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.