Symbiosis in Halland

Symbios in Halland is a project initiative that aims to strengthen the region's ability to develop industrial symbiosis – a smart and sustainable way of collaborating where one actor's waste product becomes another actor's resource. The environmental science research group at Halmstad University is thus building on previous knowledge about the opportunities and challenges companies face in establishing, implementing and further developing industrial symbiosis.

By connecting businesses, public actors and business support organisations, the project aims to create new opportunities for circular flows, where resources such as energy, materials, water, infrastructure and expertise are used more efficiently. The goal is clear: to develop the business promotion system in Halland so that it can better support the business community in the transition to a circular economy. By moving from linear to circular flows, the region can contribute to meeting both global climate challenges and local sustainability goals – while strengthening its competitiveness and innovation capacity.

The project focuses on building skills, structures and forms of collaboration that enable symbiotic development both regionally and locally. Industrial symbiosis is a long-term collaboration between actors that aims to develop systems for utilising residual flows so that they are not wasted, thereby creating sustainable resource use and breaking the link between economic growth and negative environmental impact.

Actor collaboration is therefore the focus of the project, which is being carried out at several different regional and municipal levels. Chalmers Industrial Engineering is leading the project and, together with Halmstad University, is acting as a knowledge carrier in the project, where the university's specific role will be to study the support system at a regional level so that the municipalities can in turn take over and implement the work in their daily business promotion activities.

The project will thus have long-term effects that will continue even after the project has ended, with new collaborations, new business models and new value networks continuing to grow. By linking up with existing initiatives and strengthening collaboration between different sectors and companies, Symbios in Halland is helping to realise Halland's strategy for sustainable growth 2021–2028. The project is also particularly in line with the strategic area of innovation, competitiveness and green transition.

The project is led by Chalmers Industriteknik and carried out in collaboration with Halmstad University, EMC, IUC Halland and the municipalities of Falkenberg, Laholm and Varberg.

The project is funded by Region Halland and the European Regional Development Fund.