AI‐Enabled Capabilities for Open Circular Innovation and Industrial Symbiosis: Towards Agentic AI Orchestration

ABSTRACT Industrial symbiosis supports circular economies through resource exchanges. Yet, this collaborative approach faces information asymmetries, fragmented networks and coordination challenges. This study synthesises the extant literature and examines five industrial symbiosis initiatives with varying levels of digital maturity. Cross‐case analyses identify five interconnected capabilities, including knowledge discovery, ecosystem orchestration, resource matching, resource‐exchange facilitation and value‐chain integration. The findings indicate that, for the time being, existing platforms remain AI assisted rather than fully autonomous. Building on these empirical insights, the study proposes an agentic industrial symbiosis (AIS) framework that conceptualises how these capabilities could support future agentic AI orchestration. The framework extends existing research on industrial symbiosis by clearly explaining the potential transition from AI‐enabled capabilities towards autonomous ecosystem coordination. It offers novel theoretical and practical implications for circular innovation. Moreover, it provides a foundation for future empirical research.