Social network analysis on industrial symbiosis: A case of Gujiao eco-industrial park

Many industrial parks are implementing industrial symbiosis in order to move toward eco-industrial parks. Research methods on industrial symbiosis expand from focusing on material flows and economic benefits to addressing on social aspects since collaboration among different firms can determine the efficiency of industrial symbiosis. Under such a circumstance, this study focuses on investigating industrial symbiosis relationships among tenant firms within one mining industrial park. Social network analysis (SNA) method was selected for analyzing the characteristics, power quantification and structure of the industrial symbiosis network by taking Gujiao mining industrial park as a case study. Results show that industrial symbiosis is still in its infancy in Gujiao industrial park and should be further optimized. Those anchor firms have less influence on industrial symbiosis and should be encouraged to actively involve in industrial symbiosis. Finally, policy recommendations are proposed by considering the local realities, including the establishment of an information platform, the use of economic instruments, necessary research and development efforts and broad public participation.