AI-DRIVEN SYMBIOSIS PLATFORM

AISYM develops and deploys an AI-driven digital platform that enables industrial parks and regions to operate as circular living labs. The project creates a shared digital infrastructure that maps resource flows, identifies symbiosis opportunities, and supports multi-sector collaboration. AISYM combines real-time data integration, AI-based matchmaking, predictive modelling and a multi-layer digital twin to help companies, authorities and civil society co-create circular systemic solutions.

The project responds directly to the HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-01 call by demonstrating an integrated, multi-actor, multi-sector living-lab environment in the Kråkøya Biopark in Norway. Kråkøya represents an ideal testbed where aquaculture, renewable energy, shipping, logistics, waste management and industrial processing co-exist alongside strong municipal engagement. This provides the systemic diversity required to design, test and validate circular solutions that benefit both businesses and local communities.

AISYM addresses the key barriers to industrial symbiosis: fragmented data, lack of transparency, weak cooperation mechanisms, limited digital readiness among SMEs and unclear business incentives. Through a unified data architecture, user-friendly decision-support tools and targeted micro-learning modules, AISYM empowers companies of all sizes—including those with low digital maturity—to participate in circular value chains.

The project aims to:

1. build a secure and interoperable data framework for cross-sector resource flows;

2. develop an AI engine for identifying, predicting and evaluating symbiosis opportunities;

3. create a digital twin to simulate environmental, economic and social impacts;

4. design intuitive interfaces and decision-support tools for companies and public authorities;

5. strengthen digital and circular skills through embedded learning modules;

6. demonstrate systemic circular solutions in a living-lab environment;

7. develop and validate circular business models; and

8. promote inclusive multi-actor participation and knowledge transfer for wider replication.

The work plan consists of six technical and demonstration work packages. WP2 establishes the data architecture and interoperability framework. WP3 develops the AI engine and digital twin. WP4 creates user interfaces and decision-support tools. WP5 assesses environmental, social and economic impacts using lifecycle and circularity indicators. WP6 co-creates circular business models and designs systemic solutions across multiple sectors. WP7 implements the living-lab demonstration at Kråkøya, evaluates performance, documents lessons learned, and prepares a replication model for other European regions.

AISYM delivers nine key outcomes:
(1) a validated AISYM platform used in a real industrial park;
(2) increased resource exchanges between companies;
(3) a digital twin that supports real-world decision-making;
(4) reduced environmental footprint of the park;
(5) improved digital and circular skills among SMEs;
(6) a scalable and replicable model;
(7) stronger governance and cooperation structures;
(8) new circular business models demonstrated and validated; and
(9) a documented living-lab demonstration covering barriers, enablers and replication guidelines.

The project provides clear European added value by supporting the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Bioeconomy Strategy, the Green Deal, the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) and regional resilience objectives. AISYM creates a transferable model that can be adopted by industrial parks, clusters and regions across Europe, accelerating circular systemic transformations and enabling measurable environmental and socio-economic benefits.