Industrial Symbiosis (IS) is a collaboration between nearby industrial plants to exchange waste material and energy and achieve economic and environmental benefits that cannot be obtained individually. IS emergence in a cluster requires both technical potentials for material and energy exchange and social readiness for collaboration. In this paper, to gain insight into IS dynamics in emerging industrial clusters; we investigate shared concepts governing actors’ behavior in the form of rules and regulations, and social norms and practices. We implemented the IS dynamics framework to reveal which dynamics are supported either by the legislation or actors’ preferences. The Persian Gulf Mining and Metal Industries Special Economic Zone in Iran is used as a case study. The case study revealed that previous successful collaborations in the cluster were often self-organized, but stakeholders preferred to initiate new IS collaborations if financial incentives and infrastructure are provided. Meanwhile, the institutional analysis showed that institutional arrangements (e.g., pricing and penalties) are not in favor of IS emergence. Even though stakeholders might engage in self-organized IS because of inherent problems such as resource scarcity, the lack of clear and effective institutions could hinder IS. This understanding can help both the government and stakeholders in their strategies for future collaborations under different economic and environmental policies.

Self‐organized industrial symbiosis (IS) starts with one actor's decision to invest in a waste recovery plant and the other actors' decision to buy the recovered flow. Technical and institutional conditions of the cluster influence actors' decisions. This paper explores the emergence of IS collaborations in industrial clusters under different techno‐economic conditions in the long term. We propose a mixed‐integer linear programming model that incorporates costs and constraints associated with waste recovery and exchange to study actors' investment decisions and investigate shaped symbiotic exchanges under rising energy prices and limited electricity supply. The approach is implemented in Iran's Persian Gulf Mining and Metals Special Economic Zone as a case study. The results revealed that changes in internal or external condition simultaneously influence the industrial and waste recovery plants. For instance, increasing energy prices without raising product prices significantly decreased the production level of industrial plants and, consequently, heat recovery potential. Furthermore, the waste heat recovery plants' contribution to improving the cluster's economic and environmental performance was not the same. Electricity recovery from a power plant's waste heat can result in 55 PJ grid electricity intake reduction and 720 M€ cluster cash flow increase. Recovered cooling or electricity from the steelmaking plant waste heat was consumed internally rather than shaping IS. These model outcomes show its capability to study IS within the socio‐technical structure of the cluster, not a standalone phenomenon. Implemented conceptualization offers a novel system‐level approach, which could be adjusted to assess other industrial development strategies.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems involve scaled and high-speed transportation of passengers at affordable rates through high-frequency high-capacity buses along dedicated lines or corridors. Due to their ability to offer high quality mass transit at scale at lower total cost of system than light and heavy rail, they have become increasingly popular among cities globally. Electrification of the buses and the inclusion of charging infrastructure in BRT planning and operation has been a major recent development. This development retains high quality of service while reducing urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, we present a comprehensive framework based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to evaluate electric Bus Rapid Transit (eBRT) systems. This framework was developed and applied in the European project eBRT2030 to evaluate eBRT systems in the European cities of Amsterdam, Barcelona, Prague, Athens and Rimini. The study also describes the selective and contextual application of the framework in each of these cities, which vary considerably in urban landscape, requirements of passengers, technology providers and experience with electrification.

Shared mobility is central to sustainable urban transport, but its adoption across Europe requires strong policy support. This paper draws on recommendations from the GEMINI project, which supports eight cities in deploying New Mobility Services (NMS). Based on shared learning sessions, co-creation workshops, and structured partner engagement, we identify key themes shaping the implementation and scaling of NMS. First, we examine policy drivers and barriers influencing car-, bike−/e-scooter-sharing and Mobility as a Commons (MaaC) across local, national, and EU levels. Second, we investigate how NMS can be more effectively embedded into Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs), proposing updates to planning processes and document structures. Third, we assess technological and data-related challenges, focusing on how improved data sharing can strengthen shared services. Finally, we highlight enablers for adoption, including capacity-building, communication, behaviour change, and citizen engagement. Findings show that success relies not only on infrastructure and technology but equally on behavioural change and local adaptation to ensure accessibility and equity. Aligning shared mobility with public transport, SUMPs, and effective data coordination is critical. Insights will inform policy roadmaps and a practical handbook to help cities design and manage shared mobility tailored to local contexts.