Enabling Collaboration for Industrial Symbiosis Formation between Manufacturing Firms : A Study of the Norrbotten & Västerbotten Region

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to enhance the understanding of how collaboration in the manufacturing industry can enable the formation of industrial symbiosis by identifying challenges and strategies. To fulfill this purpose, two research questions has been addressed: What are the factors hindering collaboration and thus IS formation between companies in Norr- & Västerbotten? and What are the enabling strategies allowing collaboration for IS formation in Norr- & Västerbotten? Method: The research was conducted as a qualitative, inductive study of exploratory nature. The study utilized semi-structured interviews, in total, 14 interviews were conducted with regional companies and additional actors. The data was analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings: The study reveals that companies in the region face three challenges to successful collaboration: insufficient inter-organizational work methods, conservative market for new or agile collaborations, and uncertainty regarding collaboration and knowledge sharing. The study also identified four strategies to overcome those challenges: promoting communication mechanisms, utilize financial and sustainability value as incentive model, offer a platform for networking and matchmaking, and creating transparent data sharing between actors. These findings are summarized in a contingency framework to illustrate what challenges can be addressed by what strategies. Theoretical and practical implications: This study extends the industrial symbiosis literature by utilizing collaboration as a effective means of achieving increased cases of IS formation. Additionally, this study provides collaboration challenges and strategies, with a framework to help practitioners and policy makers successfully navigate and facilitate collaborative efforts. Lastly, this study investigated Norrbotten and Västerbotten, a previously rather unexplored re-gion. Limitations and further research: The generalizability of the findings are uncertain as they rest on the conditions of the region and mostly metallurgical SMEs. Consequently, it is recommended that future research replicate similar studies in other geographical areas, possibly including more companies and an increased diversity.