The Netherlands is aiming for a circular economy. To transition to a circular economy, eco-industrial parks (EIPs) are needed. The problem is that developing EIPs is not easy. Many industrial parks aiming to become more sustainable and transform into EIPs have failed. In the Netherlands, industrial symbiosis, which is the most important aspect of EIPs, is not common. However, some EIPs in the country have successfully implemented industrial symbiosis and utility sharing activities. Studying what these successful EIPs have done to implement utility sharing and industrial symbiosis activities is relevant to understand what can be done in other EIP developments to increase their likelihood of success. The literature revealed some gaps that need to be addressed regarding EIPs. There is little literature on EIPs in the Netherlands, and most of the existent literature regarding the success factors and barriers to creating synergies in the Netherlands is old. Besides, there is no literature on some EIPs. This study fills the gaps by updating what is happening at three front-running EIPs in the Netherlands and what are the success factors and barriers that played a role in the implementation of synergies. Therefore, the main research question for this study is: What are the main factors that influence the implementation of industrial symbiosis and utility sharing in front-running eco-industrial parks in the Netherlands?Three successful parks in terms of industrial symbiosis and utility sharing were studied using the framework of Eilering & Vermeulen (2004) to answer this question. The selected front-running EIPs were InnoFase in Duiven, Industrial Park Kleefse Waard in Arnhem, and Biopark Terneuzen in Zeeland. A cross-case analysis was made between the three EIPs.In total, nine main factors and 64 sub-factors were found as relevant to implement industrial symbiosis and utility sharing when developing an EIP. With these findings, the framework of Eilering & Vermeulen (2004) was refined.

In recent years, awareness and concern about global warming from fossil fuels have notably grown. This process of global warming can, in part, be circumvented by the usage of renewable energy technology in homes. Two protocols exist that can realize wireless communications between sensors and electrical appliances on the one hand and the smart meter (which connects to a visual interface) on the other hand; Zigbee and Z-Wave. When one of these protocols is chosen, a home energy management system can be realized, allowing monitoring of the devices that consume energy in the home. There is no standard, and these two communication protocols are in a battle for dominance. This paper aims to find which factors could affect the outcome of this standards war in the Netherlands, and determine which protocol has more chances to achieve dominance. The factors that were determined as most important are compatibility, big fish, current installed base, and complementary goods, whereas, counterintuitively, technology superiority is one of the least relevant factors. It appears that Zigbee has a higher chance to achieve dominance. The paper concludes by discussing these results in light of the standardization literature.