Structure and Relationships of Existing Networks in View of the Potential Industrial Symbiosis Development

This study investigates how different typologies of networks could be potentially related to the development of an Industrial Symbiosis (IS). The structural and relational features (entities/nodes and flows/ties, respectively) of various types of typical networks (planned industrial areas, local supply networks, districts, ecologically equipped industrial areas and innovation poles) have been considered. This study is based both on evidences from the literature and on the experience gained by the authors by dealing with the potential development of IS in existing Italian industrial networks and clusters. The approach followed is mainly inductive: data collected in studies concerning the features of the networks analyzed were used for a meta-analysis, in order to investigate how their morphology can be related to the development of an IS. Since the focus is on socio-technical contexts, both qualitative and quantitative data and information have been used. The structural and organizational elements of the various contexts, aswell as the physical and social relationships that characterize them, have been investigated. The results obtained show that such networking variables can assume different connotations on the various contexts and are able to play a significant role in the potential development of IS. We expect this analysis to provide both methodological and applicative contributions to IS studies and to the policies for a sustainable industrial re-development at a local level, especially in those countries where local networks are widespread.