SCALER accelerates industrial symbiosis across Europe by developing mechanisms to retain resource value and expand cross-sector collaboration. It overcomes the limits of self-organisation and policy-driven approaches by providing tools to identify opportunities, expand secondary markets and foster durable partnerships. The project delivers a comprehensive roadmap for large-scale IS implementation (2017-2020).
SCALER – Scaling up Industrial Symbiosis for a Circular and Resource-Efficient Europe
The SCALER project aims to accelerate the widespread adoption of industrial symbiosis across Europe by enabling the replication and upscaling of successful practices. Recognising that many symbiotic solutions remain limited to pilot initiatives, the project focuses on bridging the gap between demonstration and large-scale implementation.
SCALER develops a structured framework to identify, assess, and replicate industrial symbiosis cases across different regions and industrial sectors. It provides practical tools, business support mechanisms, and matchmaking services to facilitate collaboration among companies, enabling the exchange of materials, energy, water, and by-products. A strong emphasis is placed on creating economically viable business cases and reducing risks associated with implementation.
Through cross-regional cooperation and real-case validation, SCALER demonstrates how industrial symbiosis can be scaled effectively, delivering environmental and economic benefits such as reduced resource consumption, lower emissions, and increased industrial competitiveness. The project also addresses regulatory and organisational barriers, contributing to the transition towards a circular, low-carbon, and resilient European industrial system in line with the European Green Deal.