Building Circular Innovation Ecosystem in Industrial Port Territories: The Case of Dunkirk, France
Résumé
This chapter highlights the link between the circular economy and the innovation ecosystem in an industrial port territory. We assume that a circular project at the territorial level can lead to the emergence of an innovation ecosystem called “circular innovation ecosystem” which is characterized by its actors, relationships, and resources and results in the creation of value at both micro and meso levels. In applying it to the case of the industrial port territory of Dunkirk in France, we aim to assess, via a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators, the existence of each of the components of a circular innovation ecosystem. Our results show that the circular project in this industrial port territory, oriented toward industrial ecology, has been an impetus for the development of such a circular innovation ecosystem, which is still in its development phase. Our research contributes to the definition and assessment of circular innovation ecosystems, which can be replicated in other industrial port territories.