"Nothing in the universe exists alone. Every drop of water, every human being, all creatures in the web of life, and all ideas in the web of knowledge are part of an immense, evolving, dynamic whole as old, and as young, as the universe itself."

An industry like any other societal or technological system is bounded by the biosystem, and does not exist outside of it. Industrial Ecology approaches problems with the hypothesis that by using similar principles as natural systems, industrial systems can be improved to reduce their impact on the natural environment as well.  The exchange of wastes, by-products, and energy among closely situated firms is one of the distinctive features of the applications of industrial ecological principles. Industrial ecology is a new concept emerging in the domain of environmental management, and springs from interests in integrating notions of sustainability with environmental and economic systems.

This symbiosis is collaborative enterprise in which the by-products of one industry become valuable resources for one or several other industries. The overall result is of direct economic benefit to the companies involved and widespread environmental benefit to the surrounding region.

The best example which speaks bounds about the success of ‘industrial symbiosis’ comes from the town of Kalundborg, 105kms from Copenhagen in Denmark. For more than three decades has the symbiosis concept been a natural part of the management principles in the enterprises of the Industrial Symbiosis in Kalundborg. By 1998, the project could already boast that internal collaboration between industries had amounted to savings of 160 million dollars since the project’s outset. Like Kalundborg there are numerous other symbiotic networks around the globe which provide a refreshing alternative to the dictatorial solitary commerce.

You are a budding socially conscious entrepreneur willing to implement revolutionary trends in the industrial scenario of the country. Inspired from the success of Kalundborg, you have aspirations to reciprocate a similar project in India. 

ROUND 1 (ONLINE)

Submit a basic abstract (in not more than 500 words) highlighting the ideas involved in setting up your own industrial symbiosis network. The abstract should be aided by an appropriate flow chart. There will be no elimination of teams in this round. The abstract will be reviewed by our panel of experts, whose opinions and suggestions will be passed on to the teams. If the teams have queries, they have the option of availing interactive feedback from the experts. 

Last Date of Submission: 20th October 2011

ROUND 2 (ONLINE)

Come up with a B-Plan in not more than 5000 words to set-up a symbiotic industrial network at a suitable location in the country. The symbiotic network of Industries should take into account the following points:

1. The project should involve a minimum of four industries.
2. There is no restriction on the upper limit, but the symbiotic efficiency should not be affected.
3. The network should be sustainable and self-sufficient with maximum exchange of by-products/wastes within system.

The B-Plan should give ample emphasis on the following points: 

1. The detailed flowchart and the blueprint of the proposed system highlighting the flow of by-products/ waste from one industry to another.
2. The technology employed by every industry that is a part of the symbiotic network to make it self-sustainable.
3. Specific attention needs to be given to a major industry of the network that is expected to be the primary source of revenue for the enterprise, corroborated by detailed cash flows.
4. The location of the plant considering the strategic market for the products, economic viability and other conditions.
5. The capital distribution, means of resources and sources for raw materials.
6. Marketing plans for the major products of the industries.
7. A possible future expansion by widening the symbiotic network to include more industries.

Last date of Submission: 15th October 2011

ROUND 3 (ON CAMPUS; FINALS)

Selected teams on the basis of previous rounds will be invited to present their Business Plan in the form of a Power Point Presentation to a judging panel followed by a questionnaire session.

• A team can have a maximum of 4 people.
• All members of the team are to be enrolled as students in an educational institute.
• No person can be a part of more than 1 team.
• There is no restriction on the number of people participating from a particular institute.