About INSIGHT

Why INSIGHT?

Although the potential of industrial symbiosis in achieving green growth and implementing circular economy has been demonstrated, one of the major weaknesses of Europe lies in its inability to transfer the knowledge base into specific goods and services. Stakeholders report a gap between the skills that are supplied by education institutions and the skills that are actually required by industry. EU businesses and related actors need to become more competitive through the talent and innovation. An investment in knowledge, skills and competences will benefit individuals, institutions, organisations and society as a whole by contributing to growth and ensuring equity, prosperity and social inclusion in Europe and beyond.

To fill this gap, the Erasmus+ INSIGHT project proposes a new professional profile, the industrial symbiosis facilitator, and the training curriculum necessary for it.

What is an industrial symbiosis facilitator?

This industrial symbiosis facilitator would be responsible of different tasks: to conduct an analysis in its area of influence, to define and promote possible synergies between companies from different sectors, to capitalise on the benefits of the circular economy in them, etc.

This profile can work are different level: at regional level for public services, at local level, within a technology park, for a large company or within a SME, etc. The area of influence of the facilitator will therefore depend on it, from informing, promoting and initiating symbiosis, to implementing and closely following up on synergies.

Who will benefit from INSIGHT?

Developed in the framework of the EU programme Erasmus+, INSIGHT is targeting current and future workers of regional development agencies, technology centres, clusters, local and regional administrations, technology parks, as well as any other entity related to the economic development of specific areas of the territory.

The training is free and open to all, so any interested worker can access the training material and start learning.

Aside from the training itself, INSIGHT also wants to promote industrial symbiosis and its facilitation through a Blueprint, containing a set of recommendation at different levels (from EU to local and SME), that stakeholders can endorse by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

Naturally, the final beneficiary of the project will be the companies and the society in general, since it will be possible to reuse the current waste as raw materials, reducing both the generation of the waste and the costs, and therefore, improving the quality of life.