Application of Industrial Symbiosis in the Circular Economy

Podgorica, 23 January 2026 - The Ministry of Economic Development, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro, organized training sessions for small and medium-sized enterprises dedicated to industrial symbiosis, advancing and applying the circular economy in practice, and strengthening the capacities of businesses and institutions.  

The training for companies, which brought together more than 35 representatives of the business sector, focused on the practical application of industrial symbiosis as a business tool. Participants identified opportunities to turn underutilized resources - materials, energy, water, and by-products - into new business opportunities, while reducing costs and risks.  

Through interactive sessions and teamwork, participants mapped resources within their companies, identified by-products that currently represent a cost, and considered opportunities for mutual cooperation through resource exchange, shared use of infrastructure, and knowledge sharing.  

A special focus of the training was the pilot approach, which enables testing circular solutions on a smaller scale and in real-life conditions, without long-term commitments. In this way, participants had the opportunity to develop concrete ideas that can serve as a basis for further cooperation and future projects, as well as to initiate dialogue on cluster-based solutions and joint initiatives.  

During the training intended for institutions, local governments, and the academic community, the concepts of the circular economy and industrial symbiosis were presented, along with their importance and role within European policies and the European Green Deal, as well as the possibilities for establishing such systems in practice.