University delivered six practitioner training programs across the Baltic Sea Region to promote and facilitate industrial symbiosis practices.
Renahav presents its biogasplant during the Biogastour of 2021.

How Sweden's most sustainable industrial cluster was created

Sotenäs Municipality remedied the negative environmental impact of local industry with the help of a group of local entrepreneurs, enthusiastic municipal officials and research-based methods.
A picture of a men

Shift to circular economy is slowed by traditional thinking

By communicating and collaborating, businesses can join forces to create greater social, economic and environmental value for society than what they do today, researchers at Linköping University have found.

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