The INSET project and the upcoming Syxis Online Observatory aim to strengthen collaboration and knowledge-sharing across Europe, creating a digital hub where organisations connect, exchange resources, and advance Industrial Symbiosis.
Industrial Symbiosis is emerging as a key driver of sustainability and circularity in Europe. By encouraging organisations from different sectors to share resources, energy, materials, and knowledge, it transforms what may be waste for one actor into value for another. At its core, Industrial Symbiosis relies on collaboration, trust, and the exchange of expertise across disciplines, industries, and regions. Networking is therefore essential: it enables organisations to identify common challenges, discover new opportunities, and co-design innovative, sustainable solutions.
The INSET project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, was launched in 2023 to promote new skills and educational models that support Europe’s green transition. Bringing together universities, companies, and organisations from across the continent, INSET strengthens the link between education, sustainability, and innovation. Within this consortium, Syxis, VšĮ plays a central role in developing digital tools that facilitate connection and knowledge-sharing.
One of these tools is the upcoming INSET Online Observatory, currently being designed and developed. The platform will be an open-access website dedicated to Industrial Symbiosis, conceived as a long-term space that will continue beyond the project itself. It will collect articles, studies, news, and updates on Industrial Symbiosis and the circular economy, while also offering information on policies, events, and initiatives at European and local levels. A key feature of the Observatory will be its openness: external stakeholders—including companies, policymakers, researchers, and students—will be encouraged to share experiences, ideas, and projects.
By connecting perspectives from industry, academia, and public institutions, the Observatory will become a dynamic digital ecosystem that promotes continuous learning and real-world collaboration. It will help younger generations understand how Industrial Symbiosis works in practice and offer universities a platform to share research and engage with industries. Ultimately, the INSET Online Observatory aims to build a European network for Industrial Symbiosis—one where cooperation drives innovation and supports tangible, sustainable change.
