The Regional Development Agency for Podravje – Maribor (RDAPM) has organised a consultation workshop within the activities of INSET project, to advance knowledge and collaboration in Industrial Symbiosis (IS). The purpose of the consultation workshop was to facilitate discussion, gather input, and seek validation from stakeholders regarding the specifications of the INSET project, particularly focusing on the competency map developed by the partners. The workshop aimed to engage various target groups, focusing on business support environment, but also with representatives of research organisations and businesses.

The workshop brought together a diverse group of professionals representing various sectors and organizations, all united by their interest in advancing IS.

One of the participants in the national workshop was Božidar Pučnik, who is a main representative of the Invest Podravje Initiative for Podravje region, where the purpose is to provide support in disinvestment, finding strategic investors to enter new markets, finding the most suitable location for the investment and finding the right investment opportunity according to the investor’s wishes. Within this initiative he is coordinating the work of industrial sites within the region. He is also working on the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) program which provides the support to businesses and craftspeople in the form of networking, information and advice on finding domestic and foreign business partners, organising business meetings, EU calls for tenders and programmes, and finally, accessing project funding.

Božidar considers industrial/business zones very important, and the main reasons and advantages are the following:

• Concentration of resources and infrastructures.
• Common services like transportation or logistics are often more readily available and cost/effective = Cost reductions thanks to the proximity.
• Proximity between suppliers, different types of companies, markets, etc.
• Host research and development. The proximity between companies makes easier the innovation and technological advancement within the industry.

Legislative and administrative bodies play a crucial role in supporting the creation and successful development of industrial zones.

They establish clear legal frameworks such as:

• Zoning Laws: Developing and enforcing zoning regulations that designate specific areas for industrial use. Ensuring that industrial zones are properly located.
• Land Use Policies: This facilitates the acquisition and development of land for industrial purposes. This may include simplifying land acquisition processes, providing clear guidelines for land conversion, and ensuring that sufficient land is available for industrial use.
• Simplified Permitting: Simplify and expedite the permitting process for businesses looking to establish themselves in industrial zones. This can include building permits and other necessary approvals.
• Environmental Regulations: Implement and enforce strict environmental regulations to ensure that industrial activities within the zones do not harm the environment.

Also, industrial zones are easier to maintain than having industries scattered in the area. It facilitates the way of making progress and new projects between some of them, allows to decrease costs associated, a better monitoring way to control waste, a better understanding of the inputs and outputs resources, etc. This way the symbiosis between the organizations in the industrial zones is easily achievable and the connections are more powerful among them.

A strategic location of industrial zone is very important, not only for connecting human resources, but as it also allows a significant decrease in costs and time. Another aspect to consider is efficient movement of goods and raw materials, so locating industrial zones nearby to the major highways, railways and airports is very important.