Hubs for Circularity: Geo-Based Industrial Clustering towards Urban Symbiosis in Europe

Since the Green Deal, ambitious climate and resource neutrality goals have been set in Europe. Here, process industries hold a unique position due to their energy material transformation capabilities. They are encouraged develop cross-sectorial hubs for achieving not only ambition, but also joining circular economy through urban–industrial symbiosis with both business community stakeholders. This research proposes data-based approach identify potential hub locations by means of cluster analysis. A total three different algorithms compared on location pollution data European industrial facilities: K-means, hierarchical agglomerative density-based spatial clustering. The DBSCAN algorithm gave best indication because its capacity tune main parameters. It evidenced that predominately west countries high identifying circularity (H4Cs) density. In Eastern Europe, landscape is more scattered, suggesting additional incentives might be needed H4Cs. Furthermore, activities such as production aluminium, cement, lime, plaster, or electricity observed relatively lower tendency petrochemical sector. Finally, further lines H4Cs suggested.