Sotenäs Symbioscentrum

What Sotenäs Symbioscentrum does

Sotenäs Symbioscentrum is a municipal development center operated by Sotenäs kommun in Kungshamn, Sweden, focused on industrial symbiosis, marine recycling, and circular blue economy development. Founded in 2015 with 11 employees, it serves as a coordination hub connecting local seafood processors, fishing fleets, aquaculture companies, academic institutions, and government agencies across Sweden's West Coast and the broader Nordic region. The center houses Sweden's first and only Marine Recycling Center (Marina Återvinningscentralen), established in 2018, which collects, sorts, and processes discarded fishing gear, ghost fishing gear, and marine litter into reusable plastic fractions (PP, PE, PA, PET) using small-scale grinding, melting, extruding, and pressing equipment. The center also operates dedicated testbed facilities: the Marine Waste Testbed (Testbädd Marint Avfall) for upcycling marine plastic into new products, and the Large-Scale Land-Based Aquaculture Testbed (Testbädd för storskaligt vattenbruk) featuring Siemens digital twin technology for recirculating aquaculture systems.

The organization generates no commercial revenue, operating instead through municipal budget allocations and project-based grant funding from sources including Vinnova, EU Interreg programs, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (Havs- och vattenmyndigheten), and Tillväxtverket. Cumulative disclosed project funding exceeds SEK 100M across initiatives such as Ren Kustlinje (EUR 5.84M, 34 Nordic partners, 2016-2018), the Aquaculture Testbed (SEK 12.21M, 2021-2023), Fiskereturen 2.0 (SEK 12M), and the IoT industrial symbiosis project (SEK 4.94M). Its go-to-market approach is community-led rather than commercial: the entity facilitates project-based partnerships, stakeholder networks, and demonstration of circular economy models to attract funding and cluster participants. Operational impact includes collection of 32+ tonnes of marine waste in 2018, recovery of 1,683 lobster pots and 216 crab pots through ghost fishing prevention, and quantification of downstream agricultural value equivalent to 40+ million cinnamon buns annually from symbiosis-enabled fertilizer use.

Product offerings extend beyond the Marine Recycling Center to include Fiskereturen (national fishing gear collection system launched 2020), the Sjömatsklustret (Sea Food Cluster) supporting local seafood development, the Blue School educational initiative, and structured development programs in industrial and social symbiosis. The customer/partner base spans large enterprises (Stora Enso, Siemens, Ragn-Sells, Insula/Marenor), SMBs (Sculptur.se, Add North, Apelviken Watches), academic institutions (Chalmers, Gothenburg University, SLU, Linköping University, University College Nordjylland), research institutes (RISE, Innovatum), and peer municipalities (Lysekil, Tanum, Strömstad, Lidköping, Skagen).

Name

Sotenäs Symbioscentrum

Legal name

Sotenäs kommun

Website

https://symbioscentrum.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sotenäs Symbioscentrum is a municipal development center in Kungshamn, Sweden, operated by Sotenäs kommun. It coordinates industrial symbiosis, marine recycling, and circular blue economy initiatives for West Coast seafood, fishing, and aquaculture industries through testbeds and partnership networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Recycling and Industrial Symbiosis Services

NAICS

Other Aquaculture (112519), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM)

Keywords

• Marine recycling services
• Industrial symbiosis development
• Circular economy consulting
• Aquaculture testing facilities
• Ghost fishing prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Kungshamn

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Municipal Government Funding: Core operations funded by Sotenäs municipality budget as part of municipal business development and environmental services.
2. Research and Development Project Grants: Vinnova, EU Interreg, and other research council funding for specific symbiosis development, marine recycling, and aquaculture projects.
3. Marine Waste Collection and Processing Services: Fiskereturen national collection system for discarded fishing gear, supported by Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sotenäs Symbioscentrum operates Sweden's first and only Marine Recycling Center, collecting and processing discarded fishing gear, marine litter, and ghost fishing gear into reusable plastic fractions. The center coordinates industrial symbiosis development across local seafood, fishing, and aquaculture businesses in the Sotenäs municipality. It operates physical testbed facilities for marine waste recycling and land-based aquaculture research, supported by municipal funding and project grants from Vinnova, EU Interreg, and Swedish government agencies.

Product overview

Sotenäs Symbioscentrum is a municipal center operated by Sotenäs kommun that serves as a hub for industrial and social symbiosis development, marine recycling, and sustainable maritime industry development. The organization's core offerings include the Marina Återvinningscentralen (Marine Recycling Center), which collects and processes discarded fishing gear and marine waste, and the Sjömatsklustret (Sea Food Cluster) supporting the local seafood industry. The center also operates testbeds including the Testbädd för storskaligt vattenbruk for land-based aquaculture R&D and Testbädd Marint avfall for marine waste recycling innovation. Educational initiatives are delivered through the Blue School program. Projects like Fiskereturen enable national collection of fishing gear for recycling. The offerings work together as a comprehensive ecosystem supporting the circular blue economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sotenäs Marina Återvinningscentral (Marine Recycling Center): Sweden's first and only marine recycling center, collecting and processing discarded fishing gear, marine litter, and ghost fishing gear for recycling. Established in 2018.
• Sjömatsklustret (Sea Food Cluster)
• Blue School
• Spökfiskeprojektet (Ghost Fishing Project)

Products and services

• Marina Återvinningscentralen (Sotenäs Marine Recycling Center) A marine recycling facility that collects, separates, and sorts discarded fishing gear, marine litter, ghost fishing gear, and various plastic fractions (PP, PE, PA, PET) for recycling. Operates with equipment for grinding, melting, extruding, and pressing marine plastic on a small scale. Established in 2018 as Sweden's first facility of its kind on the West Coast.
• Sjömatsklustret (Sea Food Cluster) A maritime food industry cluster that supports and develops the local seafood sector in Sotenäs municipality, facilitating product development and market access for seafood businesses.
• Testbädd för storskaligt vattenbruk (Testbed for Large-Scale Land-Based Aquaculture) An advanced test facility for smart, sustainable, and circular land-based aquaculture using RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems), supporting testing of different aquatic species, water purification, automation, and biomass processing. Funded with SEK 12,210,000 over the 2021-2023 period.
• Testbädd Marint avfall (Marine Waste Testbed) A test facility for upcycling, reuse, and recycling of marine waste, connected to the Marine Recycling Center. Enables companies to test using marine plastic as raw material for new products, with equipment for grinding, melting, extruding, and pressing on a small scale. Funded by Vinnova with SEK 10,800,000.
• Fiskereturen (National Fishing Gear Collection System) A national collection system for discarded fishing gear launched in 2020, collecting fishing equipment throughout Sweden for recycling. Financed by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, with Fiskereturen 2.0 funded at SEK 12,000,000.
• Industriell symbios i Sotenäs (Industrial Symbiosis in Sotenäs) A development program focused on cross-sectoral collaborations enabling increased value creation from secondary resources through industrial and urban symbiosis in the Sotenäs region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Collected over 32 tonnes of marine waste from local coastal areas in 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

43 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• SiemenscoreTechnology or Integration · 17 May 2021Strategic partner in Testbädd för storskaligt landbaserat vattenbruk project. Siemens contributes strategic account management expertise and digital twin technology for aquaculture systems. Project aims to establish Sweden's most advanced testbed for recirculating aquaculture systems.
• Chalmers Tekniska HögskolacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research expertise in aquaculture technology, marine biology, and sustainable food production systems. Contributes to Testbädd för storskaligt landbaserat vattenbruk project.
• Göteborgs universitetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with Kristina Snuttan Sundell as professor contributing expertise. Partners on aquaculture research and marine ecosystem studies through Testbädd project.
• RISE IVF ABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish research institute providing technical expertise in recycling and materials science for marine waste testbed. Partners on Testbädd Marint Avfall project.
• Fiskareföreningen NordencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFishermen's association representing Nordic fishing industry interests. Key partner in marine recycling, ghost fishing prevention, and sustainable fishing gear initiatives.
• Högskolan VästsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional university partner contributing research capacity to marine waste projects and innovation development.
• Tanums kommunsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring Swedish municipality partner in Ren Kustlinje cross-border marine waste reduction initiative.
• Håll Sverige RentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational environmental organization focused on marine litter prevention. Key partner in fishing gear collection (Fiskereturen) and marine waste initiatives.
• RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational research institute providing multidisciplinary expertise across aquaculture, recycling technology, and sustainable systems for testbed projects.
• SLU (Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences contributing research on aquaculture, marine biology, and sustainable food production.
• Skagen UddannelsescentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish educational foundation leading Interreg projects on sustainable coastal development. Key coordinator in Nordic cross-border marine initiatives.
• Linköpings universitetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner leading SNIUS (Swedish Network for Industrial and Urban Symbiosis) and Regenbiz projects, providing research on circular economy facilitation.
• Stiftelsen Chalmers IndustriteknikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApplied research institute providing technology transfer and industrial implementation expertise for marine recycling and circular economy projects.
• Lysekils kommunsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring municipality partner in Hållbar kunskapsturism project for sustainable tourism and knowledge sharing.
• Strömstads kommunsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner in sustainable tourism and knowledge exchange initiatives for northern Bohuslän region.
• Tanums kommunsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner in sustainable tourism showcase and knowledge sharing programs.
• InsulacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of Marenor seafood processing, major investor in production modernization at Kungshamn facility.
• Renahav Sverige ABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized wastewater treatment plant for fish processing industry with biogas production, supporting Guleskär harbor circular economy development.
• Kungshamnsfiskarna ABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal fishing company cooperative, key stakeholder in pelagic fish handling and harbor development projects.
• Ragn-SellscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Swedish recycling and waste management company, partner in Regenbiz regenerative business projects and circular economy initiatives.
• Swedish Algae FactorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative company developing algae-based products and solutions, partner in Regenbiz and aquaculture testbed projects.
• Ecoloop ABsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircular economy consulting and development company, partner in regenerative business and symbiosis projects.
• Sculptur.sesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationTest company at marine waste testbed utilizing recycled ocean plastic for 3D printing applications.
• OUT OF OCEANsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationTest company developing products from ocean plastic materials at the marine recycling testbed.
• Benders Sverige ABsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction materials company, partner in Guleskär harbor circular economy development project.
• Swedish Pelagic FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting pelagic fishing industry research and development, key stakeholder in Guleskär harbor development for increased Swedish fish processing capacity.
• Företagarna SotenässecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business association, partner in Hike & Bike cycling tourism development project.
• LRF SotenässecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural federation local chapter, partner in sustainable cycling tourism infrastructure development.
• Sotenäs TuristföreningsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal tourism association, partner in cycling tourism development combining outdoor recreation with sustainable tourism.
• ReforcetechsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationAquaculture technology provider, partner in land-based aquaculture testbed development.
• Saga AquasecondaryTechnology or IntegrationAquaculture technology company, technology partner in recirculating aquaculture systems testbed.
• Lidköpings kommunsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner in IUS för Hållbar Industrisamverkan project, representing industrial symbiosis development at earlier stage compared to Sotenäs.
• Båtskroten Sverige ABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoat recycling company, partner in Fiskereturen fishing gear collection system for marine waste management.
• Västra GötalandsregionencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government body providing funding and strategic direction for marine and innovation projects in western Sweden.
• TillväxtverketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, main financier of sustainable tourism and regional development projects.
• DuPont Industrial BiosciencessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal biotech company, partner in ENSILAGE project for fish processing by-product utilization.
• LiqTech International A/SsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationTechnology provider for silage processing, partner in ENSILAGE project for nutrient recovery from fish waste.
• University College NordjyllandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish university college leading Pendlerbroen cross-border commuting and education project.
• Region MidtjyllandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish regional government leading KOBRA competence development project across Scandinavian regions.
• Havs- och vattenmyndighetencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, primary funder of ghost fishing prevention and marine waste collection projects.
• Innovatum Science ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional innovation park providing innovation leadership expertise, particularly Lillemor Lindberg's role in aquaculture testbed development.
• Innovatum ABsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation support organization, partner in NIV entrepreneurship development project.
• Kungshamn Pelagic ABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal pelagic fish processing company, key partner in Guleskär harbor development for increased Swedish fish processing capacity.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kalundborg Symbiosis: Denmark's flagship industrial symbiosis park connecting public and private actors to convert waste streams into inputs for adjacent companies. The most established and globally-recognized analog to Sotenäs Symbioscentrum's cross-sector industrial symbiosis model, though at much larger industrial scale (not just marine).
• Healthy Seas Foundation: Joint initiative of Star Sock, Aquafil, and Nofir focused on collecting ghost fishing gear from the sea and recycling it into ECONYL nylon. Direct comparison to Sotenäs' Marine Recycling Center and Fiskereturen collection system, with similar value chain (gear recovery → recycling → new product).
• Nofir AS: Norwegian company that collects discarded fishing gear, ropes, and nets from Nordic fisheries and recycling them into new products. The closest Nordic regional peer to the Fiskereturen collection system and to how Sotenäs Symbioscentrum channels marine plastic into 3D printing and consumer products.
• KIMO (Local Authorities International Environmental Organisation): Network of European coastal municipalities coordinating marine pollution prevention (including Fishing for Litter). Highly comparable to Sotenäs Symbioscentrum's municipal-led, cross-border model for marine waste reduction and ghost fishing prevention.

Broad incumbents

• Stena Recycling AB: Sweden's largest recycling company operating broadly across metals, paper, plastics, and hazardous waste. Adjacent to Sotenäs' recycling activities but at vastly larger scale and broader scope; relevant as the kind of incumbent that Sotenäs collaborates with rather than competes against.

Others

• Ragn-Sells AB: Leading Swedish waste and recycling company partnered with Sotenäs Symbioscentrum on Regenbiz circular economy projects. Functions as a strategic partner and ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor, representing the kind of industrial partner that anchors the symbiosis model.
• Innovatum Science Park: Regional innovation park in Trollhättan providing aquaculture testbed leadership to Sotenäs, supporting NIV entrepreneurship and broader circular economy initiatives. Comparable as a regional innovation intermediary supporting testbed-based blue economy development.

Regional players

• Renahav Sverige AB: Specialized wastewater treatment plant for fish processing industry with biogas production, partnered with Sotenäs Symbioscentrum on Guleskär harbor development. Regional peer focused on a narrower part of the seafood waste value chain (wastewater/biogas) that Sotenäs' symbiosis platform integrates.

Emerging players

• Plastic Bank: Social enterprise that collects ocean-bound plastic and converts it into Social Plastic feedstock for consumer brands. Comparable to Sotenäs' marine plastic collection and productization pathway (e.g., 3D printing, watches), though operates at much larger global scale via different funding model.
• SeaClear Project: EU-funded Horizon project developing autonomous robots, drones, and AI for seabed litter detection and collection. Sotenäs Symbioscentrum is a demonstrated partner/demonstration site, making it a programmatic rather than commercial peer working on the same marine debris problem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sotenassymbioscentrum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sotenassymbioscentrum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sotenäs Symbioscentrum